This was first published on 25 September 2013.
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It’s the 17 September, still a week away from pay day and all you have left is £6.20 to your name. In the cupboard there is only enough food to feed your family for three days and on top of this your one year old only has four nappies left.
This is the situation we found ourselves this month. We knew it would be tight financially, it always is, but this month was worse than others. Normally, a week before payday we at least have enough food to last even if there isn’t any money left.
This time is was different.
We were literally surviving on the breadline.
When you’re faced with a situation like that, what is the first thing you do? Well, the first thing we did was panic, then cry, then panic again.
For the first time in a long time, we had gotten ourselves into a situation that I was unsure how to get out of. We’d always struggled financially but never to this extent.
The good news (if you can call it that) is we did make it through to payday, we did survive.
Surviving on the breadline
First of all, we needed to set some priorities. There was us, our nine year old daughter Daniella and our one year old daughter Chloe. We needed to eat and Chloe needed nappies.
These are what we wrote down on a scrap of paper in order of importance:
1. Feeding the children
2. Nappies for youngest
3. Feeding mum and dad
Next, we went to the kitchen and made a list of all the food we had in the cupboards, fridge and freezer. It wasn’t a great deal but more than we presumed.
We worked out that with the food we had in the house if we were careful, we could feed the children breakfast, lunch and dinner for four days.
This would mean me and Skint Mum missing out on “proper” dinner a couple of times but we were OK with that.
So that left us with three days’ worth of food to purchase and sort out nappies. It was getting late and we were both emotionally shattered so we went to bed.
I didn’t sleep much that night. It was 2 am when I last looked at the time. Lots of things going through my mind.
I felt like I’d let my family down by getting into this situation.
I kept having flashbacks about bills coming through the door, creditors ringing demanding money, and me having to borrow from anywhere and anyone just to keep our head afloat.
I had let them down.
The next morning Naomi left for work and Daniella left for school, leaving me and Chloe to go to the shops and try to make our £6.20 stretch as far as possible.
The first item I looked at was nappies. We normally bought Pampers but I obviously couldn’t afford them so I grabbed the cheapest ones I could find. It was the shops own brand, 20 nappies for £1.41.
I was concerned about the quality but what else could I do?
Next on to the food. I had just under a fiver left so I headed straight for the pasta which I knew would be reasonably cheap. Grabbing three bags of basic shapes for 29p per 500g I started to think we could do this.
Pasta sauce next, two jars cost 39p per 440g and I could split the jars if I had to. I then headed to the frozen aisle where I picked up twenty frozen sausages for 91p and a 1kg bag of frozen mixed veg for 75p.
That left me £1.48 which I used to buy two tins of new potatoes for 15p each, two tins of beans for 25p each and six bananas.
When I arrived home I put the kettle on, sat Chloe in the lounge, laid all the food we had and what I had brought onto the kitchen side. We had done it. We had enough food to last until more money came in the following week.
OK, I’ll admit, the food we had wasn’t the most nutritious also there wasn’t really any variety but at least we could eat. At least when I put my children to bed every night I knew they had a full belly.
::
Today is payday and it all starts again. After all the bills are paid we don’t have much left. The last week has really opened my eyes to how close we actually are to the breadline every single month.
I’ve realised we cannot carry on living pay check to pay check because it’s not living is it? It’s surviving.
Starting from this month, Skint Mum and I are going make some changes.
We are going to stop surviving and start believing. Believing that we don’t have to live like this. Believing that we can make a better life for our family.
I don’t want to live in poverty. I don’t want my children to grow up thinking this is normal.
We want a better life and I’m going to use everything I have to achieve it.
Do you struggle to make ends meet? What have you done to change this? What advice can you give for us not to be in the same situation next month?
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Anonymous says
Hi skintdad,
Every month is a struggle for us too. My partner gets paid a basic wage plus commission so some months are better than others. This month has been particularly bad as we have had the tv licence, water bill and term fees all land in a one week period. We have managed to make it through but only with loans from family, which in its self is a vicious circle, and selling a few belongings. Fingers crossed my partner makes the commission cut off this month so we can slightly poke our heads above the water line.
The biggest monthly saving we had was to cancel our virgin media. We kept basic Internet but got rid of the tv channels and phone line. We now use our tv’s in built freeview and our mobile contracts free minutes, we hardly noticed the difference and saved ourselves nearly £50 a month.
