15% of households skipped meals last month because they couldn't afford to buy enough food

[cakeorwine]

‘Health emergency’: 15% of UK households went hungry last month, data shows | Food poverty | The Guardian

"Millions of people – including one in five families with children – have gone hungry or skipped meals in recent weeks because they could not regularly afford to buy groceries, according to new food insecurity data.
According to the Food Foundation tracker, 15% of UK households – equivalent to approximately 8 million adults and 3 million children – experienced food insecurity in January, as high food prices continued to hit the pockets of low-income families.

Expects warned the persistence of high levels of food insecurity among low-income families was a “health emergency” that would drive the prevalence of conditions linked to poor nutrition, such as malnutrition and rickets.
Nearly two-thirds (60%) of food-insecure households reported buying less fruit and 44% bought fewer vegetables as they struggled with the ongoing cost of living crisis. By contrast, just 11% of food-secure households bought less fruit and 6% purchased fewer vegetables"

This is awful data - and something that should be being talked about. Being in work does not protect you from this. Life is just very expensive for some people - and costs are still going up.

You didn’t mention the poverty line. You asked how on earth a nurse couldn’t afford to eat. I gave a perfectly common example.

Since I became disabled a few years back and had to give up my career. Every month it gets worse and worse and I can afford less and less food.

I have one tin of spaghetti that I can have half of tomorrow and the rest the day after, a sliver of cheese (which I only have because the delivery driver messed up and gave me 750g instead of what I paid for), and two onions.

I got a COL payment this month, but that and more has gone on priority bills I've been putting off paying for several months because I can't afford them.

That's normal for me. That's my life.

@Katypp homeless people?

I mean I don't know what I would get if I lost my job but I suspect it would be SFA as I have a mortgage and no DC. If I was trying to pay gas and electric and c tax and cover my mortgage there wouldn't be anything left for food

Why? Beacuse all I see is well-meaning people coming up with justifications rather than address the elephant in the room. Do you think this makes you kind?

Seriously?
Its 30hrs of funded care, in term time, for 3 and 4yos. Most settings add something on top of that, plus the extended hours, plus the school holidays.

Not to mention, all the 0-2yos in childcare. Plus a child can be nearly 3.5 before becoming eligible, as its the term after their birthday, which can be April to September.

Seriously. I thought this thread was about the allegation that 15% of people has No Money At All to buy food. Not about the nuances of people living on a small disposable budget. The remit seems to have expanded somewhat.

Thanks @PawsisShady. Butcher's is what he eats now but at 25kg he needs 2.5 tins a day which is a bit out of our budget.

I'm trying him on Millie's Wolfheart Hunter's mix this month. I've yet to find a dry food he can tolerate but hopefully, he does OK on this one and then I can bulk buy it with this month's pay before I'm made redundant. I'm topping up on other things I can prebuy too like shampoo, conditioner, etc. I have a trade card for a local salon supply shop so will go there and buy a few of their massive, 5L shampoo and conditioners. I'm also going to get DD a few pairs of period pants. She's not tried them before so hopefully that will save on san-pro.

My post was more a what-if, iyswim?

I am being made redundant and will have £50 per week for grocery shopping but I can prepare this month and next while I'm still working. Hopefully, I will find work before my stockpile runs out otherwise we are fucked because I honestly cannot see how I can manage on £50 a week for grocery shopping.

If you are genuinely struggling, and I take what most people on here say with a pinch of salt because being an on line forum people can say anything, but if you are genuine then post the area where you are and we may be able to direct you to further help. Salvation army do food parcels I think.

@Frequency good idea. Check TK maxx too for their giant shampoo (Giovanni is brilliant)
Flowette always have good offers on their period pants

😂😂😂

You believe that all parents earning less than £100K get FREE childcare? Under-3s? You’ve been reading too much Daily Mail!

Well how well would you manage to eat, clothe and heat yourself on £75 a week UniversalCredit? Or £0 if it stops because of sanctions?

I wish I was making this up.

I'm not saying this to try and get people to help me. Just to say, this is the reality that people are living.

I'm not stupid. I'm poor.

Which area are you in?

Nailed it

Yeah we do. Lots of it was compulsorily purchased for HS2 etc. Buy them out.

We (Scotland) didn't vote for them 😩

Neither did we (Wales).

Why did you think that? Did you not read the OP and the linked article? It said 15% of people reported skipping at least one meal last month. Are you in the habit of substituting facts with hyperbole?

And they are being pulled up by people with real experience of living in this situation. Some of us have had the misfortune of being in the position and know what we are talking about

Neither did we. That London. About to re-elect Sadiq with an enormous majority. That'll piss off the gammons.

Why wouldn’t it be acceptable if alternatives are also provided?
Plus, the £8.18 is for 750 g, isn’t it? Usually butter comes in blocks of 200 or 250 g.

I know it's a favourite insult on here, but everyone who disagrees with you does not read the Daily Mail. I am able to form my own opinions, thank you.
And I don't believe I said free completely free childcare, did I?
If you read my response properly instead of jumping on it with self-righteous indignation, you would see I said the chilcare bill for the imaginary ward sister unable to eat on her £38k min salary should not have to pay £1100 pm childcare.

The linked articlke claimed that 15% of people were skipping meals, presumabely because they apparently have no money to buy food. I am not sure why else their skipping would of such interest.
So show me the hyperbole.

Sorry to say I have also been in this position. As I said upthread, our household income (self-employment) was substantially under UC level for four years and we never, ever came close to having no food at all in the house.