Should I use a food bank in my situation?

[Lionking1981]

I am 200 pounds down on my normal wages this month due to taking unpaid parental leave when my Dd was ill. Overspent the first week of the month trying to occupy the kids. Then my oven broke and had to replace it. Been living out the freezer and store cupboard since. To cut the story short, I now have 30 pounds to survive 10 days til payday. I have 3 small joints of lamb in the freezer, a box
of waffles and some fish fingers. A few tins of baked beans, tomatoes and soup in cupboard.

My friend says to go to the foodbank but I am super uncomfortable about it. We earn over 40k between us and i don't think food banks are there for people like us but it is going to be really hard to feed a family of 4 on this. However, we will be fine next month. Would you just make do for the 10 days?

nutty tax doesn't work like that. I wouldn't expect the nhs to give me preferential treatment for a minor aesthetic scar based on the fact that as a healthy person I am a net contributor, over someone who is unhealthy and therefore doesn't contribute to the nhs, but desperately depends on their service. If you want a private emergency fund, you have the means to organise your own. Most of us call it a savings account.

OP, it's a bit disappointing you went straight for fooodbank option rather than sitting down and working out a plan.

I added to a Tesco shopping list the following:

Value pasta X11 bag
Porridge oats X1bag
Milk x8 pints
Eggs x12
Cheese x1block
Apples x5
Bananas x6
Loaf of value bread x2

Which amounted to £9.

It's not going to kill you to have porridge for 10 days, egg on toast for tea, cheese sandwiches, cheesy pasta for dinner for a few nights. That's without the lamb you've already got.

Presumably like everyone else you have the odd bag of flour and cereal packet knocking around? Most people have basic staples that they overlook in the cupboard.

And if you did that, you'd still have the other £21 left to spend. Very doable. Yeah it's no wine and cake for a few days but it's not going to be a good enough reason to rely on a food bank.

What has the world come to that someone earning 40k doesn't even think they can live on £30 for less than a week and a half! It's more that you don't want to!

Does anyone else really want to make a lamb stew right now?

user1487689176
Well I didn't vote for the cunts. No food banks shouldn't exist but they do. Reality of life under the tories

Sorry to burst your left wing bubble but food banks were first introduced in the UK under a Labour government, led by the economically incompetent Gordon Brown.

I'm not put off donating to food banks by this or any other thread. There have been and always will be people who need support in their lives at some stage.

As an aside, this thread prompted me to pick some blackberries whilst walking the dog this afternoon. I was stung by nettles, prickled by brambles and now have black stains all over my hands.

As an aside, this thread prompted me to pick some blackberries whilst walking the dog this afternoon. I was stung by nettles, prickled by brambles and now have black stains all over my hands.

Don't be so wet lol. Did your blackberries taste nice though? Ours are yum.

I'm going to put them in a crumble.

Because this thread I was inspired to... send the youngest out to the field to forage for berries.

Slim pickings tbh but with a bit of apple we'll have a nice Sunday crumble pudding

Anyone watch I, daniel blake?

Yeah I did. Thought it was really well done.

They may well have been Silvery, but were there ever this many? And so well used?

I am still gathering a bowl of blackberries a day. I have the step ladder by the hedge to help me up. I think the stretching for them is good for you and up and down the ladder. The odd prickle is part of the fun (and there is an argument nettle stings are good for you by the way)....

Pant, they look good and it's very nice for children to see they can gather stuff and eat it. It makes them feel more self sufficient.

I don't think you can just turn up at a good bank I think you have to be referred.

What you already have in sounds like enough easily for 3 days so you have £30 for a week, that's doable.

Breakfast - porridge with milk/ water and raisins

Lunch- beans on toast or jacket potato with cheese

Dinner - pasta with tomato sauce (homemade) or rice and chicken

Snacks - banana and a couple of chocolate biscuits

Shopping list:
3 tins of beans £1.50
Block of cheese £2.50
Loaf of bread £1.20
6 baking potatoes £1.80
Packet of value biscuits £2
Bananas £1.50
Dried pasta £2
3 tins of tomatoes £1.50
3 onions 90p
Bag of whole grain rice £2.50
Chicken thighs £5
Tea bags £1
Milk £2

Total: £25.40

I Carnt say yes you should go or no you shouldn't even though you have explained your situation, u may be having other issues going on personal issues etc just do what u feel comfortable with.
My OH has worked all his life got I'll 5 months ago and as he was having to much time of work he had to give up his job after going back and fro to docs we found out Friday he has lung cancer but before they found out it was cancer job centre basically said it's classed as he left his job on his own accord and had to claim universal credits and he was getting £190 a month it's not 4 weekly pay either it's 11th of every month so some months it's been 5 weeks with £190 to live on.
Yes got to go back to hospital on 6th for full body scan if tumour hadn't grown they said they will operate and try take it out but if it's grown he will have to go through chemo etc we told job centre everything and took all medical evidence in they said his money will go up and he will be eligible for disability benefits but they said it could take up to 6 weeks to get first payment so we had to use food bank once but you can only go 3 times a year and you have to show them what you have spent your money on.
What ever you decide to do good luck hun if u need to use it use it wishing you and your family all best times are hard now xx

I'm sure the OP sorted something out considering this thread is over two years old

Zombieeeeeee thread - resurrected for Halloween?!
Spotted myself on the thread in a previous form haha

No, people with a household income of £40k should not use a food bank. You should use your savings. Don’t have any? Why not?
I suggest you feed your kids rice pudding - that’s what my mum did when she needed to - it costs pennies to make.

If you need a foodbank, go and get referred to a foodbank.