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?

I also volunteer at a foodbank (Trussell Trust) you do need a voucher as others have said, even if you decide to manage on the £30 and don't have a voucher you can still call in and they can refer you to debt advice/money management which may be helpful. If you use the foodbank, when you get paid donate a big amount of food in repayment. We get quite a few people who donate when they are managing better.

Mrsovertheroad £30 for food for 10 days, 3 joints of lamb plus waffles, fish fingers, beans, tomatoes and soup etc and we will be fine next month (and the owner of a brand new oven) is NOT in any way shape or form being in a mess. It is a temporary cash flow issue.

You earn 40k between you but don't have enough for food?? What do you spend your money on??

Buy some value bread & value baked beans, I live on baked beans several days a week mixed with frozen peas in a jacket potato or on toast.
Get cheap soup, have the lamb, eat tuna pasta. etc

love how people say use your overdraft or credit card i have both unfortunatly im at the end of both of them too

quer, I agree that it is a good skill to learn, but not at the expense of her children. The op, can start to budget once she gets paid again, but in the meantime she appears to have difficulties.

Though, I'm beginning to be concerned that all is not as it appears. 🤔Why can't your friend lend you some money, op? I'm concerned that we do seem to get the odd post about food bank usage, that invariably end up in a mn bun fight, while waiting for the original poster to come back.

It's more than doable.

If you have a Tesco near you get.

A tray of 15 eggs for 1.15
2 loaves of bread for 1
4 pack of beans for 1
4 pack of soup for 1.60
Bag of frozen sausages for 1
Bag of potatoes for 1
Value nuggets for 70p
Pack of ham 1
Value rice crispies 70p
Bag quorn mince 1.20
Pasta sauce 80p
2 bags apples 1.80
Multi pack of value crisps 80p (12 bags)
2 packs value cookies 80p
4 tins value rice pudding 80p
Bag chips 1
Cheese spread 50p

It won't be fine dining but that will give you food and snacks for 10 days (with the food you have already) with about a tenner to spare for milk etc.

We aren't referring to your situation x2boys or suggesting what you should do.

The OP has made no mention of having disbabled children and has said she will be fine next month. Why does someone who will be fine next month need a food bank? She's spent too much in this month that is all.

No I don't think you should or that you'd be eligible.

i live in the northwest £40000 would be plenty here assuming you didnt have a big mortgage and debt but i can quite see how it wouldnt go far in London.

povertypain I think it is a bit ridiculous to suggest that the OP's childern will be suffering because they have to eat lamb and lentil stew and baked beans for 10 days. That sounds a pretty OK diet to me.

You should be able to manage on what you've got.

Food banks are seriously under pressure this month because of children not having free school meals. Surely you should at least try and make what you've got last before you go. Would any family/friends have you round for lunch? If you post exactly what you have on the food topic people can help with very cheap meals. With all that lamb it shouldn't be too tricky.

worraliberty careful, you mustn't mention using a pawnbrokers on here
I got a right bollocking for suggesting it, even though I have experienced poverty and found pawnbrokers really useful at times.

i know your not quer im just pointing out lots of people live in their overdrafts and we dont know the Ops circumstances regarding credit cards etc and well she may well be fine next month £30 isnt much to feed a family for ten days

Have you tried the olio app

x2boys £30 PLUS the 3 joints of lamb, fish fingers and waffles, beans tomatoes, soup!!!! They can make that work and it won't harm anyone.

It's up to you. But you should have managed your money better. And really £30 is enough for ten days since you have food in already. I don't donate to food banks as they are too open to abuse. Three joints of lamb. I've never had three joints of lamb in my freezer. £40K between you. Just seen this. Honestly, people donating to foodbanks probably have less money than this.

We don't know if her children wil eat lamb, yes I know they should have no choice, however it's rarely that simple. I grew up eating what was put in front of me, or going hungry, but kids don't do that now.

I'm still concerned that OP hasn't returned, so I'm reluctant to share my own experiences on this thread. One thing I've learnt on MN, is be careful when you share as all may not be as it appears.

I'm a Foodbank volunteer. A pp said that her Foodbank doesn't require a referral but ours does, so you'd need to check. Ours also expects and plans for increased demand in school holidays so, if you run out of other options, don't be shy about asking for a referral.

I'm very dubious about the suggestion to turn up at any church or mosque. Ours certainly doesn't have the wherewithal - especially volunteers - to feed people on demand and the only food we have on the premises is the crate of donations waiting to be delivered to Foodbank.

I don't know about the OP but I have no jewellery.

I think £30 is enough though.

Sorry for your situation but no, I don't really think you should be using a food bank. Don't you need to be referred anyway?

poverytpain you are being ridiculous - if her children won't eat lamb, why on earth has she got 3 joints of it?!!!

Yes this could be a wind up or a journo story, but you really aren't helping

I make food bank referrals as part of my job. £30 for 10 days is doable. As others have said, food banks are under huge pressure, as so many people are in hardship due to sanctions, losing their disability benefits, unreliable agency work etc. I always encourage people to talk to close family and friends if they are struggling.

I wouldn't go now, also I think you have to be referred so might not get help anyway.

A couple bug bags of pasta the massive ones from asda are only a few pounds. Supermarket brand cereal, long life milk and cheap sandwiches. It's doable. Good luck.

What's wrong with pawnbrokers. I always thought they were a bit dodgy till I saw a programme saying they worked under strict regulations.

I do have to say, I would never use a food bank unless I was really desperate as they are overstretched. £40k is my DH's salary and I'm a SAHM, and we manage, but we do live in Leeds so it is easier than it would be in London.

Re the oven, the previous one may have broken and then the OP's son got sick, so that would cause a cash flow problem.

OP, if you will really be ok next month, then use your credit card or overdraft facility and you'll be able to pay it off next month.