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Living on the breadline for the next month or so...

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  • 21-08-2010 6:18pm
    #1
    pinkheels88
    Closed Accounts Posts: 435 ✭✭


    I'm moving to a new apartment this month and because my friend can't move in until the end of September, I'm stuck paying the total month's rent of €650. :( I'm basically going to have to live off €50 a week for the next month. Is this possible? My thesis is due in 5 weeks so I spend large amounts of time hanging around at home, tearing my hair out and taking tea breaks. Any tips for living on the breadline?... Will it be necessary to sell myself on the streets of Cork or should I just about manage it, thanks to Tesco own brand stuff?...


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    #2
    Overheal
    Registered Users Posts: 81,828 ✭✭✭✭Overheal


    Could you ask your friend to pay some of the way now, and you can discount his rent for a month or two in the future? eg. pay 200 now, get a hundred off the rent for 2 months when he moves in.


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    #3
    cloneslad
    Registered Users Posts: 2,583 ✭✭✭cloneslad


    That must suck...ah well, time to go to into my nice comfy bed in my rent free apartment (paid by work)


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    #4
    OutlawPete
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,689 ✭✭✭✭OutlawPete


    €50

    4 Chickens €20
    Veg / Fruit €10
    Bread / Treats €5
    Cineworld Unlimited €5
    Off Licence €10


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    #5
    pinkheels88
    Closed Accounts Posts: 435 ✭✭pinkheels88


    Overheal wrote: »
    Could you ask your friend to pay some of the way now, and you can discount his rent for a month or two in the future? eg. pay 200 now, get a hundred off the rent for 2 months when he moves in.

    Apparently she doesn't have any money at the moment and can't borrow it off her parent's either (which I kind of find hard to believe) so unless I wanted to be homeless tommorow, I had no choice but to overdraft the hell out of my account and live like a pauper for the next month. Sucks!


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    #6
    Biggins
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,568 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    Aldi or Lidl will serve you well also if you can find one near you.
    Buy items if you can that have a longer shelf life and don't necessarily need refrigeration.
    Stick to the basic products and don't be tempted to indulge in the nice looking higher quality items.
    (Easier said than done I know. A test of will power)
    Stick hard to your budget - in fact if you manage to do it, make sure you are able to treat yourself at the end of each week period. It can act as a further incentive to try with the same effort the following week.

    Good luck in your efforts over all, food-wise and scholastic.


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    #7
    Thomas828
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,492 ✭✭✭Thomas828


    Hmm, €50 a week... You just might get by as long as you're willing to completely give up your social life and don't use up too much gas and electric.


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    #8
    alwaysadub
    Registered Users Posts: 11,554 ✭✭✭✭alwaysadub


    I'm living on about that-a bit less actually- at the minute tbh.
    It's do-able alright if you really put your mind to it.
    Make a shopping list and stick to it.
    Things like pasta are cheap and you can do loads with it.
    There's usually special offers on that come in useful.


    Dying for a takeaway at the minute though:D


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    #9
    Donkey Oaty
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,533 ✭✭✭Donkey Oaty


    Thomas828 wrote: »
    Hmm, €50 a week... You just might get by as long as you're willing to completely give up your social life and don't use up too much gas and electric.

    Shouldn't be any need to pay gas/electric bills, though - only a month, right? Contact them to sort out a payment arrangement if any come through.


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    #10
    havana
    Registered Users Posts: 752 ✭✭✭havana


    When I've had to do this it's been hard, but doable. Always check the clearance section in the supermarket. Usually the stuff is out of date that day or the next but I haven't been poisened yet. Have got some really cheap meals out of it. Got one of those bags of Indian takeaway in tesco once for 3 quid. Usually 10. Got a couple of meals out of it. Pasta as someone said is for nothing. Also it may mean shopping in more than one shop in order to get all the deals but you really save by doing that.


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    #11
    PirateShampoo
    Registered Users Posts: 4,406 ✭✭✭PirateShampoo


    When i was in your situation i could make a large chicken last 3 days and feed 2 people with it.

    Boil it, make stock for a soup. You can make this last 3 days alone.

    Use meat for a Chicken and veg dinner.

