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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that if you earn £22k+ you shouldnt need to use foodbanks?

242 replies

beardymcbeardy · 22/05/2017 22:57

Or am I in denial, or just lucky? I earn less than that and admittedly I have to be frugal, live a fairly boring lifestyle (no fancy holidays and shitty old car) but I've never had to rely on a foodbank. I can't get my head around earning £22k and still needing to use a foodbank.

OP posts:
PaulDacresFeministConscience · 24/05/2017 18:44

Having spoken to our local foodbank volunteer, she is also sceptical of this ladies claims. She also scoffed at the idea that people on £30/40/50k could claim foodbank assistance because they were short for whatever reason. Apparently thats not how foodbanks work

So why are you posting in AIBU then? If all you wanted was confirmation that you were right, why ask the question?

I'd rather a foodbank serve a piss-taker than risk turning away someone in genuine need. This is a nasty thread and there is a real sneering tone in your posts, along with a laughable lack of understanding - sell the house straightaway. Yup - because that happens overnight (it doesn't - you're looking at 3 months at least between offer and money landing in your bank account). It also assumes that you aren't in negative equity.

There but for the grace of God and all that...

RufusTheRenegadeReindeer · 24/05/2017 18:46

some people are just being a bit hard of thinking

I quite agree that someone is made redundant could eventually amend their lifestyle

But most people realise that this wouldn't happen over night and short term people may need to use a foodbank

HamletsSister · 24/05/2017 18:55

Sneering tone characteristic of the cybernat.

lolalola19 · 24/05/2017 19:02

That is disgusting - £22k and using a food bank??? Bet they can still afford Sky TV and the latest games consoles for Xmas presents!!!

SamineShaw · 24/05/2017 19:02

I am in despair at the amount of ignorance and intolerance in this thread.

I run a foodbank and we changed our policy last year so that a referral is not needed and we have no limits as to how many times clients come, although we do say only once per week.

There are those that are in short term crisis that only need one or two parcels. There are also those who are on long term poverty and they rely on us for support. Yes there is at least one client that we feel is taking the mick slightly, but I get the feeling she is isolated and comes as much for the company as the food.

The vast majority are very humble, sometimes mortified and all very grateful for any help. I have had a lady cry when I said we had sanitary towels available.

As another poster said, I would rather put up with a few mick takers than deny anyone some support

sarahastiven · 24/05/2017 19:15

So her story is not very good or representative as while she works full time hours she is a Bank nurse. Meaning no set job no set hours no fix contract etc. Letting her work where she wants and when. Her issue is that she was either ill or injured can't remember which, which meant she could not work for quite a while. This means no sick pay etc (on nurse bank there is no sick pay coverage). Thats how/why she got difficulty and needed foodbank etc.
I agree with OP that on that salary in 'normal' circumstances there should be no need for using foodbanks.

sarahastiven · 24/05/2017 19:23

Oh just saw your post re wages. I've been qualified nurse over 12 years and pro rata, and being at top of my band, I still earn notably under 30k.

riceuten · 24/05/2017 19:23

22k pa and 5 kids doesn't go far
22k pa and debts you're paying off, can mean you have a low disposable income
22k pa and a massive mortgage/unreasonable rent

Getting the picture?

nakedscientist · 24/05/2017 19:30

Sadly OP will never "get the picture" because she posted on here to criticise that nurse.

Original poster
beardymcbeardy · 24/05/2017 19:42

riceuten, you wouldnt be on 22k with 5 kids, unless you had just had quintuplets in the last month. Id imagine you would get a healthy tax credit/child benefit award for 5 children.

if your debts are that high that it leaves you in a position that you cant feed yourself, then realistically you should be considering bankruptcy.

22k and a massive mortgage? then you'd downsize. I can understand if maybe some relied on foodbanks to get them through whilst they did this ,but the fault lies with the person who has overstretched themselves with a mortgage they cant afford on a their salary.

However, none of these relate to the nurse in question.

As for being a cybernat, dfottfsofatsm. The nurse earns more than 55% of the UK and had a pop at the SNP that her salary didnt cover her lifestyle (which by all accounts was affluent although people have been at pains to suggest that it was paid for by every man and their dog but not by the actual nurse in question). If she had said that expensive housing had crippled her, and she struggled even on her wages of £22k I would have sympathy for her, but ultimately then you have to move to somewhere within your budget, just like the 55% of people who are paid less manage to do.

OP posts:
Original poster
beardymcbeardy · 24/05/2017 19:47

Letting her work where she wants and when. Her issue is that she was either ill or injured can't remember which, which meant she could not work for quite a while. This means no sick pay etc (on nurse bank there is no sick pay coverage). Thats how/why she got difficulty and needed foodbank etc. If she had said that, then that would be understandable. Illness is indiscriminate. And sometimes people fall ill and need extra help. But she didnt say that. She said that she couldnt make her £22k cover her outgoings. Thats more than the average median wage and not far off double what the national minimum wage is.