Michelle says
Wow well done you glad your feeling better,you can look at benefits your entitled to also. Especially in your case my friend xxxx
thara says
I was in that situation in 2021 when I became sick. I am living in a rented flat far from my parents and I also have a little Maltipoo to care for as well. So I had to temporarily cancel my Netflix account (I have now re activated it) and trial a cheaper service for a few months. I also went to volunteer at a food bank that is run by a local church and also I looked at cheaper items when doing my food shop every fortnight. I recommend looking at all cheaper or free alternative options.
Skint Dad says
It really is a struggle isn’t it. We also have been through the process of borrowing money from family, banks, payday loans. We’ve also sold belongings.
You are right, it’s such a vicious circle. One that once you are in, it is near on impossible to break out of.
We are going to try and improve things one step at a time, whereas before we’ve tried to make drastic changes and it was so much to take on, we didn’t keep it up.
One thing I’m not going to do is give up believing things will get better. It may be tough, we may not have much money or holidays or nice things but at least we’ve got our families.
Sybil says
Found your blog via Mumsnet, wishing you all the luck in the world. Have you seen the blog of ‘A Girl Called Jack’? She was in a very similar position a few years ago and it may be helpful to look at some of her ideas. Hope things get better soon. x
Skint Dad says
Hi Sybil, Thanks for your comment. I will most certainly check out that blog you mention. I guess a lot of people are in the same situation at present.
It’s long road ahead but I am determined more than ever to make a better life for my children and get out of this rut we are in. Appreciate your support x
ontheupmum says
Skint dad, I am so sorry for the hard time you are having, been there and got the holey rag of a t shirt to prove it. Well done though for scraping through with your £6 and not resorting to a payday loan. do check out the blog A girl called jack, inspirational stuff there. Also, do believe that things will get better, they really do as your kids start school and parents can work more hours. I was facing bankruptcy when my daughter was a baby, broke, no money to feed the family, kept it to myself and put on a show (even to my partner) but now she is 9 things have improved beyond measure, I have a decent job now, but… even though we are pretty comfortable I don’t think I will ever forget the bad old days of going to bed hungry, not being able to scrape the money for formula milk, using every trick in the book bar theft to get things free, cheap, using points, coupons etc.
lots of love and luck to you and the family skint, it won’t be forever, I mean that xx
Helen @ Peakle Pie says
A few years ago I was near the breadline and yes it is a lonely and horrible place. I used to search the bargain bins at the supermarkets and I used to know when they would put the yellow reduced stickers on the perishable goods.
There is a lovely page on facebook where they are doing LOADS to make their children’s childhood magical and it is all on a shoestring – simple, cheap ideas that are loads of fun – I think she is setting up a blog too. Hope this link works to the facebook page – but if not search for Family Days Tried and tested on Facebook. Good luck x
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Family-days-Tried-tested/287237957955725?fref=ts
Skint Dad says
Hi ontheupmum, thank you so much for your comment. It really means a lot that people can relate to what we are going through. xx
Skint Dad says
Hi Helen, Thanks for the suggestions, I will check them out after the kids are in bed. x
Mike says
I also agree with the others, A Girl Called Jack is a fantastic blog; and awesome inspiration for those that are going through it.
It’s horrible knowing someone so close, is going through such a tough patch, and I really do hope everything is going to be OK for you mate, I really do.
Chin up! :)
Skint Dad says
Hey Mike, Thanks for your kind words. :)
Jude says
Ouch, that is tough but well done for feeding your family and staying positive. It’s just a small thing but have you considered using reusesable cloth nappies? I did this to make cut backs and it saved quite a bit. You can rent them from nappy libraries and pick them up cheap on eBay. It’s a bit daunting for the starter though so tweet me if you go that route. Good luck. A girl called Jack is also s great blog. X
Skint Dad says
Hello Jude, Thanks for leaving a comment. Cloth nappies are something we will definitely look into. I have been reading ‘A girl called Jack’ this morning and I can certainly relate to what she went/is going through.
It’s a long road ahead and I will be the first to admit we’ve made some wrong decisions in the past but, from the response and support I have received from this post, well, it’s made me even more determined to make something better for our children. x
edie says
skintdad, I admire your attitude. I’ve never been in that situation with the responsibility of children, so I really hope you don think my ideas are patronising.
A lot of what we do and love in our family is free. I think doing fun stuff for free (using libraries, parks, galleries and museums etc) can really help you develop that attitude of not living in poverty (alongside any financial plans to get out of poverty.)
