2014 - a cutting back diary

Sequeena

I would love to join in

I have a particular problem with children's clothes... I am forever buying for my son to the point he has so many (especially tops) that he can never get good wear out of before he goes up to the next size

I am also working on cutting our food budget and making the most of what we have.

I am a SAHM to a disabled 2 year old and my partner works full time. Things have recently got a little easier as my son has been awarded DLA which helps out with the price of bus fare to his therapies and such. We are in the process of getting a bus pass for him but our local council are digging their heels in.

thriftylass

pollyanna24 wrote: »

I'm finding that my food bill is not as bad as what it could be, but this is due mainly to the fact that my kids are so fussy and so I have about five meals that I just keep repeating. I know this isn't good, but I'm suck in a Catch 22.


They won't eat what I cook, so I think why bother going to all the hassle of a nice meal, so I don't bother, and then I think, well how are they supposed to eat different things if I don't cook them?! Arrggh!

Agree, it can be tricky. How old are they? Try to think of when you were little, did your mum or anyone else's mum cook to please their kids? I remember rarely asking for a specific meal (unless it was a special occasion or we all chose together) but always just finding out what was being cooked with no choice then. I ate it or left it (a few exceptions like tripe and kidneys ). However I understand now better after having DS how difficult it can be but most of the time he'll get a meal (at 2.5 he can't really choose yet anyway) and that's it. Unless it's sth he's never had before he can at least try and then get a quick sandwich or sth. but I'm never (well rarely ) cooking twice.

mum2one

Sequeena wrote: »

I would love to join in

I have a particular problem with children's clothes... I am forever buying for my son to the point he has so many (especially tops) that he can never get good wear out of before he goes up to the next size

I am also working on cutting our food budget and making the most of what we have.

I am a SAHM to a disabled 2 year old and my partner works full time. Things have recently got a little easier as my son has been awarded DLA which helps out with the price of bus fare to his therapies and such. We are in the process of getting a bus pass for him but our local council are digging their heels in.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who does the overbuying on clothes, even thou DD is 11, took me to the last couple of years to realise cut back, annoying as she has a wardrobe full of clothes yets lives in 2 pairs of leggings and 2 tshirts - which will eventually go into the wrong bin!!!

Glad you got sorted out with the DLA, hopefully the council stop digging their feet in, xx

Sequeena

I am dreading the day my son picks out his own clothes :rotfl:

I did buy him a pair of jeans today but he does need them. Plus I got 45% off so that's very MSE isn't it

Thanks. Their reason is that because he's under 5 he doesn't pay. He's going to have the same appointments when he's 5 so I have to keep paying through the nose until then? Or shall I just pop him on the bus alone!

pollyanna24

thriftylass wrote: »

Agree, it can be tricky. How old are they? Try to think of when you were little, did your mum or anyone else's mum cook to please their kids? I remember rarely asking for a specific meal (unless it was a special occasion or we all chose together) but always just finding out what was being cooked with no choice then. I ate it or left it (a few exceptions like tripe and kidneys ). However I understand now better after having DS how difficult it can be but most of the time he'll get a meal (at 2.5 he can't really choose yet anyway) and that's it. Unless it's sth he's never had before he can at least try and then get a quick sandwich or sth. but I'm never (well rarely ) cooking twice.

Thanks for your reply. It is hard, isn't it?


My girls are 5 and 3 and what makes it harder is that I'm not cooking a family meal as such as I'm a single mum. I do try and eat with them, but like I say, the same old five meals over and over....


When we were at my mums at the weekend, Mum cooked roast chicken one day and roast pork the next. Absolutely scrummdiddly, but they only picked at it. If I'd bothered making all that, it would have been completely wasted, but at least me, mum and dad ate it, so wasn't too bad.

Gillyx

If you do make a meal like that can you freeze any that's left and have it another day?

I have an almost 2 year old and a very fussy OH so any meals I make tend to be just for myself and my little boy. I make 2-3 portions and just freeze them. I make one meal in this house (OH does his own) and if it's not eaten its tough. I'll give my LO supper obviously but I don't make anything else. He's not fading away yet they won't starve themselves xx

thriftylass

pollyanna24 wrote: »

Thanks for your reply. It is hard, isn't it?


