Partner left me - have £135 left till 30th Nov

[Deleted User]

Im determined not to go overdrawn. He used to eat all the food or want expensive items. I cannot even bear to write down the amount we spent on food per month ! 

Ive literally no idea how to budget. I usually shop at Tesco as I get 10% off with colleague discount card. 

Wicked_Lady

Sorry to hear this. You might want to make a list of what food you already have in the house and how many people it needs to feed. Then look at what meals you need to cover and take it from there. 
I'm sure someone will be along with more specific advice in a while.
Does the money have to cover anything else or is it just for food?

purpleybat

first off... a big HUG for you
may or may not be similar but i kicked my husband out at this time of year and just felt wretched. i was on incapacity benefits of £55 a week, spiralling debts, depression and agoraphobia. i was determined for it not to beat me and pleased to say it didn't.
as said you need to list what the money has to cover, food, rent, bills etc. if it is just food then i agree to list what you have, if you need help thinking of tasty meals (i ate a HUGE amount of lentils and carrots etc spicing them differently to get a variety) just give us a shout or pop to the monthly budget challenge thread where are lots of cheaper meals.
if its debts too can i urge you to contact the companies to try to sort a realistic payment schedule with them, they seem a bit more helpful now than they were 10 years ago. i started by trying to ignore it hoping it went away... it doesn't.
please keep in mind that tomorrow is always a new day and things will get better. grab a cheapo bottle of wine and skype (etc) a good pal for a cry and whinge to get it out of your system, then once the hangover is over you can sit and think what you need to do short term and want to do long term.

Grumpelstiltskin

As Wicked Lady says sit down and see what food you have in, then only buy what is essential and what will be used and not wasted.
Do you have any essential bills ( rent, council tax, utilities) that have to be paid before the end of the month ?
Don't panic it will be solvable.

[Deleted User]

Thank you so much everyone for your kind words and reading my thread back it looks like Im in dire straights. Im not - all bills paid on 1st of the month. Its just Ive never been able to budget with food. I am going to eat my way through the freezer and make this money last. My only saving grace is lockdown and now living on my own, I can watch every penny. I always find there is “something” that needs buying though. 

PipneyJane

Hi @Densol.  Please take a look at the Grocery Challenge .  The first few posts contain links to multiple threads about budgetting and stretching the pennies, as well as multiple recipes.  What do you have in the fridge, freezer and pantry?  We can probably help you get the most out of those, too, without having to spend hours in the kitchen.

- Pip

[Deleted User]

PipneyJane said: lo

Hi @Densol.  Please take a look at the Grocery Challenge .  The first few posts contain links to multiple threads about budgetting and stretching the pennies, as well as multiple recipes.  What do you have in the fridge, freezer and pantry?  We can probably help you get the most out of those, too, without having to spend hours in the kitchen.

- Pip

Oh brill !! I will do - cheers 
Ive got a lump of pork, two whole cooked chickens, some cheap steak, chicken nuggets, two lasagnes I made, Iceland frozen veg, fattening rubbish like onion rings and breaded mushrooms and there must be other stuff in there too ! 

cuddlymarm

Hi Densol
You're sounding a little more positive already. Be kind to yourself. 

The whole chickens can be used over a few meals. A few slices with a couples of the onion rings and/or mushrooms with chips or veg. Also sandwiches or in curry or a sauce of some kind. Tossed in pasta ( salad cream or Mayo is nice with chicken and pasta) with sweetcorn or mixed veg.
The lasagnes would probably do a dinner and then lunch.
Dont forget a bigger piece of meat can be made into a few meals and then frozen separately ( in gravy or sauce)
If you normally bake cakes can be cut up and frozen so you’ve a treat a few minutes away. 

You’ll probably be able to make the month on spending very little. 

Make sure you check whether you are entitled to any benefits too.
Look after yourself 

skogar

Hello Densol,

Good to hear that bills are paid and that you have a fair bit of food in. That will make things easier. Also including today there are only 10 days left till the end of the month so you've got about £10 / day. It's definitely doable and sounds more like fear of the unknown. The fact that you mention lasagne you have made means you cook so its all looking good.  

As Pip says if you have a look in the fridge / store cupboard and let us know what else you have in we may be able to make some suggestions.

[Deleted User]

Thank you again everyone 
Id hate anyone to think Im short- I get a decent pension so no benefits applicable for me 
Ive just been really stupid and let a man take advantage of my goodwill and Ive wasted a lot of money on him and his kids and I dont have any money left ! 

I’ll do my best to save and catch back up a bit - I just need to stop blooming spending.

Plus Im fat now after loosing weight before I met him, so a diet will save me a lot of money too

[Deleted User]

Well I never realised how the upset of a break up stops eating !!
I have spent £3 on some bread and tins of beans as I cannot face cooking, or eating anything else