Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

£3 busfares will ruin me

313 replies

Deportationsensation · 30/10/2024 14:56

Busfare cap to increase to £3. That’s £6 a day for buses. £10 extra a week.

My food budget for 1 person is £10 a week. So that’s my food money gone to pay for buses.

I can’t work more hours. I do what I can in working part time because I have health issues that would not qualify for PIP but affect me every day. Not qualifying for any benefits other than probably food bank use. Which I will now have to do.

AIBU to just start wondering what is the point? Life isn’t supposed to be like this. Some of us are just trying to survive with no enjoyment in life at all.

OP posts:
LePetitMaman · 31/10/2024 10:48

Deportationsensation · 31/10/2024 09:59

Because people who are actually living on the breadline and in poverty have already explored every option available to them. I don’t need women to pick apart my finances.

This isn’t one of those threads that goes ‘combined income for 60k but we hardly have anything left’. I don’t have debt. I don’t have a car, a phone contract, any direct debits at all. I don’t have Netflix or Disney or Amazon. I’ve said I have as little money as I do because I work in part time due to health reasons that aren’t recognised by my GP, the DWP. No one has taken me seriously.

Show quote history

So why don't you get universal credit?????

There's a good reason you're avoiding this question.

Shakeoffyourchains · 31/10/2024 10:48

RedToothBrush · 31/10/2024 10:26

You see bus fares was always going to hit those struggling most. And give climate concerns too, I think it's a massive step backwards.

I'm dumbfounded that it's been touched tbh. It should have been a priority to keep low.

But instead we are hell bent in a 'blame the poor and bring back the workhouse' type mentality.

The £2 cap was due to end completely at the end of this year, so it was going to have to be touched one way or another.

I would imagine the increase will be due to the £2 model not resulting in enough usage to make it permanently viable at that rate. An extra year extension of the scheme with just a £1 uplift is far better than the alternative of letting it stop completely.

baklavagoddess · 31/10/2024 10:44

I would apply for universal credits limited work capability

Original poster
Deportationsensation · 31/10/2024 10:43

Swivelhead · 31/10/2024 10:09

Typical fucking Mumsnet.

OP: I hate being poor
Mumsnet: Just don't be poor then tinkly little laugh

This tbh.
It’s threads like this where the MC really make it obvious that they don’t understand poverty. They say they do but they really, really don’t.

OP posts:
HecatesBees · 31/10/2024 10:34

RedToothBrush · 31/10/2024 10:14

Wow.

Show quote history

So what would you suggest?

OP is struggling, and needs to change things in her life, so she can live a nicer life. Maybe a houseshare isnt a bad idea?

or moving closer to job, or getting another job

What she is doing now, its not working

Aposterhasnoname · 31/10/2024 10:33

You obviously have very generous friends because on your other thread you are, and I quote “high maintenance, eyelashes, hair extensions the lot”.

If these are all gifts then perhaps these generous gift givers can help you out with a bit of food.

RedToothBrush · 31/10/2024 10:26

You see bus fares was always going to hit those struggling most. And give climate concerns too, I think it's a massive step backwards.

I'm dumbfounded that it's been touched tbh. It should have been a priority to keep low.

But instead we are hell bent in a 'blame the poor and bring back the workhouse' type mentality.

StMarieforme · 31/10/2024 10:26

MeowCatPleaseMeowBack · 30/10/2024 15:22

Last week you had fake eyelashes and hair extensions. Maybe use your beauty budget for bus fares?

😱😱😱

Bjorkdidit · 31/10/2024 10:18

What's your solution for the OP then @RedToothBrush

If she can't work more hours and isn't entitled to benefits her situation isn't magically going to get better overnight. Should she carry on as she is until she becomes ill due to lack of food and can't work at all and is made homeless?

RedToothBrush · 31/10/2024 10:14

Bjorkdidit · 31/10/2024 10:11

I’ve said I have as little money as I do because I work in part time due to health reasons that aren’t recognised by my GP, the DWP. No one has taken me seriously

Is it perhaps time to recognise that something has to give and you're unable to live independently, assuming your wages are going on rent, bills and travel to work?

Could you move back into your DMs or into a shared house?

Show quote history

Wow.

Bjorkdidit · 31/10/2024 10:11

Deportationsensation · 31/10/2024 09:59

Because people who are actually living on the breadline and in poverty have already explored every option available to them. I don’t need women to pick apart my finances.

This isn’t one of those threads that goes ‘combined income for 60k but we hardly have anything left’. I don’t have debt. I don’t have a car, a phone contract, any direct debits at all. I don’t have Netflix or Disney or Amazon. I’ve said I have as little money as I do because I work in part time due to health reasons that aren’t recognised by my GP, the DWP. No one has taken me seriously.

Show quote history

I’ve said I have as little money as I do because I work in part time due to health reasons that aren’t recognised by my GP, the DWP. No one has taken me seriously

Is it perhaps time to recognise that something has to give and you're unable to live independently, assuming your wages are going on rent, bills and travel to work?

