In some serious need of advice..

Cynical_Monkey

So, I've read through the thread and the main point of contention appears to be the cost of food.

In my household, we have 2 adults and 4 children under 16 - Thats 6 of us with 4 of us eating adult meals.

We eat breakfast together almost every day and it ranges from cereal to toast to a cooked breakfast depending on how much time we have.

We're all out all day so the kids take packed lunches of a sandwich, piece of fruit, crisps, water and usually some nuts or raisins.

I don't eat lunch as I generally don't have time when I'm at work. My partner nearly always has fruit or soup which is bought in our weekly shop.

Dinners are quite varied but here's last week;

Monday: chicken curry with vegetable fried rice
Tuesday: burgers, sweet potato chips, mixed vegetables
Wednesday: Tuna / Pasta bake
Thursday: quiche, salad, mixed vegetables
Friday: Beef casserole with spicy mashed potato.
Saturday: Vegetable lasagna
Sunday : Roast gammon, parsnips, roast potatoes, mixed vegetables

For a family of 6, we average £340 a month on our shopping bills and that includes 2 sets of feminine products, cleaning products, food, alcohol and literally everything else. That average is based on last year as we spent £4074 in total. With that said, December was over £800 what with alcohol and more food being purchased as well as everyone being at home.

Everything we eat is home made though and that's the big difference. The burgers were made from mince we'd got from the butchers at the end of Saturday trading (They're closed on Sunday so sell the leftovers cheaper).

When we made the chicken curry, we had a lot of leftover chicken which has made my partner's soup for the week. We tend to buy 2 chickens and remove the breasts ourselves. It's cheaper than just buying breasts in a packet and you get a lot of meat left that can be used for other things.

That's the trick. Home made food.

Cynical_Monkey

adz0rz - This is essentially an anonymous forum so please don't feel pressured to answer this but if you don't mind me asking, how old are you?

I only ask as I have quite a few friends who live and work in Brighton and one of the best things that happened to one of them when they were in your situation was getting a part time job working in a restaurant. They literally did 2 hours on a Saturday night and left there almost every week with 2/3 days worth of fresh vegetables and meat that the restaurant would no longer use. Maybe doing something like that is an option?

tiger_eyes

adz0rz wrote: »

I've tried looking into this a bit more but would love some more information on what this would actually mean to me. Clearly I have no interest in getting anymore credit so my credit rating isn't a worry.

However would this affect any future rental agreements as I know they run credit checks?

Credit checks for renting will find only what is in the public record. That means bankruptcies and county court judgements (CCJs). A debt management plan (DMP) should not show up in the public record. You won't be getting any more credit any more time soon, but as you say, you don't need it.

Just checking your field of employment doesn't run credit checks when starting a new job? I understand some jobs in finance do this and that might make a DMP a bit awkward.

user1168934

Cynical_Monkey wrote: »

For a family of 6, we average £340 a month on our shopping bills and that includes 2 sets of feminine products, cleaning products, food, alcohol and literally everything else. That average is based on last year as we spent £4074 in total. With that said, December was over £800 what with alcohol and more food being purchased as well as everyone being at home.

... and surprise surprise ... £340/6 = £57 ish :cool:

Cynical_Monkey wrote: »

Everything we eat is home made though and that's the big difference.
.................
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That's the trick. Home made food.

exactly that :T

adz0rz

Cynical_Monkey wrote: »

adz0rz - This is essentially an anonymous forum so please don't feel pressured to answer this but if you don't mind me asking, how old are you?

I only ask as I have quite a few friends who live and work in Brighton and one of the best things that happened to one of them when they were in your situation was getting a part time job working in a restaurant. They literally did 2 hours on a Saturday night and left there almost every week with 2/3 days worth of fresh vegetables and meat that the restaurant would no longer use. Maybe doing something like that is an option?

I'm 25, it's an Interesting idea about working at a restaurant I had already considered bar work as would also stop the temptation to go out on a Saturday night!

Was your friend waiting or in the kitchens?

adz0rz

user1168934 wrote: »

Good work OP, keep it up and stick to the plan.


From what I have read on the forum several times First Direct are very picky about giving current accounts so do assess you chances carefully. Worst case scenario this will leave a search on your credit history which might reduce your chances of getting another account in the short term.

who would you recommend to try instead?

adz0rz

tiger_eyes wrote: »

Credit checks for renting will find only what is in the public record. That means bankruptcies and county court judgements (CCJs). A debt management plan (DMP) should not show up in the public record. You won't be getting any more credit any more time soon, but as you say, you don't need it.

Just checking your field of employment doesn't run credit checks when starting a new job? I understand some jobs in finance do this and that might make a DMP a bit awkward.

Thanks! This is really helpful and taken one of my worries off.

I work in IT Sales so work shouldn't be a problem

chelseablue

I would recommend getting a basic bank account so you cant have an overdraft on it

adz0rz

chelseablue wrote: »

I would recommend getting a basic bank account so you cant have an overdraft on it

Thanks Chelsea Blue, I was hoping to get a money for switching to put towards debt. Are all of these hard to get?

On a side note don't suppose you post on Chelsea Chat under the same user?

thegreenone

I took a pub job when I was 23 to help ends meet. OH then, now DH, worked endless hours with 1.5hours each way travelling so he couldn't do extra. I got off the train from my day job in London, home, changed and to the pub for 7pm until closing - Tuesdays and Fridays. I also volunteered for Sunday lunch times too when available. I can't remember how much I earned but it was cash in hand which paid for our weekly food shopping. The place I worked in was a lovely, busy social pub/restaurant and it felt like a night out even though I was working. OH was welcomed by the regulars when he came in for a drink. Do it.....


Edited to add... the pub provided me with dinner. Jacket spud n fillings, nothing major but food.