You can get onto Freecycle and look out for or request toys, bikes, books and musical instruments for your children. We give stuff away on Freecycle a lot and have given or been given fantastic things including new skateboards, clothes, bikes, art easels etc as well as furniture – even nappies, actually. If you asked for nappies on Freecycle, loads of people would offer what they have left after their children stopped needing them. We still have some in our cupboard – I’ll post them on Freecycle now I’ve read your blog!
Skint Dad says
Hi Edie, Of course I don’t think you are patronising, freecycle is a fantastic idea, thank you for your suggestion :-)
adventage says
I was also directed to your blog via Mumsnet. I’ve been there myself when I was a single parent years ago and even now some months are a bit tight when we get a one off bill in, such as car repairs, or the school residential trip.
I would also recommend the forums on moneysavingexpert.com, especially the old style forum. There is also very useful information to help you decide if there are cheaper ways of buying what you need, such as insurance, gas, electric, phone lines etc. Over the years we’ve been using the site, we’ve saved many 100’s if not 1000’s of pounds.
Are you or your wife in a position to get an additional part-time job? I used to do silver service waitressing. Two or three weddings every Saturday for 6 months of the year, with occasional sporting dinners and such. Then the Christmas dinner dances and discos most of November and December. I’ve also delivered yellow pages over a few weeks in March April for a one off payment (£65 when I did it 10 years ago). Recently I was working as waking nights in a care home 2 nights a week. When you are down to small change at the end of the month, even £10 a week extra can make a big difference. One night a week in a bar glass collecting or restaurant potwash etc, even for a couple of months can make a difference.
I wish you all the best, I know it is hard, I’ve been there.
Skint Dad says
Hello, I agree, moneysavingexpert is a great resource which until now I haven’t taken advantage of (this will change). In regards to extra work, my partner works full time whilst I look the children, we also have two extra cleaning jobs in the evening.
I am currently looking for more evening work but with childcare being so expensive, it’s difficult to find something suitable.
Thank you for your kind words :-)
Emma says
Washable nappies make a huge difference because whatever else happens, you will always have nappies in the house, and they save a fortune in cash terms. Ask on Freegle and Freecycle, I have given a lot away on there.
Skint Dad says
Hi Emma, someone has already mentioned freecycle but freegle is something I will check out. Thanks :-)
Jem says
I have some cloth nappies you can have assuming you have the facilities to wash them, but even if you stick to disposables the name brands are not worth paying for. Aldi’s disposables are rated well.
Tinned tomatoes are cheaper than jarred sauces and last longer in the cupboard, but they’re no bland without herbs or garlic, so best to try and buy a stock cupboard item every week or 2 so that you can liven things up. You probably know this mind you.
Mortgage Free in Three is another good frugal blog to read – single mum with two kids doing a fab job of keeping her family on a low budget :)
I’m not living on the breadline now, but as a kid living with my dad we survived on beans on toast for weeks at time. I always knew I’d do everything in my power not to put my kids through that.
Skint Dad says
Hi Jem, until last week we had always used branded nappies but since buying the basic ones and using them on our youngest we have found these to be fine. It actually pains me to think how much money we have spent buying pampers/huggies etc when we needn’t of.
We have started drawing up a master plan to help get us out of this awful situation we are in and one of those things is to build up a store cupboard which we can turn to when money is low.
The hardest thing about all of this is up until a week or so ago we thought we were doing just about OK. It was only until realisation set in that we weren’t able to feed ourselves properly that it finally woke us up to the fact that we are actually struggling and as close to the breadline as we can be.
It’s a complete wake up call and one I am going to fight to change.
Daffy says
You guys are amazing and my heart and hugs go out to you both – there are lots of great, practical ideas and suggestions above, which are brilliant, but having been desperate at times myself I know how emotional a lot of this is and power to you guys for keeping it together and positive for your whole family. Just know that myself and others are thinking of you. Also, not trying to suggest you want charity, but I’ve seen American blogs with a donation jar where people can stick in little bits of cash to help. Maybe not something you’re comfortable with, but really hope you find more support soon xx
Skint Dad says
Thanks Daffy, your support and suggestions really mean something. xx
hurrahforgin says
Without being patronising you sound like you are doing a fantastic job! We don’t live on the breadline as such but we don’t have much left to spare when all the essentials have been paid. We always plan our meals out by the week and do lots of free activities with the kids such as music class at the library and council run stay and plays. Freecycle is also fab and i can highly recommend a toy library if you have one near you? They tire of them after a week or two so its perfect :)
Skint Dad says
Thanks for your comment. I’ve not heard of a toy library before so I will check that out.
