to ask all the skint and struggling people: what would help you the most?

[dreamingbohemian]

I think it's clear that a lot of people are struggling right now. I'm on the thread about parents going without food and it's terrible what some people are going through.

It's also clear that there are a lot of judgmental attitudes, and that the government is not all that interested in tackling the problem.

But you can also see a lot of people are sympathetic and want to help, and are horrified that we are returning to a situation where people have to go without food.

There have been a number of good ideas on that thread, but I thought it might be good to start a new thread to not just talk about the problem, but about how we can all try to do something about it -- whether it's signing petitions, putting pressure on the government, or volunteering or donating in our local communities.

So AIBU to start by asking people who are struggling right now to talk about the top one or two things that would help them out the most? So that we are not focusing our attention on things that might not be the most helpful?

Or, on the flip side, is anyone engaged in anything right now that seems to be helping a lot of people?

I don't want to just be horrified, I want to do something...

A bloke just knocked on the door trying to get signatures so he could stand for the local council because he was cross about money being taken away from his disabled child. Good for him.

I guess that's always the worry curtainrail. Just seems a shame ghat there's people who need help and people prepare to give it but mo way of getting them
Together

Bus prices are very expensive. The one I used to catch increased the return ticket prices by £1, so an extra £1 a day! I seem to spend most of my income on transport at the moment. Gas and electricity prices are also high, I'm dreading my bills.

I think it takes leadership to start the community initiatives I posted about - someone has got to have a bit of confidence and start persuading other people to join in.

People who pay for gas or electricity via a pre-paid meter are routinely ripped off by the energy companies. These companies should be compelled to provide more competitive tariffs to these consumers.

The best things to do long term are political

...VOTE!
... join a political party that advocates for the disadvantaged, and campaign to get policies introduced at the grassroots level
... correct attitudes, when you see a poor bashing comment on MN/ DM /RL, counter it with how it really is for the vast majority of people in poverty
... Join a union, that protects your rights, advocates for a living wage/family friendly working conditions/decent pensions etc
... Sign petitions & join campaigns against cuts to essential services/ desecration of the NHS
... Lobby for more allotment provision

If you beling to a church/community organisation etc, set up a food bank or supper club

Arrange/support jumble sales, they seem to be a rare breed these days, they are a lifeline for buying cheap clothes/ kitchen stuff etc, and of course raise money for a good cause.

If there's any spare land in your community, see if you can set up a food growing scheme

Also, if you're a pet guardian, get your animals neutered. There are tens of thousands of unwanted animals being bred/allowed to breed every year, which end up in rescue centres & foster homes. This means that when people sadly have to surrender their pets because they can no longer afford them, these creatures are much less likely to be adopted and more likely to be put down. It also means there's fewer funds in the animal protection charity sector for providing veterinary care for families on benefits eg PDSA. Don't support puppy/kitten farms by buying pets... Please adopt... It reduces the burden on rescues, and the conditions in these places are appalling, essentially battery farms for cats and dogs :-(
Sorry if that's a bit of a tangental rant, but animal rescue is really feeling the knock on effects of the cuts/recession too.

Could it be that those parents who eat less food, because they ensure that their children eat, are the parents who usually buy burgers, crisps, coca cola, cake and other fattening foods with alcohol and cigarettes. If they were to buy just fresh vegetables (or frozen) and affordable meat (bstreaky bacon?), they would not have to go without. If they are those parents, it doesn't matter because they have plenty of blubber to live on temporarily.

Im not rich [sadly] in fact im quite poor,the area I live in isnt a wealthy area either,I think the word 'community' sums it up in the short term,I have 3 ds hence lots of stuff being outgrown etc not good enough to sell too good to chuck so several times Ive seen a child in need of a school jumper and said to his mum (whom I know) i have a jumper- do you want it?,one v sad day we were walking home from school and friends son was limping she said its almost monday you will be ok .....turned out monday was 'pay day' and he needed new shoes ...within 10 mins he had 3 pairs of trainers and was smiling ...equally I am a little shorter than my friend so when her jeans get frayed on the hem - i get her jeans ,her ds is older than my ds3 so things get passed to him.....if im tesco and get reductions i can get stuff for her too but if i need a lift home she will pick me up,asda do 2 4 litres of milk for £2 so if she buys milk i get one for a £1 too.....another neighbours daughter is an air hostess so she passes posh mags along.

Rule: try looking at the prices of a large pack of basics sausage rolls (£1) and the price of a, say, a small melon (£2). Which is more filling?

Sensible people: look at [www.trusselltrust.org Trussell Trust]] they run food banks, useful for everyone to look at, those who can donate and those who need some help.

rule you had better be joking, otherwise all you are demonstrating is that you have read neither thread properly.

For a start neither stranded nor I spend money on booze ot fags. Both of us and many others do everything we can to provide nutritious food for our dc. Your post is woefully misinformed and quite frankly offensive if serious.

Gahhhh! Got link wrong Trusselltrust Trust

nickschick - I do the shopping thing with my Dad so we can take advantage of the deals like that without overspending. It definitely helps. I used to do the same with a friend when DS1 was a baby, we'd buy the jumbo packs of nappies when they were 2 for x amount and have one each rather than have to buy one at the higher price because you couldn't afford the 2 at the same time.

I think people are becoming more open about being skint as well, so hopefully can help one another more. When things are hidden, its' hard.

Another vote for freecycle and freegle too. And the forums at www.moneysavingexpert.com. I think the "old style" one is particularly good

melons lastweek were 2.99 in asda! unbelievable.

a 6 pack of crisps on the other hand....

i lost my job was unemployed for 10 weeks, found a part time job that lasted 8 weeks. then went back to sign on. i wanted to start my own CM but when i went to get the start up grant they said that i couldnt have it becuase i hadnt been unemployed for 13 weeks consecutively.

Penalised for taking a temp, min wage job.

i think that the other thing that would have helped me, is that i got stuck in the debt trap when i was young and stupid. 20 years later I'm STILL paying it! i think that it is wrong to end up owing more 3 times more than you borrowed simply due to charges and interest. Dont get me wrong its my fault i'm in this situation, but there should be some light at the end of the tunnel.

RuleBritannia... have you read the thread, and the other one that prompted this one... Please do your homework before commenting. Vegetables are expensive, unless you're lucky to just hit the supermarket at yellow sticker time. As for meat, my eyes water when I see the price of it (never buy it any more)... I couldn't comprehend how to work it how to work it into my budget even if I wanted to. Parents are literally going without, or just living on toast/porridge to afford the merest basic proper meals for their kids. If your kid knackers their only school shoes one week, that's the food budget gone. There's no other slack to trim back on... probably sky/ mobile contracts fell by the wayside months before. Things are much more expensive when you're poor that you probbo take for granted... Prepay card meters, not being able to stock up on special offers & discounts etc.

Won't even rise to the bait about your 'blubber' comment.

oh, and we dont quality for any benefits, because my husband earns too much, when in reality most of his wages go on the mortage and then the debts. whats left over feeds us. our 'disposable' income is much less than benefits for a family

Oh yes, another vote for the MSE forums. They are so useful. Most threads are friendly and helpful. The benefits forum on the other hand tends to attract comments such as that from RuleBritannia. (interesting nickname given the pov expressed)

Rule - do you have anything constructive to say?

Perfect nickname, holds the same view as our esteemed leaders.