    Use more meat for chicken and pasta dinner.

    You can basically make €12 last 3/4 days.


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    #12
    pinkheels88
    Closed Accounts Posts: 435 ✭✭pinkheels88


    Biggins wrote: »
    Aldi or Lidl will serve you well also if you can find one near you.
    Haven't a clue where they are in Cork, I'm living in the city centre but have never seen them in my four years here...
    Thomas828 wrote: »
    Hmm, €50 a week... You just might get by as long as you're willing to completely give up your social life and don't use up too much gas and electric.

    No alcohol for the next 5 weeks because of this damn thesis anyway... I'm VERY unproductive when I'm hungover (a state I've been in much of this summer)
    alwaysadub wrote: »

    Dying for a takeaway at the minute though:D

    Must resist Domino's cravings!! Domino's is very conveniently located directly across from my apartment as is Four Star Pizza AND a Carry Out. I'm like Jesus in the Desert. Must resist temptation!!!


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    #13
    alwaysadub
    Registered Users Posts: 11,554 ✭✭✭✭alwaysadub


    pinkheels88 wrote: »

    Must resist Domino's cravings!! Domino's is very conveniently located directly across from my apartment as is Four Star Pizza AND a Carry Out. I'm like Jesus in the Desert. Must resist temptation!!!

    :eek:
    I'd definitely break if they were right beside me-i've no will power at times:D


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    #14
    zuroph
    Registered Users Posts: 11,097 ✭✭✭✭zuroph


    50 a week is loads. however, if you're stuck, I'll buy ya lunch, I'm on cork a few days every week with work, and stick it on my company credit card. :)


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    #15
    bonzodog2
    Registered Users Posts: 6,210 ✭✭✭bonzodog2


    As above, check the nearly-out-of-date section in Tesco, I found 7-8PM was a good time. Got a freezer? Use it. Also check out the reduced price whole cooked chickens in Tesco about the same time, I used to get them for 2 euro. Tesco own-rand 'penne' pasta is the cheapest, but Lidl do Fusilli pasta (twirly) for 49c for 500g. Own-brand bread for 55c,cheap beans etc. No problem.


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    #16
    Saibh
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,431 ✭✭✭✭Saibh


    zuroph wrote: »
    50 a week is loads. however, if you're stuck, I'll buy ya lunch, I'm on cork a few days every week with work, and stick it on my company credit card. :)

    Thought you were broke :p


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    #17
    Terry
    Registered Users Posts: 26,061 ✭✭✭✭Terry


    Go to the supermarket every morning and pick up the stuff that's been reduced to clear because the use by date is that day.

    Also, it's entirely possible to live on beans and toast. Don't buy the cheap beans though. They're just nasty.
    Want a treat? I think Tesco still do 75c pizzas. The sauce is nicer than any other pizza sauce I've ever had.

    Wait. I just scrolled up to check whether you said €50 a week or a month.
    Feeding yourself on €50 a week is a piece of piss.
    Christ, do it right and you can spend half on food and half on cheap beer.
    Breadline me bollix.


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    #18
    bonzodog2
    Registered Users Posts: 6,210 ✭✭✭bonzodog2


    check here for a store locator for LIDL, I'm not familiar with the names of districts of Cork.


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    #19
    MagicMarker
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 32,865 ✭✭✭✭MagicMarker


    €50 a week!!?

    Am I the only one who thinks this is plenty?


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    #20
    zuroph
    Registered Users Posts: 11,097 ✭✭✭✭zuroph


    Saibh wrote: »
    Thought you were broke :p

    I am, the company aint ;)


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    #21
    astra2000
    Closed Accounts Posts: 734 ✭✭✭astra2000


    Find a lidl or an aldi and do one weekly shop if you keep popping into tesco for deals each eve you will spend more. You will be grand on e50 if you are careful but only vsit the shops once a week. set your food budget at e35 and see how you get on! Can you not do like a lot of students and raid your mothers cupboards?