A few people have mentioned freecycle and I fully intend to sign up this evening after the children go to bed. x
Skint Dad says
Wow. I am so overwhelmed with all of the comments. It’s heartwarming to see so many helpful and supportive people.
I am a proud man and it took a lot for me to write the above post but I am so glad I have.
Sorry if I don’t reply to every comment tonight but I promise I will. Skint mum keeps asking me if I have something in my eye xx
Anonymous says
Cheering you on skintdad. Your kids will grow up very proud of you and skintmum. If things get really desperate, remember there are foodbanks available who might be able to help
Skint Dad says
Really appreciate your comment. Thank you :-)
Vikkilyra says
Skintdad
You have moved me so much this evening; the struggles you face but your overwhelming belief that things will get better. They will and it may not be the swiftest journey you will undertake but I’m left with no doubt that you will succeed.
It’s just my daughter and myself; the worst times were going to buy a loaf of bread for 28p – all in coppers – and selling my wedding and engagement rings for £40 in order to buy food for us. Things are better now – not ideal by any means though. I still have to decide which bills I can pay each month and I always use a calculator when shopping! But there are no copper coins used now! Lidl and Aldi are good, Tesco own-brand very reasonable. eBay and charity shops provide us with clothes, books, furnishings. I have also bought things from auctions and markets. There is also a website called Approved Foods which sells foods close to sell-by dates very cheaply. And, of course, Freecycle is fab!
My goal is to become debt-free in the next two years. Hope it happens. You and your family sound amazing. Take care :-)
Skint Dad says
Thank you so much for you comment. I also have been shopping with a handful of coppers, I can remember being so embarrassed but I didn’t have a choice.
Over the years we have also sold precious things which we will never get back. I can also see we will have to do that again in the near future but, if that’s what it takes to survive and feed my children then so be it.
I really hope you achieve your goal of being debt free, I don’t even want to think about the debt we are in at present.
Its something we are going to have to face up to but I want to make sure the cupboards are full first.
Again, thank you for your support x
Sharon says
I have been living frugally now for 5 years, beings ingle and raiding 3 children mortgage to pay and going from teaching to childminding and s major drop in income really opened my eyes up to how I was spending my money and how to make my pennies stretch further. I brand dropped, shop at Aldi and shop when offers are on for things we use then stock up, make our own bread and treats like flapjacks cakes etc, batch cook, my slow cooker is a god send, u have learnt how to make a chicken last at least 3 meals and how to stretch mince in recipes etc, which makes a huge difference to the shopping budget. Approved food is fantastic and shopping at discount stores, And for deals I check out ukhotdeals daily for deals from food to gifts that I can stash away when on offer.
I have been there and gone without meals in the past and the curent climate in this country is making everyone feel the pinch
Sharon x
Skint Dad says
Hi Sharon, thanks for the suggestions. I think we are going to try amd make our own bread this weekend. I don’t know too much about slow cookers but will look into it.
You are right, everyone is feeling the pinch. I just pray things start to improve. x
Vickypinkxx (@Vickypinkxx) says
I use Basics £1.41 nappies all the time & have no issue with them – they do the job & so much cheaper. I also use the Basics wipes (around 50p a packet) to keep costs down. My whole trolley is full of Basics items on a regular basis because the range is huge & tastes fine. Other than that I stick to the Buy one get one frees or other special offers & reductions as I have to to keep the bills down. In Sainsbury’s they have basics ground black pepper 19p & Basics herbs in their spices section if you get stuck for flavouring.
I hope things improve soon for you – it isn’t easy.
Skint Dad says
Hey Vicky, The nappies are fine aren’t they! It makes me feel a bit sick when I start to add up how much we’ve wasted on brand name ones.
Thanks for your support, it really does mean a lot x
queonda says
I feel for you so much. We!ve had a few months of only have a few pounds left for the last week. It’s a horrible feeling.
These things made a huge difference:
1. Working out how much money a month we had left over after bills to spend on food/petrol/clothes
2. Using washable (but given to us via freecycle) nappies
3. Hanging out at cheap time at supermarket, then bulk cooking food, then freezing.we always bulk out meals with lentils, an extra tin of tomatos.
4. Shopping at aldi and meal planning.
5. For xmas we agreed no presents for adults (though now we do secret santa with one adult), and agreed present price limit for immediate family children and spoke to all out friends/ more distant relatives ans agreed no pressies for kids. Ps dont go mental at xmas, we have a chicken roast, the kids pressents are ALL second hand, none of them have ever complained not even the 17 year old who is wise enough to know it means he gets lots more stuff.
