A large family of 13 is tightening their belts ahead of winter, as their energy bills double. Joanne and Tommy O’Rourke have 11 children, with the entire family living in a four-bedroom house.
The O’Rourke family's energy bills are now £800 a quarter – double the cost a year ago. The weekly grocery shop, including 15 loaves, 42 pints of milk and a kilo of pasta, has doubled to £760 a month.
Both in work, they fear this 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. And they are trying to stretch their £2,000 monthly income at their rented North London home.
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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