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    #22
    Biggins
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,568 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    zuroph wrote: »
    I am, the company aint ;)
    :pac:


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    #23
    coffee_cake
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Politics Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 81,310 CMod ✭✭✭✭coffee_cake


    I find monthly shops about 100euro, so 200 is ok
    the other 100 could disappear fairly fast in those annoying day to day exps though


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    #24
    pinkheels88
    Closed Accounts Posts: 435 ✭✭pinkheels88


    Terry wrote: »
    Wait. I just scrolled up to check whether you said €50 a week or a month.
    Feeding yourself on €50 a week is a piece of piss.
    Christ, do it right and you can spend half on food and half on cheap beer.
    Breadline me bollix.
    Well I will also have to get four copies of my thesis bound at the end of the month. Heard they're gonna be like €30 a pop. :eek:

    astra2000 wrote: »
    Can you not do like a lot of students and raid your mothers cupboards?
    Oh trust me, I would, but my mother's cupboard is in Kerry and I can't head home until this thesis is finished.


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    #25
    Dermighty
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,748 ✭✭✭Dermighty


    pinkheels88 wrote: »
    Haven't a clue where they are in Cork, I'm living in the city centre but have never seen them in my four years here...



    No alcohol for the next 5 weeks because of this damn thesis anyway... I'm VERY unproductive when I'm hungover (a state I've been in much of this summer)



    Must resist Domino's cravings!! Domino's is very conveniently located directly across from my apartment as is Four Star Pizza AND a Carry Out. I'm like Jesus in the Desert. Must resist temptation!!!

    You live across the road from me :D

    €50a week is very doable. Depends on what kind of food you like and are used to eating. Pasta, rice, tuna fish, bag of frozen peas and a potatoes, all cheap.


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    #26
    Raedwald
    Registered Users Posts: 375 ✭✭Raedwald


    50 quid a week is plenty as long as you dont plan on having a social life. Shopping in Lidl/Aldi/Tesco as bobs your uncle.

    As a student myself its a limit I try to stick each week as well.


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    #27
    Terry
    Registered Users Posts: 26,061 ✭✭✭✭Terry


    pinkheels88 wrote: »
    Well I will also have to get four copies of my thesis bound at the end of the month. Heard they're gonna be like €30 a pop. :eek:



    Oh trust me, I would, but my mother's cupboard is in Kerry and I can't head home until this thesis is finished.
    Therefore you have only €20 a week for food. Is that right?
    You can always go to small shops and haggle over the prices.
    Do you own a gourd?


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    #28
    Crann na Beatha
    Registered Users Posts: 11,763 ✭✭✭✭Crann na Beatha


    This post has been deleted.


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    #29
    pinkheels88
    Closed Accounts Posts: 435 ✭✭pinkheels88


    Terry wrote: »
    Therefore you have only €20 a week for food. Is that right?
    You can always go to small shops and haggle over the prices.
    Do you own a gourd?


    What's a "gourd"???...

    I dunno what to do about the thesis binding situation at the end of the month. Haven't really budgeted for that... :rolleyes: I'd never survive off €20 a week though! I'm a small girl but I eat stuff like wholegrain bread and pasta and they're a bit more expensive than plain white bread and stuff... I could let my diet go to actual ruin for the next month, but then my whole summer of working out would go to waste...


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    #30
    zuroph
    Registered Users Posts: 11,097 ✭✭✭✭zuroph


    pinkheels88 wrote: »
    J1 in San Franciso two summers ago. NEVER want to feel that level of starvation ever again! No diet like a J1. Literally lived off a $1 dollar double choc muffin from Walgreens every day for at least 3 weeks, once a week had a $2 double cheeseburger from McDonalds, and that was on a good day! :eek::(


    ul be grand! :) the offer still stands though


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    #31
    Hamiltonion
    Registered Users Posts: 416 ✭✭Hamiltonion


    I've lived comfortably on less

    E20 a week on shopping

    E5 a week on misc like travel, ph credit, toiletries etc

    E20 a week on socialising. eg 2 trips to the cinema, some movie rentals, pot, or go out once a week and spend E5 into a club, E7 on a naggin, rest on mixers and more booze, or just spend E10-15 on pills. If you want a quiet one 4-6 pints, depending on the pub (my local is 3.50)

    Sorted


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