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AIBU?

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£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:
Katemax82 · 30/10/2024 21:17

AngelInBlueJeans · 30/10/2024 21:03

Well the nation chose to vote for a vile and uncaring government, this is just the start and Starmer has only just begun. I feel so angry that the people of the UK were so blinkered… you reap what you sow… idiots!

I didn't bloody vote for them!!

PickAChew · 30/10/2024 21:16

JaneEyreLaughing · 30/10/2024 19:28

No and Net Zero isn't quite all that it seems either.

Luckily, old Miliband and his band of little green men aren't always able to join up the dots and sometimes a glaring error is made-such as putting up bus fares while telling us that cars are leading to the immediate burning of the planet.

If the planet is in dire need of net zero to the extent that he must have a budget of billions and a green tax must be imposed on energy bills, then why oh why is the price of public transport being put up.

Thank goodness, they can't do joined up thinking or even more would swallow their agenda! Thank goodness for the numb nuts in charge who haven't got the wit to cover their arse and expose the horrid sight from time to time.

Your posts are like a rather belligerent article generator.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 30/10/2024 21:04

If your food budget is £10 then I am assuming that you are on a relatively low wage. Will the increase in minimum wage benefit you? If so, then that should offset the increase

AngelInBlueJeans · 30/10/2024 21:03

Well the nation chose to vote for a vile and uncaring government, this is just the start and Starmer has only just begun. I feel so angry that the people of the UK were so blinkered… you reap what you sow… idiots!

cakeorwine · 30/10/2024 20:59

Clavinova · 30/10/2024 20:47

The Conservative manifesto pledged to extend the £2 cap on bus fares in England for the whole of the next Parliament;

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/london-tories-conservative-party-parliament-england-b1163628.html

I am sure their budget would have been very interesting had they won.

georgiapeachh · 30/10/2024 20:50

Any food banks in walking distance op?

The usual idea of selling on vinted. Even just things for £10 a week as your goal

Could you ask for a raise?

Is there an older person in your street you could offer to do thier food shopping/cleaning/ironing for £10 a week

Clavinova · 30/10/2024 20:47

Seasmoke · 30/10/2024 19:23

The bus fare cap was extended month to month though, due to run out again in December. You can't really rely on a temporary bus fare cap if you can't afford to get to work. Also the minimum wage is going up by more than £2 a day, plus bus passes etc as others said. Where I live there are flexible bus passes.

The Conservative manifesto pledged to extend the £2 cap on bus fares in England for the whole of the next Parliament;

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/london-tories-conservative-party-parliament-england-b1163628.html

Tories pledge to extend £2 cap on bus fares

The party’s manifesto commits to maintaining the scheme for the entirety of the next Parliament.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/london-tories-conservative-party-parliament-england-b1163628.html

Crunchymum · 30/10/2024 20:32

Oohitscoldoutside · 30/10/2024 20:28

Odd that you disabled voting on this. However YABU. Get a better paying job. Move somewhere you don't have to travel as far, create your own business...etc.

All very viable and attainable options!! Honestly.

Crunchymum · 30/10/2024 20:30

Have you tried to apply for UC?

You sound like you'd get something? I know someone posted recently they earn £29k but still legitimately qualified for £500 UC per month.

I know you shouldn't believe everything you read online but I know know several people in RL who qualify for UC and they aren't being forced into food poverty like you describe you are!

DiduAye · 30/10/2024 20:29

You wont know until you apply if you will get Pip or not you may also get UC Go to Citizens Advice or your local council for benefit advice and income maximisation

Oohitscoldoutside · 30/10/2024 20:28

Odd that you disabled voting on this. However YABU. Get a better paying job. Move somewhere you don't have to travel as far, create your own business...etc.

PuddlesPityParty · 30/10/2024 20:27

XenoBitch · 30/10/2024 20:26

I have two autoimmune diseases and am waiting for an operation. I’m in constant excruciating pain. I also run a business and work 12 hour days. I’ve been in the position of no money v working through pain. I chose to put food on the table and pay my bills.
You need to work more hours. I’m not trying to be cruel, just realistic. Complaining to strangers on the internet won’t change your situation

Is on the first page.

