To use a Food Bank if I also had a holiday last month?

[NoseAboveWater]

Checked my account this week and it's not good. I've had a few job options not work out. I now have an offer for February for part time so I'm obviously very happy, however it is minimun wage and freelance so I feel cautious about taking on a payday loan just in case. Not eligible for proper loan from bank as no income right now.

I went on holiday with a new bf last month before things got so serious with my money situation. Part of me thinks I need to prioritize rent and bills I can just about pay until new job starts, if I don't really buy food for the second half of December - I have plenty of food for about a week. However, I should not have gone away so it's my own stupid fault and so really don't deserve any help from the Food Bank. I've been hanging around supermarkets late for a few days trying to get reduced items but not having much luck. Been looking online for information about getting thrown away food from restaurants at night, not found anything yet, but if anyone knows where I could get that that would be great?

I cannot ask family or friends and certainly not bf. Wwyd? No children btw it's only myself so no worry there.

OP, get yourself referred. The fact that you've overspent on your holiday doesn't negate that work hasn't materialised and you will need to feed yourself in December.

I'm not liking the attitudes on this thread much to be honest. We have a benefits culture and a benefits system and if you can't access those then a foodbank is what you may need in the interim. You need to eat, it's that simple.

When you're in work again and can pay it forward, donate to your local foodbank, then do.

I would hide the thread if I were you now, it's degenerating into questioning your relationship and the validity of it. You've already said you have nobody to ask and it's nobody's business but yours.

I hope your work situation picks up asap.

Foodbanks are not only for families. They are for anyone that needs them. They are also not only for people who can't work. There's plenty of working people who are living in absolute poverty.

OP if asking for help from your family and boyfriend would but you in an unsafe position - please consider contacting one the referring agencies to the foodbank and discussing a voucher with them.

I am going to go against the grain here and say that actually I think the OP is a good candidate for a "one off emergency" three day food parcel.

If you can get a job before the new one starts - that's great, but it's unlikely to be cash in hand, on the day. Supermarkets do take on people, but it will be paid weekly or monthly, and may not be paid until the OP has worked for a number of weeks.

OP - you need to sort out your finances - taking a holiday before starting a new job was a really stupid thing to do, but I think you realise that now. Please go and talk to someone about your finances, the best way you could start saving and also look at getting your kitchen cupboards stocked up with long-term staples.

Just seen that you have Mh issues, are you in contact with any care teams? They can probably refer you.

If you have had MH problems and you think your current situation might make you ill again then go and speak to your GP they may be prepared to refer you under those circumstances.

Thank fuck for witsender

Really glad lying and I crossposted similar views at the same time.

I really hope most people don't think single people should starve
You need to be referred to a food bank but Hindu temples will also help out
You say you have a few friends, please ask them for help.

I'm guessing your bf has been violent, I hope he us an ex now.

If your mh issues allow there is temp work and also you could try joining Task Rabbit or some such. Best of luck to you.

Ps sorry but you need a fuck of a lot in the bank before you can spend on holidays. Shit always happens alas.

I have not bought any Christmas presents and have nothing left to sell.

I resent the vague booking post. I don't owe you the humiliating details of my pathetic little life. I've made a post asking a question with adequate information. Read it and answer if you like, or don't.

Just saw that we did, Hoops :)

Just a thought: are there any organisations the OP could volunteer at that might feed volunteers while they're working?

Or OP could volunteer at the food bank separately to using it? Could be a win-win...

Task Rabbit is a good idea, also babysitting

(I still think you should go see about a Foodbank Referral though).

I think the OP knows she has screwed up the clue is in her OP.

Foodbanks are for people who need food and have no money to buy it.

Morrisons sell a entire sack of potatoes for between £2 and £4 price fluctuates. If you buy that , uht milk, porridge oats , pasta , bag of value frozen mixed mixed veg, value butter/marg and a block of value cheese you would only spend approx £10- £12. Also value jam 27p and morrisons for example sell loads for 9p reduced .

Try selling something on Facebook or pawn something at cash converters.

