To think that something's wrong if u can't afford breakfast for your children

[Blossum123]

A friends neighbour constantly says she can't afford her childrens breakfast - the school have started a breakfast club and the children attend for free . Which is good.
Iv been on benifits but how can you not afford breakfast - it's surely the cheapest and easiest meal ? I know some children won't have breakfast but this isn't the case - she claims she can't afford it - makes u wonder what they get for tea

[youbethemummylion]

Depends what she is trying to feed them. I cant afford coco pops etc but I can afford Tesco Value coco pops. Im suprised at the amount of people who I persume have less money than me who wont buy the value stuff as their kids wont eat it.

[Blossum123]

These children will eat whatever you give them ! We were round at half term and I had taken a pic nic they literally would of eaten the lot .i thought they were quite cheeky but now can maybe see why
The breakfast club offers toast or fruit only and they eat that .value bread is penny's

[Babymamaroon]

A bunch of 5 bananas is about £0.75. How can she not afford that? Sounds like bad money management to me.

[BIWI]

Why don't you believe her?

[MrsTerryPratchett]

You can get a kilo of porridge oats for under a quid. However, it's an odd thing to say... "food's really expensive" I get and agree but breakfast is really cheap in our house.

[Blossum123]

Because how can u on a regular basis ( not a one off in a emergency ) not afford bread and milk ?

[Backtobedlam]

A family pack of porridge and milk is super cheap, and really filling. Mine often have this as an evening snack if they are still hungry so any cereal could also be given as a cheap 'filler' if they are hard up.

[youbethemummylion]

In that case it makes no sense breakfast is the cheapest meal in my house. I wonder if they dont have tea? free breakfast, free school lunch. If its true she needs help with budgeting or access to food banks. Are they adequately clothed etc?

[TheFairyCaravan]

Have you not heard about the increased use of food banks?

I can well believe that people can't afford to give their children breakfast!

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Surely she means she's glad they're getting breakfast free as she can't afford everything? Obviously if she has 20 quid and needs 21 quid, it really doesn't matter if she says 'I can't afford breakfast' or 'I can't afford enough spuds for dinner,' the point is she's glad of a free meal?

Though, you are right, it does make you wonder if they're getting enough overall.

[Blossum123]

You can get a kilo of porridge oats for under a quid. However, it's an odd thing to say... "food's really expensive" I get and agree but breakfast is really cheap in our house.

Same here and these certainly aren't fussy kids ! As I say I'm really glad they are now at breakfast club - but what happens on a weekend .

[LEMmingaround]

Fuck - if j had a friend who couldn't afford too feed her k7ds id offer to help not slag her off online. Although j suspect she cannot afford the breakfast club so gets it subsidised. Are you jealous?

[TheRealMaryMillington]

Unfortunately some people are really struggling. Surely she's being sensible - by sending them to breakfast club they get fed at no cost and it means she has more for other meals?

[Pumpkinpositive]

Perhaps she's badly in debt?

[grandmainmypocket]

Bananas or fruits in general are expensive if you're on a small budget. 1kg won't go far with a whole family.
I do think though people can definitely feed their families. Breakfast or anything else, even if it's 45p value bread. We stick ours in the freezer so it doesn't go off.
We've recently started buying cereals in last couple of years due to an improved income; as milk with cereal adds up and the cost increases.

[Blossum123]

Add message | Report | Message poster youbethemummylion Wed 25-Jun-14 22:04:13
In that case it makes no sense breakfast is the cheapest meal in my house. I wonder if they dont have tea? free breakfast, free school lunch. If its true she needs help with budgeting or access to food banks. Are they adequately clothed etc?


That's what I thought - my friend avoids her as the mum is quite aggressive and my friend doesn't want to be involved but often ends up having the kids round . They are quite chatty and they clearly have free school dinner which is good .
I'm not sure what the financial situation is - they all seem reasonably well dressed - guess it could be from catalogues.
It' just seems she doesn't prioritise food

[ReallyTired]

She sounds like a selfish cow who has all her priorities wrong. What is she spending her money on? DD's tescos equivalent rice crispies don't exactly break the bank. Even a splash of milk is not that expensive.

I would sooner go without food myself than make my children miss breakfast. I believe that most mothers would be prepared to skip meals so their kids could eat breakfast.

[CharlesRyder]

Does she mean she can't afford breakfast or that she can't afford two meals? Maybe feeding them after school leaves nothing.

I teach kids who get no breakfast and it is often because the house is a little chaotic in the mornings. Maybe sending them to breakfast club is easier than getting them to eat at home?

[Blossum123]

Could it be that when she shops for food she prioritises having an evening meal available and then there's no money left over for breakfasts? Loaves of bread may be cheap but if buying them leaves you a couple of quid short for your main meal of the day, it may not seem worth it.

I hope so

[WooWooOwl]

People with absolutely no income of their own get gibes enough omen to feed their kids. They can afford it, they are more likely to just be extremely crap with money, responsibility and parenting.

Many schools have set up free breakfast clubs not because parents can't afford breakfast, but because their lives are so chaotic that feeding their children isn't a priority for them. It's very sad.

[TheFairyCaravan]

You are right that something is wrong when people can not afford to feed their children breakfast, but that "something" is not wrong with your friend. It is wrong with the Government who have not raised benefits or wages in line with the cost of living and who have slapped on the Bedroom Tax, which your friend might be affected by, so their small amount of money that was left at the end of the week for food has got a lot smaller!

It is bloody shocking and disgraceful that in 2014, in the 7th richest country in the world there are people using food banks and not able to afford to feed their kids breakfast.

[OorWullie]

If someone had asked me for 75p for a bunch of bananas today, i couldn't have afforded it.... but i already have food in the house to do my son's meals including breakfast.

Does she mean she can't afford to give them it in general or was it just for today?

I'm pretty skint most of the time, but even if things are really bad I'd still feed DS something- whether that meant baked beans or something not traditionally "breakfasty" i wouldn't let him go out hungry.

[Blossum123]

Situation had been going on along while and from what they have. Said teachers were taking them food in as they were asking for food constantly .so they suggested the club.
When money's short for us I stock up on reduced bread . It's often reduced at the end of the day to 30 p a loaf -

[Blossum123]

I could understand not enough money for a evening meal but breakfast ! Pit was just on my mind a bit as obv summer hol comming up .....