One of Britain's biggest families is feeling the squeeze as their bills soar in the cost of living crisis. Joanne and Tommy O’Rourke look after their 11 children, aged two to 19, in a house with four bedrooms.
The working couple are trying to stretch their £2,000 monthly income at their rented North London home. But it doesn't come easy, as the cost of their energy bills and groceries has doubled since last year.
The family now spends £760 a month on their groceries - including 15 loaves, 42 pints of milk and a kilo of pasta each week, the Mirror reports. And their energy bills are now £800 a quarter, leaving the couple fearing the winter.
Joanne, 39, said: “We’re putting what we can away.” Forklift driver Tommy, 41, added: “Families need more support.”
He and Joanne have Mitchell, 19, Lauren, 17, Joe, 15, son Ryley, 13, Tommy, 12, Regan, 12, Ashlee-Dean, 10, Freddie, eight, Danny, six, Neave, four, and two-year-old Brodie together. To make their money last, TV and lights are only on at night.
Therapist Joanne has cut washing loads from four a day to three fully loaded. The meal plan is strict. Days out are now treats like camping in the garden.
And now the couple share their 'parenting on a budget' tips with 50,000 web followers. They include replacing a £7-a-head swimming trip by buying a 12ft paddling pool.
Joanne kept the little ones busy for an afternoon for just £2, buying biscuits and icing sugar to decorate them. Son Tommy’s 12th birthday involved recreating his favourite Harvester restaurant at home, complete with a 'salad bar', costing less than £50 rather than a meal out for £150.
For Ashlee-Dean’s 10th they bought pizza bases costing 66p for him and his friends to build their own versions at a fraction of the cost of going to Pizza Hut. The couple pick up cut-price gifts all-year round to avoid a big hit at Christmas.
The festive dinner will be paid for with saved-up loose change. Joanne added: “I know we are in a more fortunate position than some so we want to do what we can to help other families keep ticking over.
“We get a lot of people messaging asking for advice, meals we can share. People message us to say thank you. It’s nice to share and help others.”
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