budget ideas

happydays89

It was on the news yesterday that food banks were starting to hand out fuel vouchers,funded by Npower.

kboss2010

You need a store cupboard of basics. Aldi is a good place to start.

Rice (~ 70p), porridge oats (89p), pasta (49p), tinned tomatoes (33p a tin), mince (£3.25 large pack, divide into 4 portions & freeze), super6 veg (49p each - butternut squash, sweet potatoes, pears for snacks), red lentils (~50p, to bulk out mince), beef stock cubes (~50p), baked beans (35p), bag of carrots (49p), milk (~£1), tin of tuna flakes in brine (49p), bag frozen sweetcorn (99p), cheese (~£2, grate it and freeze it flat in a freezer bag), bananas (69p for 6/7)

Have porridge with jam for breakfast - add boiling water to aldi porridge oats (just enough to make the porridge gloopy when stirred in but not flooded) and leave to sit for 10 minutes.

Lunches & Dinners:

Mince, sliced or diced carrot, lentils, beef stock cube + serve with boiled rice

Ratatouille - diced, boiled sweet potato, diced carrots, lentils, diced boiled butternut squash, tin of tomatoes, stock cube + serve with pasta

Tuna pasta bake - boil pasta. To make the sauce: 500ml milk in a pan, add salt and a handful of grated cheese, simmer whilst stirring until it reduces and thickens. Add sweetcorn, cooked pasta and drained tuna flakes, put into a dish, sprinkle with cheese and bake in oven at 200*C for 10-15 minutes until cheese starts to brown.

Buy a bag of pears and bananas for snacks.

And, stop buying fruit juices and drink water or tea if it's too bland. If you're on a budget it's the biggest waste of money and they're bad for your teeth because they're full of natural sugars.

My partner annoys me no end with this. His teeth are in a really bad state because he drinks fruit juices all the time. People think they're healthy but they're really not. Fructose or glucose, it doesn't matter, it all causes acid erosion of tooth enamel and you lose any of the fibre benefit of eating an actual piece of fruit.

[Deleted User]

If you have some yorkshire puds in the freezer then try to get some sausages and make a sort of toad in the hole even if you cook the bangers first and bumg them in the made up yorkshires it will help use them up with some gravy and some mashed spuds.Essential items I think are bread,milk,some sort of spread(toast0a couple of onions, bangers, maybe some baked beans and definitely some cheap cheese if you can, cheese and potato layers in a pyrex dish cooked in the oven is quite filling and tasty.You must make sure you eat as well as you can for the little nesting baby inside you.

Oh I wished I lived nearer I have so much stuff I could give you honey, but as you live at the other end of the country to me I will give you a shoulder to rant on if you need it.Be glad to be out of a violent place and you and your child and new baby need to rest and recouperate .

Peace of mind may not fill your tummy, but its better than getting a clout.I had a friend many years ago in the same sort of situation and my house was a place of saftey many times .A man who raise his hand to a woman isn't a man at all, let alone one who is pregnant.Bang on doors honey and if necessary argue for yourself and your kids You are the important ones
Much love and best wishes
JackieO

7roland8

Found this on food banks -


Not everyone can use a food bank - you have to be referred by a 'care professional' such as:

• A doctor
• A social worker
• A health visitor
• The police
• Somebody from the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).

Make sure you look after yourself - and a midwife might even qualify for a voucher - or she'd help sort you out. Citizens advice are very friendly and helpful if you need to phone or visit.


Don't be afraid of cheap meals - beans/cheese on toast. Mashed potatoes and beans. Even tinned soup over mashed potatoes.


Porridge is good and cheap - if you soak it in milk overnight - half cup oats and half cup milk - its soft in the fridge in the morning and no need to cook.


Fish fingers quite cheap for now - and eggs - boiled in sandwiches.


You can also get some cheap tins of peaches or grapefruit in place of fresh fruit.

mummytobe12

Thankyou for all the replies ill have a proper read through in a moment .
I havent really got any one i can ask when i was with my ex i kind of pushed every one away .
Im going to ring the benefits people tommorow and see what they say and hopefully they can tell me when ill be paid etc .
Hopefully my refund will be in for tommrow and my son has school meals so he has dinner at school so thats one less worry
Thanks for all the support xx

thriftwizard

mummytobe12, you may have pushed everyone else you cared about away, but some of them will be glad & relieved to hear from you again & the rest will get over anything you said or did eventually. Don't let your ex's horrible behaviour & attitudes continue to dominate your life. I know it might look like you're only contacting them when you need help, and none of us like to think we're doing that, but starting to build bridges is important for your future, and your son's.

mummytobe12

I no im definately going to contact them i think anyway .I dont think i could bring myself to ask for help but even just talking to someone will help me at the moment .Think thats what i need to do realise my ex cant stop me from talking to people anymore may take a few days to build up the courage to make contact but i will do it x

mummytobe12

Morning
hope im still ok to post .Just checked my bank and my refund still hasnt gone in .So going to ring them to find out why was relying on it today .Going to go and see if i can see the doctor for a food voucher cant see my midwife as shes only there on thursdays but hoping i can get something sorted today .Didnt sleep last night with worrying about it all .Did manage to speak to one member of my family i dont live near them but she said she will check her bank today if shes got enough left she will do me a shop online and send it to me but shes not sure if she can .But feels better to be in contact with them xx

[Deleted User]

keep building those bridges honey ,people will understand and help if they can.We are all here to cheer you on
JackieO xxx

FairyPrincessk

Big Hugs.x Hopefully your doctor can help. Even if your family member can't help with a shop, keep in touch, and keep rebuilding that relationship. It will do you a world of good to have someone who knows you and that you can talk to regularly.