Skint Dad says
Thank you for all the suggestions. I certainly be trying to implement most if not all of them.
I really cannot believe how we are in this situation. It really is a wake up call.
There is so much I need to sort out that it is all a bit overwhelming but with comments and suggestions like you and others have given, I really believe I can turn things around and give my family the life they deserve.
I really do appreciate your support.
Ali says
I am also cheering you on skintight dad. I have been fortunate never to have walked in your shoes, so forgive me if I say the wrong thing, but I wanted you to know that I care and I really admire you for your determination. I wondered if your children might be eligible for free school meals, it may be worth a discussion with the school, even if it just means that they make sure your children are at the front for any class handouts. On the meals front I have found that lentils are a great way of bulking out lots of meals, eg veg soup with lentils, or if you are making a mince dish put in a handful of lentils and they can make it go twice as far. Good luck .
Skint Dad says
Hi Ali, Of course you are not saying the wrong thing.
Because one of us works full time and we aren’t eligible for any benefit etc. our children don’t qualify for free meals at school.
Appreciate your suggestion though, thanks
Claire says
I had a ‘poor’ childhood in the financial sense – I remember overhearing my parents discussing what to do if my dad was made bankrupt – but it was so rich in other ways.
We (my two elder sisters and I) used to do things like cover the back garden with left over plastic sheets then chuck on water with washing up liquid on – best fun ever sliding around! Or we’d go to the river and spend ages catching insects, baby fish etc.
I could go on for a while but what I really mean to say is that I did not miss money growing up. Your children will not have a bad childhood just because of having a few basic meals or a few secondhand things. As long as you keep on doing a good job like you are doing, they will grow up to be happy and well-adjusted adults!
Keep up the good work!
Skint Dad says
Hey Claire, Thanks for your comments. You are most definitely right about not needing money to have a good childhood. My little one loves nothing more that playing with empty cereal boxes etc.
edlyu says
I spent many years living like this. I am in a bit more fortunate position at present and appreciate every moment of being able to buy what I want in the supermarket now rather than trawling through the aisles looking for that elusive item that costs less than the pennies in my purse. Old habits die hard though and I would never pass a reduced bin without a good look through.
I used soya mince a lot when making anything with mince. I also bulked out mince with porridge oats. Not at the same time though but maybe it would work LOL
One thing that did work out so much cheaper and easier for me was meal planning on a 2 weekly basis. I listed all the things the family liked to eat – no point making wholesome food no-one will eat – and then categorised them into veggie/chicken/red meat based meals. I itemised the ingredients then shopped for the whole lot at once. so that I knew we would have enough meals to last a fortnight. I also had powdered milk and some bread mixes to keep as store cupboard back ups .
In a very big pinch I also used towels and tea towels as nappies. I didnt even have the nappy pins to hold them together but utilised a nappy that had been only slightly damp .I stripped away the inside padding and used the plastic as a nappy cover. Needs must and all that. Also for a non mobile baby a lot of bare bum time saved several nappies.
Keep on keeping on :)
Skint Dad says
Hello, Some really good suggestions, thank you :-)
uncheshire wife says
I have never seen so many comments on a post, amazing what you bought with your money. I have started to watch what we buy, and be a bit more frugal. Thanks for writing this post it’s a wake up for some of us.
Mrs O says
Thanks for being so honest. My top tips (sorry it’s a bit random)- if you want to stick with disposable nappies aldi is totally the way forward. Aldi, Morrissons and green grocers are a cheap way to shop. Both supermarkets do very good deals on fruit n veg. Spaghetti is cheaper than pasta shapes usually.stick to a shopping list. Compare prices within the shop eg chopped tomatoes are sometimes cheaper in the ‘world food’ aisle compared with the tinned veg aisle. Frozen veg is just as good/better than fresh. Frozen fish works too and you can buy in bulk for savings.eggs are fab- protein and versatile too. Buy yourself a treat/2 if you can manage at the supermarket so that it saves you buying on impulse at expensive places. Make a rule not to buy anything else when paying for petrol. Prices are RIDONKULOus and if you really need it you can get it elsewhere. Take your own teas/coffees places? I bought a mint plant from my dear Morrissons and have had it about 2 months- great for tea. Cheap Snacks for kids = raisins and breadsticks…
For clothing- try eBay clothing bundles. We looked really closely at where our money was going and unfortunately a lot was going on paying off interest. We rearranged our credit to get lower rates. Not sure if debt is a thing you’re struggling with but it made a massive difference for us! Good luck and will keep following you and hope things get better for you and for us!