If it's only food you need for two weeks, and I set yourself a challenge to spend only £1 per day.

A large bag of pasta, value bread, value rice and a sack of potatoes. A tray of eggs, pack of cooking bacon, baked beans. Porridge, value cornflakes, value jam. Pack of value apples and carrots, frozen peas. You could easily eek all of that out to last 2 weeks.

YABU to use a food bank

Food banks are not for single working people they are for struggling families and pensioners

Sorry, but that is not true. They are for people who cannot afford to buy food to eat. Some of the families who use food banks have irresponsibly squandered away money on gambling, booze or fags. That does not mean that they do not deserve to eat.

OP, I think you were stupid to go on holiday, but it is done now. You have spent the money. Please seek some help, including asking for a food bank referral. Would you not be entitled to benefits until you start your new job? If you do manage to raise some money, you could try Jack Monroe for cheap recipes. Things like pulses, rice, pasta etc can last for ages and are filling.

I hope you are OK and don't listen to some of the nasty messages on here.

Ignore the judgemental and unhelpful posts.

Get a referral.
People make mistakes life doesn't always pan out they way you expect.

Food banks are there for people who need food

Hope things get easier

I'm a recovering alcoholic, and while I've been sober for a while now, I'd balk at asking those closest to me for a loan, as, in the past, my finances spiralled out of control due to drinking - although they know I'm clean now, I'd still fret that admitting I was skint might set alarm bells ringing. Interrogating the OP as to why she can't borrow from family/BF is just not helpful - she just can't, end of.

There is an app called Olio if you are in London or other major city - it's for food sharing. I've given away open packets, etc of things that I won't be using. No qualifying criteria. A local baker lists her trial cakes and bakes!

And I second this:
I've just taken a donation to a food bank. You're welcome to my food.

If I ever turn into the kind of person who says you don't deserve food because you went on holiday last month and miscalculated please shoot me in the head.

The idea of the deserving and undeserving poor is Victorian shit.

I know what it's like to live with very tight money margins and make a mistake. If you live in London PM me you can have some of my food.

I too live in London and would be happy to give you food if you PM me. Good luck with it all. We all make bad decisions sometimes, just that when margins are close, the impact can be much worse for some.

She said she has nothing left to sell. And selling things takes a while - as does finding paid work.

It isn't about deserving and undeserving. It is about helping yourself (sell things, get some pt work) or asking friends and family to step in, before using a bloody stretched resource (food bank) that other people need more

Sorry, but would you say this to a family needing help? She does not have anything to sell- lots of people don't. She has said that she doesn't feel able to ask for help and how will she pay back any money borrowed? This is a vulnerable person with MH issues who might not have enough money to eat this month. Of course she deserves help.

Oh half my post went

What I mean is OP use the food bank. You need it.
Just donate when you cash.

sorry to hear you're struggling OP
AIBU is a very harsh environment and you sound a little vulnerable in your current circumstances. The posters over in relationships are lovely and often have first hand experience of tough times and difficult relationships, and might have good advice.

It isn't about deserving and undeserving. It is about helping yourself (sell things, get some pt work) or asking friends and family to step in, before using a bloody stretched resource (food bank) that other people need more.

It's interesting that one person who works at this 'bloody stretched resource' and one person who has donated to one in the last week both support the OP.

When did you last donate to one? When did you get the right to lay down what circumstances qualify? Why do you not understand that it's difficult to raise cash quickly and your suggestions would take time?

I'm a social worker OP and we always get loads of people asking for food bank vouchers around this time. There's a box to tick if there are children but that's so they know how many to provide food for.

I always think of you are desperate enough to ask me for a voucher, you are desperate enough to have one.

Good luck x

It may have been suggested before -
Approved Foods - huge range of foods near (or even far from) or past sell by dates but still excellent. Range includes specialist diets and organic.
Well worth a look - often knock down prices.

Good luck - take care and, yes, I donate to a Food Bank for anyone, anyone, who may be in need. Not my call to judge. Not anyone's.