A family with 11 children have shared their 'parenting on a budget' tips in a bid to help other families as the cost of living soars.
Joanne and Tommy O’Rourke are facing a squeeze in more ways than one, as they look after their 11 kids, aged between two to 19, in a four-bedroom home.
They say their energy bills are now double the cost of a year ago, while their weekly shop - which includes 11 loaves, 42 pints of milk and a kilo of pasta - has also doubled.
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The pair, who live in a rented house in North London both work, and are trying to stretch their £2,000 (€2, 312) monthly income as far as they can.
But with energy bills now £800 (€925) a quarter and a weekly shop coming to £760 (€879), they are calling for more support for families, Mirror UK reports.
Forklift driver Tommy, 41, 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.
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(€8)-a-head swimming trip by buying a 12ft paddling pool.
Joanne kept the little ones busy for an afternoon for just £2 (€2.30), 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 (€57) rather than a meal out for £150 (€173).
For Ashlee-Dean’s 10th they bought pizza bases costing 66p (76 cent) 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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