A SELF-PROCLAIMED “poor AF” single dad has shared how he feeds his family for just £1.15.
The father from London, who claimed to be ‘struggling’ as a result of the cost of living crisis, revealed how he chefs up dinner for his kids without having to break the bank.
A single father has revealed how he feeds his children for only £1.15[/caption]
Posting on social media, the content creator demonstrated how he turns a packet of instant noodles, a tin of sardines and some bread from Asda into a meal for three.
The dad uploaded his short clip online with the caption ‘Feeding my children on a low budget’, leaving many open-mouthed.
At the start of the video, the father revealed that he had just £1.15 to spend, as he gave his followers a close-up look at his pennies and 5p coins.
The father then headed to Asda to get his groceries – where he bagged a tin of sardines in tomato sauce for 45p and curry flavoured instant noodles, for only 25p, both of which were from the chain’s Just Essentials range.
Upon arriving home, the father got cooking the family’s simple but carb-heavy dinner.
After adding a generous amount of oil into a pan, the father added his two packs of sardines.
Whilst this was heating through, the foodie, who has 180,100 followers on TikTok, cooked his instant noodles in the microwave.
Once ready, he mixed it all together and served his simple dish on a piece of white bread, which he topped with a small squirt of tomato ketchup.
But the TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @tok_savings, has clearly left many totally stunned, as it has quickly amassed 371,100 views, 6,480 likes and 330 comments.
Social media users were left massively divided by the video – whilst some praised his budget meal, others were horrified at the unique dish.
One person said: “My son loves sardines. This would be right up his alley.”
Another added: “He’s trying to provide at least. Might not be Gordon Ramsay type food but it’s still food.”
I think I would rather eat dog food than that
TikTok user
A third commented: “Why does that look so good though.”
However, at the same time, not everyone was as kind, as one troll slammed: “Wouldn’t even let a dog eat that.”
Free cash schemes if you’re struggling
Many of us are still struggling with the high cost of living – but there’s help you can get.
New or expectant parents can get up to £442 a year to spend on food through Healthy Start scheme.
Some new parents can get £500 via the Sure Start Maternity Grant. The money is designed to help you cover the costs of having a child.
Councils also offer support through the welfare assistance schemes, to help cover the costs of essentials, from buying new furniture to food vouchers.
The amount you can get varies but an investigation by The Sun found that hard-up Brits can apply for help worth up to £1,000.
Discretionary Housing Payment is a pot of money handed out by councils to those struggling to keep a roof over their heads.
A scheme is available for those who find themselves unable to cover housing costs, though the exact amount varies as each local authority dishes out the cash on a case-by-case basis.
Many energy forms offer grants to help cash-tight customers. The exact amount varies depending on your supplier and you circumstances, but could be as much a £2,000.
A second agreed: “I think I would rather eat dog food than that.”
Whilst someone else wrote: “Too much frying going on with each of the meals.”
That’s a health hazard! Please clean!
TikTok user
Meanwhile, others desperately told the man to clean his home.
One cleaning enthusiast claimed: “Hygiene is free.”
Another user chimed in: “Clean your f*****g kitchen.”
And another like-minded person stressed: “That’s a health hazard! Please clean!”
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How to save money on your food shop
Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save hundreds of pounds a year:
Odd boxes – plenty of retailers offer slightly misshapen fruit and veg or surplus food at a discounted price.
Lidl sells five kilos of fruit and veg for just £1.50 through its Waste Not scheme while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go bags which contain £10 worth of all kinds of products for £3.30.
Sainsbury’s also sells £2 “Taste Me, Don’t Waste Me” fruit and veg boxes to help shoppers reduced food waste and save cash.
Food waste apps – food waste apps work by helping shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses shift stock that is due to go out of date and passing it on to members of the public.
Some of the most notable ones include Too Good to Go and Olio.
Too Good to Go’s app is free to sign up to and is used by millions of people across the UK, letting users buy food at a discount.
Olio works similarly, except users can collect both food and other household items for free from neighbours and businesses.
Yellow sticker bargains – yellow sticker bargains, sometimes orange and red in certain supermarkets, are a great way of getting food on the cheap.
But what time to head out to get the best deals varies depending on the retailer. You can see the best times for each supermarket here.
Super cheap bargains – sign up to bargain hunter Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK where shoppers regularly post hauls they’ve found on the cheap, including food finds.
“Downshift” – you will almost always save money going for a supermarket’s own-brand economy lines rather than premium brands.
The move to lower-tier ranges, also known as “downshifting” and hailed by consumer expert Martin Lewis, could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your food shop.