Could you move back into your DMs or into a shared house?

Swivelhead · 31/10/2024 10:09

Typical fucking Mumsnet.

OP: I hate being poor
Mumsnet: Just don't be poor then tinkly little laugh

Bjorkdidit · 31/10/2024 10:08

Because people who are actually living on the breadline and in poverty have already explored every option available to them

That is untrue in many many cases. Many people could come up with endless examples of people who say they have no money but the merest glance at their finances shows that significant savings can be made. We had a friend begging to everyone because she couldn't afford food but she was sending screen shots of her bank account with a £90 pm Sky bill (and no, it isn't 'cheap entertainment' and the 'only way to have something nice').

Original poster
Deportationsensation · 31/10/2024 09:59

OneBadKitty · 30/10/2024 22:59

People aren't being fully supportive because you have started a thread complaining about bus fares but give no reasons as to why you are living on such a tight food budget.

Because people who are actually living on the breadline and in poverty have already explored every option available to them. I don’t need women to pick apart my finances.

This isn’t one of those threads that goes ‘combined income for 60k but we hardly have anything left’. I don’t have debt. I don’t have a car, a phone contract, any direct debits at all. I don’t have Netflix or Disney or Amazon. I’ve said I have as little money as I do because I work in part time due to health reasons that aren’t recognised by my GP, the DWP. No one has taken me seriously.

OP posts:
Bjorkdidit · 31/10/2024 09:57

But you have to be realistic about your expectations. Spending money, whether directly or indirectly, ie by choosing that as a gift, on something as unnecessary as hair extensions and false eyelashes is utterly ridiculous when you can't afford to eat properly. It makes people lose all sympathy for your situation.

Original poster
Deportationsensation · 31/10/2024 09:53

SustangMally · 31/10/2024 09:41

OP could you ask your mum this Xmas to get you a bus pass? Not exciting but bit would save yiu long term getting you a month ahead if she did this and maybe some vouchers for a supermarket? Means by time you are paid again you would have the spare money to get your bus pass again without leaving yourself short?

i get you’re trying to be helpful but this is quite literally what I mean by what is the point? I’m not being pedantic but genuinely what is the point to living a life where you have to ask for a bus pass do Christmas and the only thing you can do is go to work.

OP posts:
Original poster
Deportationsensation · 31/10/2024 09:49

Astrabees · 30/10/2024 21:27

She can’t afford to eat because she is spending her money on private weight loss jabs!

I’m 9 and a half stone.. why would I need weight loss jabs?

OP posts:
Anywherebuthere · 31/10/2024 09:43

Would a daysaver or bus pass work out cheaper? I agree the increase from £2 to £3 is a lot.

SustangMally · 31/10/2024 09:41

OP could you ask your mum this Xmas to get you a bus pass? Not exciting but bit would save yiu long term getting you a month ahead if she did this and maybe some vouchers for a supermarket? Means by time you are paid again you would have the spare money to get your bus pass again without leaving yourself short?

ketchuptom · 31/10/2024 07:24

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

maddening · 31/10/2024 06:23

I don't know what your qualifications or skillsets are but could you consider different work that, for example, lets you work from home so no bus fares and you could then use the time you would have been commuting to work - so reduce costs and increase hours at the same time?

purplebeansprouts · 31/10/2024 06:19

CalicoPusscat · 31/10/2024 06:16

I'm a bit surprised public transport costs will rise as I thought the whole point was to help with CoL and reduce pollution and reliance on cars.

I do empathise @Deportationsensation

Thing is fuel prices have gone up so to subsidise to £2 is probably no longer sustainable. OP I suggest looking to see if there is a way to save on a bulk ticket or something and try and save for one of those. I know it sounds awful but christmas is coming up could you ask for cash instead of gifts this year from eg your mum?

CalicoPusscat · 31/10/2024 06:16

I'm a bit surprised public transport costs will rise as I thought the whole point was to help with CoL and reduce pollution and reliance on cars.

I do empathise @Deportationsensation

wiesowarum · 31/10/2024 06:09

iamtheblcksheep · 30/10/2024 18:33

No it isn’t. It’s realism. I would claw my way to work on my hands and knees to put food on the table and pay my bills. If you can’t work because you are physically too disabled to do so that’s one thing but the OP said she wasn’t entitled to any benefits and would have no food. Therefore her choices are claw her way to work on her hands and knees or starve to death. Which would you do?

You wouldn't just walk normally then? Less painful. More efficient. Less strange looks.

wiesowarum · 31/10/2024 06:07

HalloweenHaribo · 30/10/2024 17:16

£10 a week for a balanced diet and basic needs is not sustainable.

I think the OP made a typo.

We were on the same thread the day before yesterday and she said £15 per week.

Show quote history

Neither are sustainable unless you have other sources of free food.