mia says
Can relate to this! My partner and I have never had much money – despite him working full time and me earning half a wage on the side of uni (mature student). We made a huge decision that we thought was for the best – move abroad to my home country (Norway) where we -wrongly- thought we would have a better financial future. And how wrong were we! I’m not going to go in details, but neither of us can find work, apart from occasional part time work. The first two months we managed to find money for rent in an old savings account of mine, and the next we had earned enough to pay it ourselves. Food is sporadic – much comes from family lending us money for it. Found out 2 weeks after moving that we’re expecting our first child – so it feels neglectful not to be able to eat a healthy, varied diet when it matters to our unborn baby! Neither of us is entitled to any financial help, as he is not Norwegian, and I have been studying rather than working for the last 3 years. I am not able to receive basic support for food, and our rent is £100 too high for them to be willing to give us the £350 a month poor people can receive in housing benefits. We did not expect to have to go down the benefit route when moving, as family assured us it was easy to get jobs. It is not, and now, speaking to others that are also looking for work, it’s very very difficult for young people especially. However, I am shocked at the lack of support available – and I have been told that whilst I may be entitled to social support for food in the near future, in 4 months when our baby is born, I will not be entitled to any at all, as I won’t be available for work. I must say I am in disbelief of such a wealthy country allowing a newborn child to potentially go hungry and homeless, as we are not able to live with any of my family or friends. Work horizon is not looking good, and there is no guarantee we will have work before I’m due, so it is very stressful to be so unsure of the future. Also applying the potato and pasta tactic of eating, as it seems the only way forward currently!
D P says
I am so sorry to hear this. The health of your child is most important. Have you considered researching the countries that would be most hospitable and moving? There are many countries within a few hours train ride from Norway. I would not give up. Also, I’d volunteer to help clean out people’s closets and cupboards in exchange for anything they don’t want. Then use the food and sell or use the clothing. Begin rounding up clothing for the baby now. Can you do babysitting on the weekends for friends who are going out or housesitting dogs? Thinking outside of the box may help. So sorry.
Ricky Willis says
Thanks for your thoughts. Finding extra ways to increase our income certainly has helped.
siandy says
You did really well. I’m glad you thought it all threw and didn’t just go buy nappies and nope everything else would fall in place. So many people would bury there heads in the sand.
We used basic nappies. we forgot the changing bag one day and i was sat in the car counting change in the ashtray! after trying them we never looked back, as soon as our youngest could fit in them he went in them aswell. The big orange supermarket does 1/3 off baby events which makes them £1 a packet. I used to keep some money aside and stock up, i understand you can’t do that but even if you just get 1 extra packet for next week it will still help.
Pasta’s always the way to go :) when we’re really tight i buy value dried spagetti it’s only 15p and we can get 2 meals from it, cook it with a handful of frozen peas and sweetcorn and some pasta sauce (value or homemade ofcourse) sometimes I do it with a packet mix of cheese sauce made using milk powder, i couldn’t buy the cheese and milk to make my own sauce any cheaper!!
If you can get discount codes or supermarket till spits it could save you abit on your shopping, i have £50 of shopping coming on wed that only cost me £38 with delivery and it would have cost me £3 to drive in and back anyway.
90% of my shopping is value/smart price and the other 10% is only because they don’t do it in value or it’s on offer so cheaper (tesco have 4 tins of tomatoes for £1 right now so cheaper than value) When i have vouchers i always get some tinned stuff, tinned spag bol is 15p and sometimes is served with tinned potatoes mashed with a wee bit of butter and a handful of value sweetcorn, means tea for 3 kids is less than 40p and they store for ages.
I wish you lots of luck and i will be following you to see how you get on.
lesley says
Hiya skint dad, what a horrible week! I have been skint many times in my life (not now) but partly because of that I write a blog with meals to enable you to feed yourself on £1 a day. You might find some recipes there that help, thriftylesley.com.
There are meal plans too, although I know how fussy kids can be, so they might not suit
Well done for keeping on keeping on
RB says
You’re doing brilliantly for facing up to things and doing something about it. It’s just a small tip but I love mysupermarket.com. You can compare prices on things in different stores and either order online or print of a shopping list and walk to the cheapest (or go round several getting the best deals in each!) I don’t have children but I had one particularly skint year a few years back and picked up some good habits that I’ve kept (can always do better though!). The other thing I’d say is to get every free points card going. Tesco club card has paid for iTunes vouchers for presents, and a free day out for two of us to Alton Towers. You can link it to all sorts of things, like paying brutish gas bills too. Boots advantage card has also paid for Christmas presents.
