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AIBU?

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Original poster

I seriously need help

138 replies

JenNtonic · 28/09/2025 10:11

Hi everyone. Hope all’s well.
over the past week, nearly two I’ve worked my way through all of our food.
please note this isn’t begging. I’ve had to pay for an emergency regarding my son that was unavoidable. I should add that he is now with his father so it’s just me in the house.
I have £1.27 electric which I know won’t go until 9am tomorrow.
I have googled Trussell trust and church feeds but none are over my end of the city.
I have even gone through the rice, the custard, just everything. Does anyone know of an emergency food service /bank that delivers or that I could walk to, that’s open on a Sunday ? I will take and accept anything I feel really quite ill now.
I get paid on the 3rd (Fri) so it’s just a tiny bit longer but I’ve been hungry for about 2 weeks now. I’m in south Wales
I know it’s my fault for not saving etc but I’ve been off my anti depressants the last two months and evidently, it was too soon as I’m not coping.
any advice gratefully received and thanks in advance to all xX

OP posts:
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Thingamebobwotsit · 28/09/2025 12:18

@JenNtonic is the issue you don't want to go out? Try popping a wanted ad on Olio and see if someone local to you has something going.

West Cardiff has lots of churches and community groups that will help out, but it does mean actually going out which I am guessing your MH issues may mean you don't feel like it. And the less you eat the more this will kick in. Alternatively, try your local supermarket, the ones in my area will do a free food whoch is at or just past its sell by date at the end of each day. Is worth asking.

Bilbo63 · 28/09/2025 12:16

Salvation Army - they have food banks - mon to fri.

NotARealWookiie · 28/09/2025 12:12

I did qmee surveys on my phone and it didn’t take long to earn £10 just in spare time. Maybe a week but if you sat and did it for a day you could earn a bit - then you could get some cheap bread/milk and pasta etc to eke out.

EchoedSilence · 28/09/2025 12:09

Glitterbiscuits · 28/09/2025 11:37

@JenNtoniccan you get into the city centre? My daughter is there and she can sort out some food for you

I don't think it's a good idea for your daughter to meet randoms off the internet.

KnickerlessParsons · 28/09/2025 12:06

For the future, subscribe to do YouGov surveys. It takes a while to build up but when you get to 5000(?) points you earn £50, which you can get paid into your bank account. The more surveys you do, the more quickly you can amass points.

Neodymium · 28/09/2025 12:05

Maybe do a search on your local Facebook groups. There is a lovely Indian restaurant near me that will provide dinner to anyone in need if you don’t have anything to eat. They occasionally post on Facebook about the service. There may be something similar in your area if you search the local groups.

cardibach · 28/09/2025 11:58

JenNtonic · 28/09/2025 10:37

Omg I’ve been repo
rted. As if I wasn’t mortified Enough.
I have been given £24 electric voucher it’s to last until Friday (payday) but will last way beyond that and they just take some debt off each week (British Gas PAYG) xx what a Result.
the huggard centre is on the other side of the city and it’s a seriously dodgy place, and I mean heroine and stabbings
etc. now don’t get me wrong if I had the strength I’d probably go but on top of what I mentioned, it really is quite far.
thank you for all the suggestions. No money in sofa / coats bags and no tesco points. I t
tied doing a teeny £15 shop with PayPal at Asda and go puff and it was just declined. Xx

The Huggard centre really isn’t in a dodgy area OP. I’ve just googled. I used to work not far from it. It’s near Callaghan Square! Is the name Bute Town worrying you? Because Bute Town isn’t that bad either, despite its rep. Stabbings in Cardiff aren't common, and the most recent one I can remember was in Roath… (that’s quite posh for non Cardiffians on the thread)
I can understand it might be difficult for you to get to, but don’t discount places based on inaccurate ideas about the place they are in.

CharlieKirkRIP · 28/09/2025 11:55

.

I seriously need help
I seriously need help
I seriously need help
emzz44 · 28/09/2025 11:52

Hi OP if you have Uber eats they will try and take a card payment but if they can't they'll say "it's on us this time" and you pay when you get paid. They'll try and take the money daily but don't worry you can just pay on payday x

Unorganisedchaos2 · 28/09/2025 11:52

I haven't been able to read all the posts but encase someone hasn't suggested it please add "free my meal" on Facebook, its a wonderful group and if there is anyone local they will help you.

tillytopthetope · 28/09/2025 11:42

Wyndam Street, Cardiff, CF11 6DQ do free meals at 6:30pm on Wednesday if you can get there

Woodville Christian Centre
Crwys Road
Cardiff
CF24 4ND Tuesday 1-3pm is a food bank

really pleased you are sorted but just keep in mind for the future

Glitterbiscuits · 28/09/2025 11:37

@JenNtoniccan you get into the city centre? My daughter is there and she can sort out some food for you

DancingDolly · 28/09/2025 11:36

I would suggest going to ACE, The Dusty Forge, on Cowbridge Rd West in the morning and asking for some help. Pretty sure they have a food pantry. There and the Ely Council Hub on the other side of the road

NotQuiteUsual · 28/09/2025 11:34

I know my local mental health safe haven feeds people for free. They also give out food bank parcels.

TicTac80 · 28/09/2025 11:31

I spotted the thread and came on to suggest Olio (and see that others have!). I'm so glad that you're sorted now! For future/when you do get paid...Do you have facilities at home for freezing bread/portions of food? Or a slow cooker to do a big batch of a cheap meal to freeze for leaner times? That has saved me over many occasions and using slow cooker means that we get a meal for that night, plus extra to freeze (so there's not a difference in fuel costs/useage).

I live a long way from you but community larders are common around here and anyone can use them (the ones here anyway - they have food that is surplus from supermarkets and are a way of reducing food waste). You can get a good bag worth of groceries for about £2-3. Again, might be worth a look in for when you do get paid. A lot of my friends use them (there is one in my village, but it is held on days that I work, so I've not used it yet).

askmenow · 28/09/2025 11:31

JenNtonic · 28/09/2025 10:17

Yes ! Good idea thank you :-)
and yes, I’ve been up all night posting and racking my brains. Xx

Join your local Nextdoor network and ask for help from local people. Likely someone will be able to assist or point you in the right direction and of course Facebook.

Idontpostmuch · 28/09/2025 11:27

You say you can't contact your dad by phone. Could you ask the police to contact him and ask him to come and see you immediately. Presumably you know his address?

parietal · 28/09/2025 11:27

You can earn a bit of money at home doing online surveys on Prolific. It isn’t an immediate fix but if you get enrolled and do an hour each evening you can earn from it.

Nodecaffallowed · 28/09/2025 11:23

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request

PrincessofWells · 28/09/2025 11:19

Mnetters can be really fabulous when they need to be 😎

HelpMeUnpickThis · 28/09/2025 11:16

Is there a church near you? Approach them if so - they often have funds that can be used in your circumstances.

I am sorry things are so hard for you at the moment.

shellyleppard · 28/09/2025 11:15

@JenNtonic good luck 🍀 🤞 💐

Rainbowqueeen · 28/09/2025 11:15

Pleased to hear it OP. Take care

Original poster
JenNtonic · 28/09/2025 11:11

You lot are flipping amazing xx I’m all sorted and honestly, endless gratitude for your support and ideas and everything xx we’re not all scammers some of us are genuinely in need of help. You’ve literally saved me and thank you xx

OP posts: