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Original poster

If you’re comfortably off, what are you doing to help with the cost of living crisis?

115 replies

Rainallnight · 03/04/2022 08:07

We are very lucky, esp these days, to be fine for money. I’m feeling increasingly concerned at how the cost of living crisis is affecting people. So far I’ve set up a direct debit to an anti poverty charity that gives crisis funding to families who need it. And I think I’ll do the same to my local food bank.

Any other ideas?

It is just wretched how this country is going. DD asked me this morning if we could put the heating on and when I said yes I almost cried that so many other families can’t this morning.

OP posts:
Redlorryyellowlorryblue · 03/04/2022 08:10

Increasing donations to our local food bank.

Patchbatch · 03/04/2022 08:11

We aren't super comfortable, but fortunately whilst being mindful of what we are using and buying won't be forced to go without. I have a direct debit with the local food bank, I used to make donations but they said money is great as they can bulk buy stuff which is useful as demand has surged. I also am in the privileged position where I can help my parents and my DB (who is disabled and was struggling financially before these rises). Not sure if we can afford to do much more at the moment but keen to hear ideas in case we can.

rugbunch · 03/04/2022 08:12

not voting tory, not trying to reduce my tax burden & choosing ethical investments

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Cost of living
AchillesPoirot · 03/04/2022 08:13

Direct debit to a local charity. Which I have increased.

Robin843 · 03/04/2022 08:14

I think food bank donations are much more practical and helpful. Your direct debit to a charity will mostly be swallowed up in admin and overheads.

LadyCatStark · 03/04/2022 08:14

We’re not sadly, we should be but we’re struggling. Not to the point where we’ll need to use the food bank but the heating is firmly off and we have to think twice about any non work journeys. I’ve noticed that the trolleys/ trays that hold donations for the food banks at supermarkets are much emptier than usual, which is a worry as demand soars.

LizzieSiddal · 03/04/2022 08:15

not voting tory, not trying to reduce my tax burden & choosing ethical investments

This plus DD to the local food bank.

GeneLovesJezebel · 03/04/2022 08:16

I agree that charity donations don’t give 100% to the needy, I’d be putting food/toiletries/san pro/nappies in food banks instead.

IggysPop · 03/04/2022 08:17

YY @rugbunch - not voting a Tory. Reducing the structures of inequality through political intervention is the best solution. Charity helps relive short-term stresses, but can turn into the long-term solution without political will.

Patchbatch · 03/04/2022 08:21

@IggysPop

YY *@rugbunch* - not voting a Tory. Reducing the structures of inequality through political intervention is the best solution. Charity helps relive short-term stresses, but can turn into the long-term solution without political will.
True, but people not voting tory in a few years time won't be that much help to people right now.
hattie43 · 03/04/2022 08:21

Extra supplies in the supermarket food bank trollies and RSPCA trolley .
Upped my donations to dog rescue charity I've supported for years .
Helping elderly parents financially .

I'm not sure how it would or could work but I'd be happy to kind of sponsor someone in the village re food , dropping off £100 of groceries could make a difference but I'd be worried about being considered condescending / gloating / tone deaf etc .

koalalala · 03/04/2022 08:25

Yep - don't vote Tory!

We're getting by and not worrying about having heating on etc but I wouldn't quite say we're comfortable.

We've still had to turn our heating down and reduce how much it's on but in short we still have it on for 3 hours in the morning and 3 in the evening.

We've cut our holiday basically. We usually do centreparcs in the summer and we can't afford to now. Fully appreciate this is a fortunate position compared to many.

We will stay at home and do some activities / days out so will have a small budget but more like £200-300 not over £1000.

I didn't want to do a direct debit as have another mat leave looming and I've recently gone reduced hours at work!

I always buy food bank bits with my shopping. Usually nappies and baby milk but also essentials - pasta, rice, tinned beans etc.

rugbunch · 03/04/2022 08:25

Your direct debit to a charity will mostly be swallowed up in admin and overheads.

