to argue with hubs about Freeganism?

[roobydoobydoo]

He's been made redundant. Not been in current job long. Money's tight, but he's proud.

Whereas I'm not too proud to consider raiding supermarket skips etc to feed the family. Needs must and all that.

Has anyone tried it? If so was it a short-term measure or a way of life?

All polite view appreciated.

Sorry, that should have been 'not been in previous job long'.

See how desperation affects the brain!

you might get a few cardboard boxes while you are there to keep you warm :)

Well, I'm all for frugality and recycling but isn't eating from bins a bit unhealthy?

Bleurrggh! I saw a programme about this once. It's certainly not for me.

Obviously it would be if I was homeless and starving

I saw "freegans" on TV once.

Some of the food is thrown away in perfect nick, it is however illegal, so please remember that.

Sainsburys in Bath give their left over/un sold bread etc to the homeless shelters. You can fight them for it.

I've known people who dumpster-dove. (this was before the term 'freegan') As long as you're careful and sensible, you can do ok. They had a giant haul from a restaurant that was closing - lots of pasta and cooking oil.

Most of the staff nab the good stuff in my local Morrissons

We don't need the cardboard boxes, fortunately. The house is ours outright, internet tied in for the next 8 months. We've done all we can to cut corners since the latest blow - change gas/electric suppliers. Changing water suppliers doesn't seem to be an option. We have one of those thingies which show us energy consumption and if it goes to orange something has to give. Butt food is a priority don't you think?

I just want to know if anyone's actually "been there, done that" and if it was short term or a whole new lifestyle choice.

How skint do you have to be to do that? I can understand if you're skint that you have to make cutbacks, but this seems a little excessive unless we don't have the full story.

Can't you get a job?

I saw a programme about it too and it was interesting. Bloody shocking the way supermarkets ditch things which are still wrapped up and perfectly edible rather than give to a homeless shelter etc.

I seem to remember it being illegal so watch out!

You need to feed your Butt?

"Butt" food? You know what I meant!

wonders where embarrassed smiely is on this blimmin' forum

Problem is, you don't know if it's been crawled over by rats.

Are you a journalist?

Most of it is still wrapped and sealed.

If you own your house outright and your Husband is working, why do you feel need to rummage through bins for your dinner?

Even if it's wrapped and sealed, rats continually urinate as they mooch over rubbish. The wrapping will be contaminated by their urine, carrying the real risk of Weils Disease. I wouldn't put my kids at risk like that.

We're both actively looking for jobs, even part time, to tide us over. But until something comes up we don't have any cash coming in. Job Seekers ask for one piece of information which we provide, then they ask for another which we provide, then they ask for another. Why can't they ask for the whole flipping lot in one go? Much easier all round. But until they have everything we apparently get nothing, but if we do qualify (once they've finished faffing around making us jump through hoops) everything will be backdated.

Not much use in the short term.

Gas/electric/water suppliers have made it clear that if we don't keep up DD payments we'll have our supplies cut off.

Needs must and all that.

wonders if anyone will actually answer the original question

It's only going to waste so why not? Think it's a good idea.

I think lots of us have answered your original questiong.

"Has anyone tried it?"

No

Isent it harmful especially when meat and fish are concerned. What if its been out for a few hours you run the risk of food poisoning, and like others have said foxes and rats scavenge from them, they carry diseases.

Sorry i don't know if I want to answer your original question as I suspect it'll be in some magazine next week as an example of how squeezed the middle class mummies are

And btw the water supply won't get cut off, so I doubt they have made that clear. They aren't allowed to cut it off if the property is occupied.

Its crap that its illegal though, why its rubbish they have thrown out.

" Gas/electric/water suppliers have made it clear that if we don't keep up DD payments we'll have our supplies cut off ."

yeah they can't actually do that especially if you have children in the house