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

[Rainallnight]

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.

Not increasing rent to market value.

I donate a weekly veg box via our local food hub.

Sorry I'm not doing that. I'm in a bit of a medication induced haze.

I was suggesting if people really want to help they can do it by not increasing to the market rent.

Be political and encourage others to be political. Vote in the local elections, write to your MPs, get policy changed.
Whilst I applaud those who work hard to make food banks happen and think those who donate do a good thing. Let's stop to think about this....in 2020 in an industrialised economy we have people who have to queue for free food. That isn't right in any way shape or form. How have we got here and how can we stop it. We need to stop it. It's not right. There is enough money in the country. There are enough means to feed us all. Stop putting sticking plasters over the issues.

We can weather the storm and I have my state pension due in less than a year. DH had arranged fixed tariff before rise and has reviewed media charges. I do donate to food banks but will not be donating money as you have no control. The Diana & Captain Tom fund springs to mind. As a household who pay substantial tax I think we are doing our bit and accept you have no control where that money goes whatever the flavour of Government.

Regarding not voting Tory - I have been very shock to see video today by'' Led by Donkeys'' on face book about Boris's links to Russia as with the Lebedev family - I did not know for e.g. he spent a few years' summer holidays at their ''castle'' in Italy etc. They gave a lot of money to the Tory party and the younger Lebedev got into House of Lords (which is well known).The older Lebedev was also in KGB and knew/knows Putin well . Also Camilla PB's nephew's had links with oligarchs through his Quintessentially company and he is also co chairman of the Tory Party!!

tara66 all that information has been known for several years, there were photos in the press at the time of Johnson at the Italian airport, looking very hung over. He was at the time foreign secretary and had fine without his security! All this was in the press and why he wasn’t sacked I don’t know. I’m glad more people are getting to know this stuff.

*gone

Apart from not voting tory, I am going to start to donate regularly to our local food bank. I donate baby items and clothes and equipment to our local women's refuge and will continue to do so.

Helping my adult DC with some living costs

Lizzie - Thanks - I had heard dribs and drabs about Boris and friend younger Lebedev but this particular video put it all together and though I have an open mind - I was shocked!

I use PayPal a lot and I make a donation when I use it, along with putting a couple of packs of supermarket own brand sanitary wear in the food bank box.
Otherwise, that's all.

We should be comfortably off but there is little spare each month, we already live modestly.
Donations to local church food co-op is the most practical thing we can do.

It is shocking tara. One day someone will write a book about Johnson’s life and what he’s got up to. People will be shocked he was allowed to get to be PM.

We used to be comfortable enough to donate regularly to the food-bank but recently rises in everything have tipped the balance for our family and we no longer can stretch to helping others. We've gone from being comfortable if careful, to now teetering on the brink of not being able to afford anything which could be described as a luxury.
For one thing, I'm supporting my daughter at university, topping up her maintenance loan - and all her bills have increased as well (there are no inflation-linked increases to what the govt give her). So I'm now subsiding the increased costs of two households.

I give money to the local food bank, better than random food if you can afford it because they bulk buy the things people don't donate. We also pay a few people for various services, eg ironing lady, odd jobs, nails etc all things that I could do myself but it put money back into the economy especially the ironing lady who is a single parent

Sounds frivolous but we are also eating out, going to the pub etc as normal as this keeps people in work (obviously things are costing more so less goes into savings)

I’ve had a direct debit to the trussell trust for years. I prefer to do that than donate food because that way they can buy what they actually need, or maybe even give people the money to top up their energy meters.
I’m also giving my cleaner a raise.

I think not voting Tory is what folk need to do. The sight of that oh so nicey nicey Sunak was just too much to stomach. Even Angela Rayner doesn't sound quite so bad now. Sorry I voted Tory now.

@Rainallnight

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.

Magnificent virtue Signalling.

I will donate food to the local food banks.

I am aware their supplies are running low due to less people being able to provide food because of rising bills etc.

If applicable : use your workplace matched giving. Mine matches £1 , I’ve just upped my contribution by £5.

Looking to buy a house and need every spare bit the way prices are going…

To be honest I still prefer to donate to charities in developing countries and that’s where the majority of my donations go. People in Tigray or Yemen for example are suffering much more than those of us in the UK, there is true starvation happening there and the cost of wheat etc rising is only going to make things worse, potentially making the conflicts worse as well.

Interesting you say this. I am not comfortable but I'm going to drop off some items (multiple unopened packs of toilet paper we received as a free sample) to the local food bank. Planning on donating£10 of tinned goods each month

Making a substantial donation to my local labour party.

Focussing on food banks is basically a voluntary top up tax on those with a social conscience, letting the conservatives off the hook regarding the consequences of their austerity policies.