...to request a food bank voucher.

[Ashamed2BFeeling]

My DW and I are struggling a little this month. We're both contracted to part time hours and take as much overtime as is available.

However, due to an accident at work, I had a couple of weeks off and our pay packet two weeks ago was really underwhelming. Having paid our rent and a massive (late) council tax bill, we didn't have enough money left to do our monthly food shop.

We already owe family money, so borrowing from them isn't an option. We don't have a great credit rating so that's out the window. And we've sold off any old electronics, CDs and DVDs that could bring in a few extra quid.

We've visited a food bank before, but this was a good five or six years ago, when we were both out of work and waiting on Universal Credit. It seems a little hypocritical to be visiting a food bank when we are already in work.

Has anyone ever been in this situation, in work but still too skint to afford food? Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks. :)

Go and ask - also ask if there is a community fridge in your area?

Having checked, I can't even find out in my region, let alone my county.

Do you have a church run food bank near you, OP? My local one doesn’t ask for GP referrals.

Unfortunately not, I think they're all Trussel Trust ones.

You mentioned that you got UC before, have you checked whether or not you are still entitled (during months that you and your wife get less overtime for example)?

I looked into it last night however the calculations on Entitled2 suggested we wouldn't get anything.

It's our own fault really, we should have prioritised our council tax debt earlier. Fortunately now it's been paid off, we can continue to pay monthly so it doesn't happen again.

Monthly food shop?

Yeah, we fill up the freezer, fridge and cupboards for the month as soon as we're paid. Obviously we still get perishables as and when we need them.

@Dipi, well done you.
You clearly, despite seemingly going through a lot, still haven’t learnt that everyone experience is different and that sometimes, shit hits the fan despite you best efforts.
You have no idea of the exact situation the OP is in but somehow you feel you can judge if they have done ‘enough’ or not .
I suppose that being ill for two weeks obviously doesn’t count as a reason good enough not to work in your world. Strange for someone who allegedly has a disability, physical and mental (I assume you mean MH problems?)

Why is it the governments fault? Too easy to blame it on that than take responsibility for the choices we make as adults.

Ashamed2BFeeling

You don't have to explain yourself to anyone, least of all strangers on the internet

IceCreamAndCandyfloss

says the person who has clearly never lost a job, lost a partner, divorced, widowed, worked for a company who wen't bankrupt - how nice it must be in your 2.4 life.

Spare a thought for those of us living in the real world and if you have nothing useful to say how about you shut your trap?

Dipi most of your posts are nasty snipes combined with irrelevant information about your twins and how you became a single parent. I'll be charitable and assume you are genuine, in which case sorry life is hard for you but spitefulness and oversharing aren't going to improve it. You aren't a bastion of virtue. There are posters on here who would tear you apart for being a single parent, not in gainful employment and claiming benefits.

OP is BU. End of

No they're not. I've been referred to a food bank whilst working,due to having to wait for my first lot of wages to hit the bank and whilst waiting for UC to kick in (I work part time for a couple of perfectly valid reasons)
Don't judge unless you've been in their shoes.

Oh, and if you volunteer in a shop, you literally can work, because you are!

@Dipi well aren't you lucky that this man is working to pay for all your benefits. Lucky you that your benefits pay more than mine and a lot of other peoples wages so we can go to work and pay for you to stay at home. OP your situation sounds awful and the food bank is there so you don't have to starve use it! Hope you feels better soon!

@Dipi also if you can volunteer in a charity shop you can WORK FOR MONEY in a real shop.

It's a huge problem in today's economy that so many people in work are unable to make ends meet, and that there is so much underemployment - ie people who would work more hours if only they could get them (which is why unemployment figures are becoming meaningless) . These are systematic issues and blaming them on individual choices frankly makes the small minority of people on this thread doing so sound a bit dim.

OP like many posters on here I give to my local food bank exactly so people in your situation can keep their heads above water. Please go and get yourself a referral and don't feel guilty about it.

While you're at it please consider going to see CAB to make sure you're getting everything you're entitled to and check up on your sick pay. Your position is by no means unique and they may be able to help.

Well, it is not as if you are in full time work, both of you earning ££££. Don't feel bad about it. We are lucky in this country to have a safety net that is there for people.

Ashamed2BFeeling

Visit your foodbank.
People have given for those in need, and you are in need.
Perhaps in the future you will be able to give back.
No one will judge.
Come you are welcome.

You just keep taking dipi and making irresponsible decisions while criticizing other people who are working hard and putting in.

Go op this is what food banks are for. Sounds like you need the food bank this month. Hope things get better. Dipi..re read your nasty comments and think about it.

Lots of working people are one pay cheque away from hunger and lots of things can tip the balance.

Reach out for help. It's what food banks are for.

Anyone who can volunteer in a charity shop can also work for paid employment, pay their taxes and contribute to the benefit system rather than expecting it to support them, perhaps, dipi?

Or would you like posters to show some compassion for you even though you seemingly aren't capable of showing it to others?

You are exactly the kind of people most donators to foodbanks want to help out. Get the help you need and also get a list of the various projects where you live where you can get a hit meal etc if you are in need - Sikh Gudwaras for instance offer food every lunchtime (amazing simple vegetarian food)

my perceived vitriol

It's not just "perceived" and it's not just on this thread. I think I've read about 4 threads this morning and you've stood out on all of them as being unnecessarily nasty.

I don't care if I'm lambasted for my life on this forum, as it's AIBU. I do voluntary work, so it's not gainful, no. And, I don't require your charity when, in putting down my perceived vitriol, you're being a sarcastic shit.

dipi but you do require my charity - my taxes go towards supporting you and the 'twins'. The same is true of the OP. I actually have no problem with that, but I do have a problem with seeing someone being kicked when they are down. Or seeing someone make fallacious and contradictory statements about their circumstances, portraying themselves are somehow virtuous, and then going on to bully someone.

Another one saying go to the foodbank.

I've not had to use one, but a close relative has (when I found out I set up and pay for online shopping for her). I donate to foodbanks and completely agree that your situation OP is one that it's there for.