To be really upset to read on MN

[shootingstarz]

That parents are going without food because they can?t afford to feed their kids.

stranded I know exactly what you mean - hope things improve for you very soon x

Well outraged i'm living on benefits for the first time of my life after h and I separated in December. Ds is 7 months old.

H is not working so pays us nothing.

After bills I have £150 per month to live on. So for food, nappies, petrol etc.

This month I have to tax my car, it's £70 ish because it's 10th years old. So that leaves £80.

Nappies cost about £20 per month.

Formula is about £35 per month.

That leaves £25 for petrol, food and laundry detergent.

How's that for an explanation?

Fucking hell, this makes me so so angry.

I have always been a complete socialist and would defiantly now be classed as a champagne one, but how can this happen?

Anyone know any food banks in SW London?

Christ alive.

We've just arranged a big collection for the local food bank via my sons school.

What the fuck is going on?? (rhetorical)

I think we need to go to food stamps, to ensure money earmarked for food is actually being spent on food

So right, after all - who needs gas and electric . I'd rather spend my money on fags, drugs, alcohol and gambling. Because that's what people on benefits spend their money on isn't it?

(currently deciding how I can feed my gas meter when I have just £10 left to see me through to Monday)

Thankfully, as others have said, I have a nice and secure home. I have also done food shopping for the week but I don't get paid by work until next Friday. Had many unexpected, necessary, outgoings in the last week that have left me on my arse.

I am lucky, if ever I am totally on my arse I have my parents who will not see me without food, but I don't go to them all the time, very rarely.

Saying that 'food stamps' comment insinuates that people are not spending their money on food, but spending it on non-essential items, which is frankly insulting to tar the many with the sins of few.

Local churches are also starting their own foodbanks.

Its getting really bad

Oh Whatmeworry, why should people who have been in this position or who are in this position have to explain themselves to you?

I am telling you that I went without food in order my my children to have it. Why is this hard to believe?

The poorest in this society aren't a punching bag you know? They're not there just to irritate you, you've never been in that position (clearly!) so why you feel the need to dismiss people and belittle is beyond me.

A year ago I was shocked by a story about a woman who had lost weight because she couldn't afford food after paying for everything else. Now I'm just like her. So yes, it's true, it's happening. I have no money left over for food after paying everything, I just buy the absolute minimum - oats, milk, eggs, fruit and sometimes little bits of meat. I bake bread and any other bakeable things.

Please don't tell me it's because of bad budgeting... I don't drink or smoke, the last item of clothing I bought for myself was 18months ago (2nd hand for my Dad's funeral). It's just the reality for some people like me who don't earn a lot, high housing costs, single parent etc.

I wish I could get a church handout! But I still feel, quite strongly, that there must be people who need it. I mean, I am managing to keep us all healthy, it's just quite tedious lurching from payday to payday with no end in sight.

need it more, I mean...

Mydogshitsshoes

It's an explanation of how it happens, but it still shows that there are personal choices involved that don't mean you can claim poverty. If you don't work then you can't claim that a car is a neccesity.

As I've said, I do believe that this happens, but I think there is very likely to be an element of personal choice involved that means its not about poverty of lack of government support.

Same here totallyskint, struggling but I've seen people worse off. High cost of living is the killer for me. Lurching from payday to payday is exactly how I'd describe it. I buy packs of tesco value noodles to have at lunch for work everyday for example. But DD gets good meals at nursery and at home on weekends.

Big hugs to everyone struggling to feed themselves and hope your circumstances get better. No-one deserves this.

I do work, thanks for judging though.
I'm on maternity leave.

StrandedBear You should be classed as an independent student as you have a child. Which means you would be entitled to a lot more as it wouldn't be assessed on your parents income. Did you start uni before you had a child? If so you can ask to be reassessed. What uni are you at?

Outraged are you saying people choose to live in poverty? A car is a necessity if you live in a rural area with poor transport links.

Oh, and I haven't put petrol in for 3 weeks but I don't have a drive to park it on so it needs to be taxed.

I'm not judging, I'm going on the fact that you said you're living on benefits. Your words.

I don't think it's anything new. It's a shame and it shouldn't happen but it always has. Mum used to eat like a sparrow when dad was still doing his apprenticeship and they had no money - she'd feed dad and DB and while they were eating she'd be up and about washing the dishes to hide the fact she had no food to eat. She'd say she'd eaten at lunchtime when dad was at work.

I'd do if if I had to. Sometimes do - well certainly eat a much smaller portion of food if there isn't really enough. But thankfully that is usually because I've got the quantities wrong rather than being broke but the principle remains. Kids get fed first.

It does happen in the uk. Ive done it on occaision. I suspect it will happen much more now that David Cameron has cut the disability element of tax credits. I will be a hundred pound a month worse off from April.

Guess what that extra money went on? Yes food!

Smp is classed as a working benefit hth

Oh Whatmeworry, why should people who have been in this position or who are in this position have to explain themselves to you?

Because I suspect that in the main there are personal choices involved, rather than poverty/benefis per se.

I'm not saying people choose to live in poverty, that would be ridiculous. I'm saying that what people sometimes think of as poverty actually isn't poverty. I don't think having cash flow problems or unexpected bills or previous debt that means someone can't eat more than bread for one or two meals until the next pay cheque equates to poverty.

"claim poverty" is such a dismissive phrase isn't it?

I find your user name to be particularly irrititaing on this thread Outraged.

I'm outraged that people are sharing how terribly hard they are struggling while others tell them that they're making "personal choices", I'm outraged that posters are yet again tarring the poorest in our society as feckless in some way - food stamps as a suggestion for example, I'm outraged that despite the real evidence some posters continue to say that it can't be true and it is somehow the poor's "fault"

Really, that's what I'm outraged by, rather than the price of a shitty bar of chocolate.