PTSD, can’t work, budget meals?

[ultimatelyStrong]

I’ve been in sticky situations in the past but never ever this bad. I have £60 to last 3 weeks for food. There’s me and the kids. I can’t feed everyone on instant noodles every day. I’ve applied for free school meals and school has a free breakfast club that I can utilise if I need to. So it’s dinners and after school/weekend snacks. My kids eat huge amounts I swear I can’t keep up. What can I make from basic baking ingredients and cupboard staples? Feeling scared and guilty that I couldn’t just get on with it for the children. 🙁

[KIP.]

Hey, it’s not your fault and it won’t always be like this. Have you looked at food banks for the short term? Look around for local charities too x if your kids eat soups you can get cheap veg in the reduced section and make a huge batch, throw in some rice or pasta. I find it quite relaxing chopping veg. Own brand supermarket tins of food are good value. I look for reduced items that I can freeze too. Make sure they get to the free breakfast club and free school dinners. You can tell them in a good way to fill up on these two meals.

[KIP.]

My local women’s aid gave me a basket of food and thins they had collected. Maybe give your local branch a ring or pop in and see them. They’re great and will understand what you’re going through. They may also have contacts that can be useful x

[Escapee]

Hi 😊

Firstly, have you accessed food banks? That may help.

Food stuff –
Baked rice dish – it’s really filling and delicious.
Fish pie – but make it with fish fingers
Pasta with sausage meatballs – use cheap sausages and cut them into 5 or 6 sections.
Use your veg peelings and make ‘crisps’

Also if you know where there’s apple trees, go get some freebies. This time of year, people who have apple trees in there garden often give away loads of apples. And there’s still BlackBerries out there. You can’t beat a good crumble.

Make Yorkshire puddings and fill them with a casserole of some description.
Dumplings are another good tummy filler.

If you’ve got chick peas in the cupboard – chick pea burgers??

Bean bake – again made with any pulses you have in the cupboard.

I hope some of this helps. You could also post a list of ingredients that you’ve got and I bet you’ll get all sorts of ideas from the lovely ladies on here.
Xxxx

[ultimatelyStrong]

Amazing ideas thanks everyone. Do I need a referral to use a food bank? Anyone know how it works? x

[KIP.]

Google local food banks….

I have heard so some that don’t need referrals. Good luck x

Each food bank works with different frontline professionals, such as doctors, health visitors, social workers and the Citizens Advice, who make referrals to the food bank using a voucher.

The food bank and referral agency use the voucher to gather some basic information. This will help them to identify the cause of the crisis, offer practical guidance and prepare suitable emergency food.

[KIP.]

I’m thinking possibly women’s aid can also make a referral if you’re already in touch x go for it and let us know how you get on. It all sounds very hopeful x

[Fudgecake]

Hi,
You could buy large bag of potatoes and make chips and mash far cheaper than buying.
Keep potatoes in a dark cupboard to stop them going to seed too soon.
Buy some sausages and make bangers and mash.
Also, you can make baked beans with spaghetti and grated cheese on top which is filling, tasty and nutritional.
Eggs go a long way too, omelette/ scrambled or poached on bread ( can get reduced in supermarket).

[Twisted Sister]

Hi

If you go to supermarkets at thr right times you can get a bag full of shopping for £10 or less. Meals dropped to 50p etc, bags of fruit the same, veggies, salad bags, loaves, all down to like 40/50p. You can have loads of food, you just have to time it right. Fill your freezer

There is lots in hedgerows at the moment, fresh juicy apples, plums, blackberries, figs, grapes. Well, not graoes and figs in hedgerows, but ther will be a glut of them and spare often in cartes outside houses with honesty tins for small amounts.

Do speak to your GP/WA for food bank vouchers. Please don’t struggle on without support.

Warmest wishes

TS

[Escapee]

Churches often have food banks too.

[Author]

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