budget ideas

mummytobe12

can anyone help im currently waiting on benefits after leaving a violent relationship
should have had my tax credits yesterday but they didnt go in ive rang and there saying they have no record of my claim i now have to send proof ive been getting it for my son .so at the minute i have to live of £20 a week as my claim for esa is currently going through but they cant give a timescale
can it be done theres me and my son and im 21 weeks pregnant ive been doing ok managing of the tax credits but now im down to just child benefit im worried sick
any ideas would be great at the minute i have not very much in food wise
have been told to make a claim for hardship on monday morning as theyve done away with crisis loans i wouldnt get one of them
any ideas would be great sorry if this shouldnt be on here but need ideas
thankyou
oh to add i do get milk tokens i just received 3 in the post ive used one so i have 2 left valued at 3.10 each

bexster1975

Hello. There are probably a few place you could post for help, but here is certainly one. I imagine here will be best to help you make food stretch. If you can list all you have food wise, I sure the very talented people here will help you make it go further than you ever imagined! Sorry to hear about your troubles, stick around here, people will help you make this a fresh start for you and yours. I might suggest debt free wannabe board or benefits board for more money advice specifically. Could you get referred to a local foodbank whilst your money is being sorted?

Good luck

Bexster

mummytobe12

hi thanks for the reply .ill post a list shortly just got of the phone with the bank requesting charges back theyve agreed to refund me £30 within the next working day .yes i think so im going to try and get a voucher for a food bank on monday if i can get to see a doctor not sure who else can hand them out .
just been checking out the £7 a week meal thread and feel a lot more possitive

FairyPrincessk

For a short amount of time, with milk tokens £20/week for an adult and child is doable if that can all go on food. Do you need to top up your elec/gas keys with that as well? If you do have any food in, let us know what it is so we can make the most of it. In any event, here are some ideas to get you started. Hopefully you'll get an emergency payment through and that will help.

Porridge for breakfast with smart price jam. Get the big bag of plain porridge--should be around 80p/kilo depending on what supermarket you have near. If you can't find porridge, toast with jam is an alternative.

Beans, scrambled eggs or tuna on toast are all fairly economical meals. Try to add carrot batons or cooked frozen veg as a side to get your veg in. You can also make tomato soup with tinned tomatoes, make pasta sauce with tinned tomatoes or make jacket spuds.

If you're near an Aldi then they have small pears on the Supersix, which could be a good snack for your little one.

Hugs.x

mummytobe12

yes thats what i thought
ive got some bits in the freezer
i have
1 bag of frozen chips
6 sweet chilli chicken pieces
2 tins of spaghetti
2 pasta and sauces
philladelphia
milk
apples
i have jam
got hot choc.tea bags
juice

yes i live very close to aldi and co op and morrisons to
thanks for the ideas.xx
i have a huge box of rice crispies to got them when they was on offer xx

PasturesNew

Bread and butter pudding's a real belly warmer. £0.40 for a cheap loaf, £0.75 for a tub of cheap buttery stuff, £0.75 2 litres of milk. And you'd not be using it all up. Then, you'll need sultanas, £0.85 for 500g. But you can change that and use a (drained) can of any fruit you fancy, or fresh fruit. You can even spread the bread with jam and have a jam/bread pudding, or lemon curd...or golden syrup.

All looks a bit pricey if you've none of that stuff in though.

Yorkshire puddings, filled with gravy/mash and some veggies is cheap and filling. Optional side portion of homemade stuffing made with breadcrumbs and onions/random herbs.

The usual beans etc on toast.... and jacket spuds.

Egg curry: boiled eggs, halved, served on top of rice, with curry sauce which you can make by your usual method (at worst/with no recipe you can even mix a squirt of ketchup with some curry powder and water it down a bit with some water).... or "go posh" and use some tinned tomatoes/curry powder.

From Mr T I'd be checking out the 15p cans of creamed rice too.

With your frozen chips, you can make an omelette, or a cheese omelette, or serve with beans.

Instead of cheap pasta, check out cheap spaghetti - it's all the same thing in a different shape.... Mr Sells 500g for 35p though - whereas all the other main supermarkets (inc Lidl) sell it for 20p/500g. Same stuff, different shape, usually works out cheaper than pasta shapes.

mummytobe12

my local veg shop has bags of potatoes at 49p aswell so was going to get a few of them
yorkshire puddings i dont no why but i seem to have a load of them living in the back of the freezer so i can use them aswell
im sure everything will be ok was just worried and hopefully the refund of the bank will either be in today or monday which will help a lot .

bexster1975

I would highly recommend aldi or lidl. I have saved a lot since shopping weekly there. I still shop once a month at one of the big 4 for things I prefer/can't get at lidl. The meat at lidl is excellent, and they usually have a meat on the weekend half price offer . The potatoes sound like a great idea. Sorry, I don't know who else can refer you to foodbanks, but I'm sure you would be considered in difficulty. It's quite natural to panic, I'm glad the bank will refund you quickly, that should take the heat off a bit. Good luck, I will keep checking in.

Bexster

mummytobe12

Thankyou yes aldis fab .Not been to lidl will check it out .
Yes dont no what made me ring the bank but glad i did didnt think id get anywhere but the man said you can claim charges back once in a 12 month period not sure if all banks are the same but mine does it .Its good to no though
hopefully it will be in soon .I did panic feel a bit silly now but think with my hormones being everywere due to expecting i just started thinking worst thing scenario
xx

SailorSam

If you've got a Heron near you they're good for their own brand fish & pies. Or you can get bacon bits, there and in Tesco to do stir-frys.

calleyw

If you have friends and family that can help please do ask.

I once helped out a family. There teenage son let it slip that they were having a tough month. So I went through my cupboards and gave them loads of stuff. As I use to be a hoarder when it comes to shopping.

It was a one off and helped them out. It was not asked for and they were so grateful.

Yours

Calley