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.

We don't know her situation with family. Her BF may not be a BF anymore. Foodbanks have no different criteria for families to single people, they are a last resort for anyone and it is rare that we come across someone who abuses our service or takes it lightly.

Some right judgemental twats on here. It's absolute rubbish that foodbanks are for "single people". I make referrals all the bloody time and I work with adults. I actually don't think I've needed a referral for an adult with children in at all.

OP, you need to eat. That comes first.

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

This too. There are some absolutely horrible people on MN.

Whilst I am sure there are lots temporary jobs over the Christmas period, I don't see how the OP is going to get paid when she needs the money? It's not like they could go stack shelves and the store manager is going to whip out money from his pocket at the end of the shift, they still have payrolls, accounting systems and tax details to complete.

I'm sorry you're in this situation OP, would suggest following the constructive advice you have been given.

Yes Op..as pando suggested, Sali Army a very good idea and worth checking out as an option of help. Do you mind me asking what area you are in?

In fact many single people struggle more than families as they are more likely to fall through the cracks...and housing etc has a basic cost even if only one person lives in it.

Have a look and see if you have a Junk Food Project nearby. They use food from restaurants and shops that would be thrown away. You can work for your food (washing up etc) or pay as you feel, and they will provide meals and a food collection point. It's not a food bank though.

Please, please, please DO go to a food bank. This is what they are for. Donate back in kind when you're back on your feet.

Also try asking on freecycle for unwanted freezer food - loads of people have a christmas clear out about now.

Shocked at the amount of pp who seem to think getting a job, especially if you have MH issues, is as easy as walking in to Tesco and asking.

Whilst I am sure there are lots temporary jobs over the Christmas period, I don't see how the OP is going to get paid when she needs the money? It's not like they could go stack shelves and the store manager is going to whip out money from his pocket at the end of the shift, they still have payrolls, accounting systems and tax details to complete

This.

Some people on here live in lala land. If the OP started job hunting, it would likely take a few weeks to even find anything and usually 4 weeks after starting to even get paid. Someone suggested bar work- unless the OP has prior experience of bar work, she won't get a bar job. Same with many other jobs. Someone else suggested care work- you do realise you need to be CRB checked for that? Ridiculous.

Have a look on the website therealjunkfoodproject.org/ (or Facebook) and try and find out if they have a Real Junk Food Project near you. They collect leftover food from supermarkets and restaurants and make them into edible meals. You can pay what you can afford or do some washing up for them. In Leeds they even have an 'anti-supermarket' which is apparently full of tins and jars of food with damaged labels or out of date but still edible - again you can take what you like and pay what you can afford. They are all run by volunteers and no one is judgemental. I have eaten in the cafe in Bristol and the food was lovely.
I really hope you can get some help.

And I don't know about elsewhere in the country but everywhere around here already has all of their temporary Christmas staff in place and aren't hiring any additional ones on top of that.

caulkheaded has just beaten me to it. Our local one is very approachable and at this time of the year particularly will provide a meal if you give them your time.

Is there a soup kitchen (not a food bank) in your area, Noseabovewater?

I used to volunteer in a soup kitchen. The service users used to come in the evenings to get soup, sandwiches, tea etc. They could eat on the premises or take the food away. There was no need for a referral and whilst the assumption was that most of the clients were homeless, some weren't and had simply fallen on hard times.

Im self employed. A few years ago I was doing ok. Then I started to do really well. Used a lot of my disposable income to go ahead with a job. I knew I'd be paid. As ironically it was a housing agency who dealt with homelessness.. then the accounts person went sick. They couldn't tell me when I'd be paid. It was a truly dreadful period in my life!

I did contemplate a food bank but thankfully it didn't come to that. Life isn't black an white

And I can endorse what NameChange said. If you really have no one you feel you can ask it would certainly be a viable option.

Absolutely creeky

This absolutely, a relative recently applied for a job at ALDI. It's a 2 step assessment online, a face to face interview with recruitment and THEN an informal interview with assistant store manager and then the store manager with a 2 hour trial instore working assessment.

I just put a load of food into a food bank collection at the local supermarket. I'd not begrudge someone like the OP getting that food. Ok, with hindsight the holiday was a mistake but it's Christmas. The idea of someone going hungry at this time of year is awful. Hope you sort something out OP.

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

I'm no believer in karma, Yello but if you do, I imagine you have it coming. Horrible post.

YelloDraw Fri 09-Dec-16 17:54:22 I've said already I cannot explain the reasons I can't ask anyone. U OK Hun? DM me. #vaguebooking If you are close enough to your BF to go on holiday, you are close enough to ask for £20 until payday. Unless you have no money because you have a drug addiction or something bad like that.

Wrong post, it was THIS one.

Op please go to a food bank. You can give back donations when you have money again.

So the boyfriend is serious enough to have a holiday paid for him but can't be asked for food? Why on earth not?

Food banks should be a very last resort, not the go to place as people wanted other things. I'd imagine the usage does indeed go up this time of year as people spend on luxuries and know someone else will provide food.

I volunteer at our local food bank and we'd much rather soneone use us than go without food. Get yourself a referral to your local one rather than not eat and become ill.
Promise yourself you'll donate back when you are in work and able. At the same time get some staples in - boring food I know, but will ensure you always have a meal in.

OP, use a food bank. You messed up (which by the sounds of it you're fully aware of) and I'm sure you'll be more careful in future. We live and learn, now don't suffer or berate yourself unnecessarily and use the resources intended to help people in your present situation.

Hope things pick up for you soon

P.s If you're in south or west wales pm me and you can have some of my food.

So the boyfriend is serious enough to have a holiday paid for him but can't be asked for food? Why on earth not?

You don't think there might not be a reason? Abusive, controlling, relationship over etc.

It doesn't sound like a good relationship for her to be in, but that's another issue entirely.

My ds does some temping around his regular job. The job agency are constantly texting him at the moment as they have more jobs than people to fill them. It will change in January but its usually like this just before Christmas. Is there a reason you haven't responded to any of the suggestions to sign up at an agency until you get regular work?

Since the OP said that she's suffered from mental health problems she's obviously more vulnerable than I originally thought and she says she doesn't have people she can ask.
In any case for those who feel she has no right to ask for help, food parcels are limited anyway. And I agree that money for casual work isn't going to appear by magic. Anyone who thinks it is is unrealistic.
I'm utterly appalled that people seriously believe that single people shouldn't access help and support.