OMG! You need reading lessons. I said the people I replied to were both defending the OP. Neither of them were saying bad about her disability. Please, I beg, actually read and digest before responding.

XenoBitch · 30/10/2024 20:26

PuddlesPityParty · 30/10/2024 20:18

Please can you read what you’re replying to then because both the posters I replied to were defending OP. Your response to me makes no sense.

I have two autoimmune diseases and am waiting for an operation. I’m in constant excruciating pain. I also run a business and work 12 hour days. I’ve been in the position of no money v working through pain. I chose to put food on the table and pay my bills.
You need to work more hours. I’m not trying to be cruel, just realistic. Complaining to strangers on the internet won’t change your situation

Is on the first page.

Firefly1987 · 30/10/2024 20:25

V0xPopuli · 30/10/2024 19:11

To be honest if my mother wanted to buy me hair extensions for my birthday and I'd only £10 for a weeks food because working more made me suicidal, I'd ask my mother to spend the money either on:

  • food
  • therapy

I imagine OP thinks without the odd luxury what is even the point in being alive. She alluded to this in her post. I agree to be honest if I wasn't getting any enjoyment out of life I would think what even is the point. I'm not the least bit interested in hair extensions but if it improves how OP feels why not? Buying her food instead once a year isn't going to fix her problems in the long-term.

samarrange · 30/10/2024 20:24

Completelyjo · 30/10/2024 20:19

Presumably the OP doesn’t work for free though?

Edited

OP's claim is that since just last week (when she reported here that her food budget was £15 pw) she has changed her days but not her hours. So for example if she was working 4x5-hour days before she is now working 5x4-hour days.

SBHon · 30/10/2024 20:22

Completelyjo · 30/10/2024 20:19

Presumably the OP doesn’t work for free though?

Edited

She said she works the same hours but now spread out over an extra day. So she earns the same but has £4 more outgoings, weekly.

PlopSofa · 30/10/2024 20:19

There's a lot of judgement OP today on MN.

I'm sorry that bus fares have gone and you're having a hard time. Cost of living is just the pits at the moment. So very bad for all of us.

It's OK to want to look and feel nice. I'm not a buyer of extensions and lashes but I'm also not jugdemental when someone is at the end of their tether.

Can we be a bit kinder? No one is perfect.

Let's stop bitching at the OP, perhaps her DM buys her these things because she's been very down and they hoped together it would help her feel better.

It might have been months ago. How was she to know that the bus fare would go up a £2 per day. When you feel bleak it's hard to always be going without.

OP, would you consider going to the food bank. £10 for a week's food is very small amount. You can't eat well on that at all. Can you make an application to the food bank for staples and then at least you could save some money there?

Completelyjo · 30/10/2024 20:19

This reply has been deleted

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

Presumably the OP doesn’t work for free though?

PuddlesPityParty · 30/10/2024 20:18

XenoBitch · 30/10/2024 18:35

No, my point was someone with a certain health condition berating others with the same for not working, is not on. Nothing to do with OP and her hair extensions.

Please can you read what you’re replying to then because both the posters I replied to were defending OP. Your response to me makes no sense.

samarrange · 30/10/2024 20:18

This reply has been deleted

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

Completelyjo · 30/10/2024 20:09

Yes budget is usually is £15 but is now £10 as I do an extra day at work (same hours just spread out) meaning additional busfare

In what world doesn’t an extra day at work mean you have £5 less a week in total?

wintersgold · 30/10/2024 20:06

Why is your DM not helping you with food etc. instead if she can afford to gift you beauty treatments?

shellyleppard · 30/10/2024 20:05

Op most of the replies on here have been helpful and sympathetic. If you can't be bothered being honest about your situation don't come looking for sympathy

Newsenmum · 30/10/2024 19:58

Op I think people are just trying to help. Please go to citizens advice as it sounds like you need some serious financial support if your food budget is so low.

Viviennemary · 30/10/2024 19:54

I thought this was a mean move by this government. It will affect poorer people more than better off people. Bad call.