Get a nectar card for linking to Ebay account if you have one.
Lastly, if you’re ever buying online, go through a cash back website and get rewards. May as well get given something for things you were going to have to buy anyway!
Volunteer Debt Adviser says
Hi SkintDad,
I’m a volunteer debt adviser and I wondered if part of your struggle is because you are making high repayments on your loans which is using up a lot of your income? I wondered if you’ve looked into renegotiating your payment plans with your creditors?
With our clients we draw up financial statements of family income and outgoings – all the essentials; groceries, travel, bills, phone, tv etc. Then, whatever is left after all that we offer to pay the creditors on a pro-rata basis. We also ask creditors to stop charging interest, which most are happy to do when they can see that the client is struggling financially.
The only disadvantage of this in your case is if you’re managing to keep up with your loan repayments then defaulting on your loans will affect your credit rating, but if you’ve already missed loan repayments because they’re simply too high, then there’s less to lose and negotiating is a good option.
We normally give face-to-face advice and negotiate with creditors on behalf of clients, but there are resources out there for people to do this themselves, here are good sources:
https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/money-troubles/dealing-with-debt
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
You may have already thought of all this, but if not and you think this may be an option for you and you’d like some advice over email, I’d be happy to help!
Kind regards,
Volunteer Debt Adviser
Skint Dad says
Hello,
Thanks the information which is very helpful for me and my readers.
Since writing this blog post I have done exactly what you suggested and are now paying an affordable sum towards our debts.
If you have a look through some of my other posts under the category “Skint Dad’s Debt Diary” you can see exactly how we are managing.
Thanks again :D
Tom @Ideas4Dads says
This brought a tear to my eye, made me very humble ansld gave me some perspective I needed today. Keep up all the good work and spreading your message – its a good one :-) take care Tom
@FQFtweets says
Very interesting post. I like how your blog has a strong emotional appeal. I’m glad you pulled me over from Twitter! :)
Well I’d say that since you’re a frugal-living blogger, there isn’t much advice I could give you on saving money. So I would suggest you make more money. Instead of running to the pasta isle, why didn’t you consider selling an item you own? Or trying to find a gig you could do that would bring in an extra bit of income for the week?
Avdhut says
We found it useful to have set affordable menus. Nutritious doesn’t have to be expensive, or bland. Buying rice and pulses in bulk from Indian groceries is a saver too, and they have lots of interesting ingredients.
Katie of LifeOnVista says
We aren’t here yet, but if we don’t start to make some changes we will be very soon. We are currently spending more money on minimum payments than we are on utility bills and a few things are starting to bounce… another £12 charge. We need to take a leaf out of your book x
Gemma says
WOW some great tips here that im storing up! Im making 2016 the year i get good with money! I waste too much food so by reigning this in id be able to save loads! Great blog
Bocketywoman says
When I was in uni, to save money on cooking food, I made a hay box to slow cook food because we couldn’t afford a slow cooker. You get a polystyrene or strong cardboard box and line it with straw at the bottom. Put the saucepan you will be using (I had a casserole pot) in and stuff straw around it as tightly as you can. I then put the pot lid on and filled a strongish plastic bag with straw and moulded it around the lid, closed the box and sat on it for an episode of Star Trek (apologies-I’m a geekazoid). The top straw was In a bag so it didn’t fall into our dinner.. Tie up the bag to stop the straw falling out and you are done. The box now acts as a slow cooker.. You start the food off on the stove top and whe it has cooked for about twenty of your earth minutes, you stuff it in the box and put the lid on tightly. The covering of straw is an excellent insulator and the pot contents continue to cook for hours. Saves leaving things to stew in the oven or on the stove top and as we all know, ovens cost money.
Bocketywoman says
Hay or dried grass works too.
joe bloggs says
im 27 and skint, I have struggled with depression and anxiety since i was 18 after my Nan past away, I went to work at 16 to provide an income and was ok with work until after my nan past i felt useless, i never went to college or university, i had multiple jobs since then untill i was about 23 when i was made homeless for a year, i now live 25 miles from my home town, i cant work and now i have a 3 week year old son. to make it worse 2 years ago i inherited £40,000 which i spent in about a year on drugs. my mind is filled with shit and i dont no how to break free, doctors do not help, if i could start again i would for the sake of my 3 week year old son. im fed up with food banks and struggling to provide on the petty benefits that i get but i see no way out.