What I often do is donate to a specific crowdfunder if I see a family on the news or in the local paper. I'm sure some of the money goes on overheads etc but it feels a bit more like direct help if that makes sense.

rugbunch · 03/04/2022 08:26

Reducing the structures of inequality through political intervention is the best solution.

agree

Hoppinggreen · 03/04/2022 08:27

I take food to the Street kitchen on Sundays but I think we should be doing more to help families as well. I don’t know how I’m going to do that yet so any suggestions are welcome. I prefer to avoid large national charities

RussianSpy101 · 03/04/2022 08:28

Donate to 2 food banks and I also volunteer at a food bank on a Tuesday evening.

Have donated lots of my DC clothes and have bought some plain uniform items (white polos, grey & black trousers & skirts) to a local charity which then gives these items to families in

RussianSpy101 · 03/04/2022 08:28

Posted too soon.

Families in need.

AchillesPoirot · 03/04/2022 08:28

My direct debit is to a small local community based food supply organisation that runs on a shoe string completely by volunteers. They don’t get donations from the major supermarkets as those go to Trussell trust and asked for direct debits specifically to help them buy food.

I know the people involved in setting up and running this charity and I trust them implicitly.

AchillesPoirot · 03/04/2022 08:30

The local food bank here is run by an evangelical church and used to proselytise. I wouldn’t give them as much as a tin of beans.

I prefer to donate elsewhere.

Shiiiiiiiiiiitttt · 03/04/2022 08:32

Food banks.
Donate to them, find out what they need (often also items in addition to food) and volunteer in them. Often they need people with skills to help their visitors (eg health, social work, cooking, economic skills, legal skills) so if you have any offer your services.
Write to Sunak and Johnson and your local MP. Tell them you’ll not be voting Tory again in your lifetime (if you do) and why - and then stick to that.

caffeinebuzz · 03/04/2022 08:33

We're comfortable, but still very conscious of a what might lie ahead and looking for opportunities to cut back. But I've been trying not to cut back on any spending with local, independent businesses. Don't want our financial buffer to come at the expense of a small business owners livelihood!

QuitMoaning · 03/04/2022 08:34

This thread is excellent as I am in this position and desperately want to do more.
We are helping someone on an individual level (paid for new work clothes for them and complete set of uniform for the children as well as occasional cupboard filling grocery trips) and I donate regularly to a food bank. I think I shall also do a direct debit to food bank and some more research into local poverty charities
I did try and volunteer for food bank but they we very prescriptive about when I could help and as I work full time I couldn’t do it.

gingerhills · 03/04/2022 08:34

@AchillesPoirot

My direct debit is to a small local community based food supply organisation that runs on a shoe string completely by volunteers. They don’t get donations from the major supermarkets as those go to Trussell trust and asked for direct debits specifically to help them buy food.

I know the people involved in setting up and running this charity and I trust them implicitly.

I think that donating to small grass roots charities like this is very helpful. I don't like Trussell's ridiculous rules about using food banks - the referral procedure could be quite humiliating and I hated telling people they could only come three times while we had problems storing the food donated. I used to overrule the rules whenever possible and give out far more food and tell people to come and collect bags. I hated all that food sitting going stale when people were hungry due to bureaucracy. They may have relaxed their rules since then, but I'd trust local charities more, who truly understand what their communities need.
AchillesPoirot · 03/04/2022 08:34

@Shiiiiiiiiiiitttt

Food banks. Donate to them, find out what they need (often also items in addition to food) and volunteer in them. Often they need people with skills to help their visitors (eg health, social work, cooking, economic skills, legal skills) so if you have any offer your services. Write to Sunak and Johnson and your local MP. Tell them you’ll not be voting Tory again in your lifetime (if you do) and why - and then stick to that.
I offered to volunteer. I was refused because I wasn’t from their church.
Shiiiiiiiiiiitttt · 03/04/2022 08:36

@Shiiiiiiiiiiitttt

Food banks. Donate to them, find out what they need (often also items in addition to food) and volunteer in them. Often they need people with skills to help their visitors (eg health, social work, cooking, economic skills, legal skills) so if you have any offer your services. Write to Sunak and Johnson and your local MP. Tell them you’ll not be voting Tory again in your lifetime (if you do) and why - and then stick to that.
Also if you or a family member have any trade skills that would be very useful, electrics, plumbing, general fix it skills.