OP posts:
Anonimum32 · 24/05/2017 19:49

I've just come across this thread and admit I haven't read it all. But someone would not 'choose' to use a food bank. There seems to be massive misconception not just on here but in general, as I had a disagreement with someone in work yesterday. Food banks are there for people in crisis for whatever reason and can come from all walks of life. I have seen someone from a really affluent area turn up to a food bank in neighbouring deprived area in a top of the range Mercedes, because due to a set of circumstances beyond her control didn't not have any money to feed her children. Unfortunately also contrary to popular belief a recipient of support from food bank does not get a trolley full of quality food they get a small bag of the bare basics that will keep them going for a couple of days. This is often filling food with a low nutritional value. These people are not scrounges, they are not benefit cheats, they are not work shy. They are often working families who have been hit with something unexpected outside of their control.
It absolutely appalls me that there are people in this country that are in this position. It makes me sick that children in this country regularly go hungry. This is 2017 this should not be happening!!

TinselTwins · 24/05/2017 19:53

22k and a massive mortgage? then you'd downsize.

BAHAHA

because houses always sell on a convenient timescale

because you can easily apply for a smaller mortgage when your finances are fucked

because you don't need available funds to actually move somewhere smaller - you don't need hundreds/thousands readily available to spend and potentially lose on searches and checks for wherever you try to put on offer on

TinselTwins · 24/05/2017 19:54

We get it OP

You

dementedma · 24/05/2017 19:58

I earn more than that but have no savings other than a few hundred quid. We don't go on holiday, eat out, or go to theatres etc. If I lost my job I would be struggling to feed the kids after a month.

nakedscientist · 24/05/2017 20:07

Sorry, but yes YABU.
Most on here don't agree with your stance. Mainly because its not kind and we need much, much more kindness in the world.

Original poster
beardymcbeardy · 24/05/2017 20:07

Tinseltwins its fuck all to do with the SNP and all to do with personal responsibility. Not one off circumstances, not illness, not unforeseen accidents, (all of which I have agreed are reasons people use FB for) just I live outwith my means and its someone else's fault my wages (despite being nearly double what the government actually has the minimum wage at and earning more than half the population) dont cover my lifestyle.

OP posts:
nakedscientist · 24/05/2017 20:10

OP you are either paid by the word or have an agenda!

TinselTwins · 24/05/2017 20:12

ah yes, "personal responsibility"

soaring numbers of children not eating is nothing to do with politics, it's all about individuals not taking responsibility, because we're all living our lives in individual vacumes unaffected by social policy………...

Littlenic73 · 24/05/2017 20:13

Sometimes it is bad budgeting, I know a single mum who one week was bragging about spending £70 and a naughty knicker party and by the end on the month was relying on the foodbank, she wasn't working though. I don't spent that much in a year on undies!

deedeegee · 24/05/2017 20:20

Think one cannot comment unless one knows the facts of the situation- single parent or not, total family income, number of children, where they live- costs of rent/mortgage, commuting costs.
Very easy to judge..but the facts are crucial!

Original poster
beardymcbeardy · 24/05/2017 20:43

but the facts are crucial. Well yes they are, I guess if you are going to make public accusations, you should have your facts in place beforehand to back up your claims. But politicians across the board do this all the time so I guess a member of the public isnt really to know better. In a way i have some sympathy for her, she went on national telly claiming poverty whilst leaving her social media open for all and sundry to see her affluent lifestyle. Seasoned mps would see that as a rookie mistake Grin

OP posts:
HamletsSister · 24/05/2017 20:55

Still No Op.

RufusTheRenegadeReindeer · 24/05/2017 21:01

I can't get my head around earning £22k and still needing to use a foodbank

See i was answering the original OP

Silly me...didnt fully realise that the OP had started the thread to have a pop at an individual person that she doesn't actually know

Shitty behavior

Nelly1727 · 24/05/2017 21:06

Having volunteered for crisis I know anyone can find themselves homeless or in a difficult financial situation. Not everyone has savings and the loss of a job or a few unexpected bills may be enough for someone to have to resort to a foodbank. We don't know all of the details of this individuals personal circumstances. I know I certainly couldn't live on 22k. We are fortunate that our household income is quite high but we still have very little disposable income due to high mortgage payments and childcare costs (which between them equate to more than 22k per year! ) we also have historical debt from times when our earnings were less which we are trying hard to pay off and no savings. Are we irresponsible? Maybe you would say yes but we have made a conscious decision to buy a bigger house to give our three growing boys room. Have we stretched ourselves yes but financial advice was that this is the time to do it as In years to come the mortgage payments on our forever home won't seem so much. If one of us lost our job we would be over 50k down and be unable to cover all monthly outgoings. (Although do have some insurance protection in place) I think a lot of families would be in a similar situation. I think unless we know all of the circumstances (and even if we do) we shouldn't judge! It is not easy juggling everything especially on a low salary. I totally agree as well that nurses should be paid more, this could also be said for teachers, police etc. The amazing job they do in my opinion is not appropriately rewarded.