My girls are 5 and 3 and what makes it harder is that I'm not cooking a family meal as such as I'm a single mum. I do try and eat with them, but like I say, the same old five meals over and over....


When we were at my mums at the weekend, Mum cooked roast chicken one day and roast pork the next. Absolutely scrummdiddly, but they only picked at it. If I'd bothered making all that, it would have been completely wasted, but at least me, mum and dad ate it, so wasn't too bad.

DS loves chicken, he loves to chew on drum sticks.

I guess a roast dinner is too much during the week anyway. But if you fancy it just cook it on the weekend (take the leftovers for lunch). It's nothing really they have reason not to like (I could understand tripe or some strong flavours that only adults like). If they only pick at it so be it, that's for tea. They will eat if they are hungry. If they don't learn now they will control your dinner choices for ever. I think Cherry Healey made a programme about this with her three year old who'd refuse certain foods but liked fast foody type stuff and snacks. So she just gave her what she cooked and if she didn't eat it so be it. It is heart breaking for two or three days but at that age they don't starve from missing a meal but learn a lesson. Mummy has only time to cook once, it is sth nice usually and that's it.

P.S. What are the five dinners you usually cook on rota?

thriftylass

Gillyx wrote: »

If you do make a meal like that can you freeze any that's left and have it another day?

I have an almost 2 year old and a very fussy OH so any meals I make tend to be just for myself and my little boy. I make 2-3 portions and just freeze them. I make one meal in this house (OH does his own) and if it's not eaten its tough. I'll give my LO supper obviously but I don't make anything else. He's not fading away yet they won't starve themselves xx

Maybe try that with your OH:rotfl:. Good job though, hopefully your LO won't be as fussy as OH in later life.

pollyanna24

thriftylass wrote: »

DS loves chicken, he loves to chew on drum sticks.

I guess a roast dinner is too much during the week anyway. But if you fancy it just cook it on the weekend (take the leftovers for lunch). It's nothing really they have reason not to like (I could understand tripe or some strong flavours that only adults like). If they only pick at it so be it, that's for tea. They will eat if they are hungry. If they don't learn now they will control your dinner choices for ever. I think Cherry Healey made a programme about this with her three year old who'd refuse certain foods but liked fast foody type stuff and snacks. So she just gave her what she cooked and if she didn't eat it so be it. It is heart breaking for two or three days but at that age they don't starve from missing a meal but learn a lesson. Mummy has only time to cook once, it is sth nice usually and that's it.

P.S. What are the five dinners you usually cook on rota?

Spaghetti bolegnese - they both seem to love this.


Sausages, pasta with a packet sauce that I pick up abroad.


Ravioli - but now the younger one is deciding she doesn't like it.


Nuggets/Fish fingers with chips and veg.


Faggots, Rice, Veg.


Chicken Chargrilled Pasta.


I do cook them other things, I have a meal plan going back to 2012 which has everything I've tried them with, but they generally just pick at stuff.

chanie

Food - my children aren't hugely fussy, but i find that 'soft' foods like mash seem to work best. Probably because they don't have to chew so meals are quicker. We had spag bol for dinner yesterday and are going to have the rest of the mince for dinner with potatoes - I can't freeze the mince as it has already been frozen.

Clothes - I hate having an excess of clothes for the children. I'm lucky because my Mum buys a lit of their clothes. I ask her to buy the next size up as they have so many clothes.



I am really pleased with my cutting back day today. I had the day off to do some Xmas shopping. Normally, when I have a day off, I treat myself to breakfast or lunch out. I made a lovely mushroom omelette for breakfast, saving £3.

Then, instead of parking in the car pArk, which costs £2, I walked the 20 minutes. I would do this more often, but it's difficult with the children as it means they get bored quicker. As I had the day off, I had the time to do so.

With Xmas in mind, I bought my Xmas presents. I also picked up some socks and a hair clip from Primark, so I only spent £2 which wasn't on my list. Pretty pleased with cutting back efforts today.