Ricky Willis says
Thanks for reaching out to me and many congratulations on the birth of your son.
Some of what you are saying rings true to me as well. Although I don’t usually talk about it openly, I have suffered with bouts of depression which were made worse when my mum and dad both died when I was 17 years old.
I dropped out of college when I had to move out of my family home and live alone. I had more jobs than I remember in my 20s.
That part of my life was very dark but it made me stronger and helped make me who I am today. I used my pain and started to turn my life around properly when I met my wife.
What is truly difficult is that it’s hard to believe there’s a way out when you feel trapped. There is a constant cycle of bad days after bad days. There is worry and pain and hurt. However IT DOES STOP!! IT REALLY DOES!
You may come back and read this, you may not. I just really hope that you find some ways to cope, that you find ways to help change your life and that you do well.
Today may seem difficult but tomorrow (or the day after, or even the week after) WILL get better.
You may feel that you’ve reached out and got no where, but please do try again.
For money support contact:
https://www.stepchange.org/ Call them on 0800 138 1111
For emotional support contact:
http://www.samaritans.org/ Call them on 116 123
Both number are free to call, including from mobiles.
Ricky Willis says
Thanks for your kind words Kay. I am proof enough that anyone can get through to the end of a bad financial journey.
Ricky Willis says
Hi Emma, thanks for you comments. We are now Lidl shoppers and get loads of their food – the quality is great!
D P says
Hello from across the pond. I went from being a science teacher to disabled after having a stroke while teaching. This has caused extreme changes in my financial life. I have a small “stock pile” of food which I keep in glass jars that I have reused. This stock pile is not glamourous, it is beans, rice, flour, oatmeal mostly. I also have tins of tuna and a few boxes of spaghetti, coffee, and some oil. This little stock pile has saved me more times than I can count!
Ricky Willis says
Sorry to hear about your health. Keeping small stocks piles like that sounds like a great idea; if you can’t get food in for any reason then you’ve got something to turn to. They are basic ingredients but it’s those exact ingredients that can make a decent meal!
Natalie Broughton says
Hi Ricky, i follow you on facebook (skint dad &reduce supermarket spend). i am so thankful that i found you and Naomi. this post is near enough every month, well was until this month. following your advice via facebook and your website we are tackling our monsterous £24k of debt including rent/counciltax and water arrears. We both know that it isnt going to be easy, but its got to be easier than hiding when the door knocks, ignoring the phone at 8.30 at night, crying myself to sleep and the embarrasment of the card declining at lidl! i cant thank you enough for inspiring both my partner and I to sort our act out. Like you i was stupid in my late teens/early 20’s with credit cards, loans etc. but i have literally just turned 30 and feel that i need to sort my life out especially having a young family. i cried reading this post. i have lived off value porridge oats and water so my kids would eat and have nappies. honestly thank you so so so much. Natalie x
Ricky Willis says
Sorry to hear you’ve had tough times Natalie, but so happy that things are starting to change for you.
I totally agree that the supermarket is a place to reduce your bill considerably, and the tips we all share really do make a difference.
That debt of yours will be a thing of the past soon and I hope you can enjoy the majority of your 30s debt free!
Ricky Willis says
Sorry to hear you’re struggling Elaine. You don’t need to be on any kind of benefits to receive a parcel from a food bank. I believe you’re only able to get three parcels a year so if you’re really in need, please visit your local Citizens Advice Bureau or your GP and they should be able to make a referral for you.
Matha Tornabene says
I have read a few good stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much effort you put to create such a great informative web site.
zoe says
I remember back when we had to borrow from family and loans. we then started looking at ways round every thing. I came across something on YouTube. it’s where you have down your in and out goings. you then meant to do 40% bills, 30% food and fun and then 30% save. we couldn’t do not where near that to start off as we didn’t have anything to save. we are a lot better off now as we save about 15% income and still have money to have fun days with but it takes time and you need to look at what your paying out and how best you came lower that.
Brittany says
The struggle is real, even here in the U.S for us. Every month we don’t know how we are going to make it by. I can barely afford to get to work, there are days i go without eating what i need to just so my kids can, kind of like you two did. Reading your blog oddly enough brings comfort that it isn’t just us struggling. I have a good job. I am a police officer for the state, and my husband is also a first responder. But we don’t make enough between the bills, and gas to get by its a struggle. Thank you for being so honest in your blogs. They really are inspiring for someone going through the same things.