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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

...to request a food bank voucher.

179 replies

Ashamed2BFeeling · 06/09/2019 04:42

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. :)

OP posts:
doxxed · 06/09/2019 09:45

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for privacy reasons.

TheGlaikitRambler · 06/09/2019 09:46

My job is to refer people to the foodbank (writing out a voucher) and offer them other sources of help and advice. I would certainly write one for you in your circumstances. I refer over 120 people a month to foodbanks :(

badgermushrooms · 06/09/2019 09:48

*How is someone working in a charity shop different to someone working in a clothes shop/book shop?

I am completely willing to eat my words if you can give an explanation that makes me change my mind.*

My DH had a mental health crisis that made him totally unsuited to doing an actual paid job in a pressured, targeted environment where people were relying heavily on him, but managed to do a couple of shifts a week pottering about in a charity shop during his recovery process. As a volunteer you have far more leeway to have an 'off' day and if you wake up one morning and just can't go in you don't (or shouldn't!) get angry phone calls from a manager who's worried they won't be able to open enough tills etc.

I'm not suggesting anything else Dipi has said on this thread is at all reasonable! But charity shop volunteering is a way back to work for all sorts of people who wouldn't be immediately employable elsewhere.

MNHQ
LouMumsnet · 06/09/2019 09:57

Morning everyone. We're just bobbing on here to say that we've banned the rather goady poster who only seemed to be interested in stirring the pot.

That said, we also wanted to remind folk that disablist posts aren't acceptable on the boards in any form.

Do take a look at our This Is My Child Campaign and consider the challenges many parents with disabilities face on a daily basis.

Mumsnet exists to make parent's lives easier and if there's one thing we could all do with, it's some understanding and moral support.

Peace and love - and good luck, OP - we hope you're able to access some RL support now you've been pointed in the right direction by other MNers.

katseyes7 · 06/09/2019 09:59

Please do, if you're struggling. l've volunteered at a food bank. Also last year when l was on benefits after major surgery, and really struggling to the point where l didn't even have enough to buy a loaf of bread, l contacted the lady at the food bank where l used to volunteer. l couldn't get there as l couldn't walk or drive (hip surgery) and technically l wasn't eligible to use it as l'd been a volunteer there, l'd have to go to another one, which wasn't an option. She didn't reply to my text, just turned up at my house with five carrier bags of food. l sat and cried for an hour.
There's no shame in it. That's what foodbanks are for. When you get on your feet, if you can, pay it forward. Buy some groceries and donate them to the foodbank. x

Schuyler · 06/09/2019 10:02

How disappointing to see the thread derailed by one nasty poster.OP, you have nothing to be ashamed about. You work but have found yourself in hard times. Many food bank users are working people. If it helps you feel better, when you’re back on your feet, you can donate to the food bank.

NoBaggyPants · 06/09/2019 10:02

If anyone is holding a Macmillan Coffee Morning this morning, can I offer a suggestion? Ask everyone to bring a food bank donation with them. We've done it for the past few years and people, where able, have been very generous.

SleepIsForTheWeeak · 06/09/2019 10:03

Please don’t listen to the nasty comments on here. Food banks were set up for people in your situation, you can’t afford to put food on the table, please go to the food bank and don’t feel guilty, it’s what they’re there for.

I hope your circumstances improve soon too.

coolandcalm17 · 06/09/2019 10:06

@Dipi You said you couldn’t work but then mentioned work when you told us your total income. Which is it?

coolandcalm17 · 06/09/2019 10:10

Oh just realised Dipi’s gone, good. How someone can be so lacking in empathy is shocking.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 06/09/2019 10:16

@dipi

In many areas there is only P/T work, or zero hours contracts available.

There are very few F/T unskilled jobs around nowadays - a lot of employers take advantage of not having to pay holiday pay, sick pay etc because they ca just pick up staff as and when, and if someone is ill, they don't have to fork out and just get some other poor bugger in.

I appreciate that small businesses can't afford to have enough staff to cover sickness, but as it happens it tends to be the big firms and even multi-nationals that take advantage of these badly drawn up laws that were originally intended to make work more secure.

Cascade220 · 06/09/2019 10:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 06/09/2019 10:27

As an aside, I'd have thought '100% disabled' means dead...

That is exactly what my thought was Spartacus.

Toooldtocareanymore · 06/09/2019 10:28

I was reading an article online last week, regarding an interview from a charity in a major city that was saying that the spiralling increases in rent, was the number one cause of them seeing a huge increase in users who were also working, they cited statistics which I cant recall but it was something like about 5 years ago they would have excepted about 15% of their customers were working part time, but now it could be as much as 60% , and they were saying the amount of users who attended for hot meal and food bank, the preceding weekend was three times expected numbers of a couple of years ago, again indicating its people working full time who can only reach them at weekends.

while this article was primarily indicating the cost of rent in certain cities is the problem they did also state that they expected the situation to get worse, as many would also be families and parent often priorities the back to school costs over monthly shopping. cant recall where I read article but i'm sure a Google search would locate it.

Ragwort · 06/09/2019 10:35

AmI totally agree with the PP regarding working in charity shops, I run a charity shop and many of our volunteers would not be able to cope in a commercial retail environment, helping in a charity shop is totally different to working in other retail sectors (I have done both). We offer volunteering opportunities to nearly anyone who wants to help, but sometimes we are acting as a social support network for the volunteer rather than actually gaining anything that actually helps the charity make money.

So called ‘care in the community’ often means finding a charity shop placement for someone, the support workers drop their clients off and pick them up after a couple of hours Sad.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 06/09/2019 10:37

Dipi in case you're still reading, just adding to the consensus you're a vile nasty individual. I don't believe any comments on here have been disablist, they have been made because of your nastiness. You hide behind the fact that you "work" in a charity shop as if that makes up for all the dreadful things you say. I would much rather help out OP than you, and how come if you're not in paid employment you say you pay tax, you clearly don't.

OP, good luck and I hope things resolve themself soon for you and your DW. All the best.

bellmadboo · 06/09/2019 10:48

Go get a proper job miss I'm disabled! So is my DP he has ms and still works his arse off. You say you get 1500 a month ha is that without the free house and tax! Sounds like your claiming a lot of benefits to me. If you can work in a charity shop you must not be that bad! If you can't be kind to someone in need do one!

Aprillygirl · 06/09/2019 10:48

It's not hypocritical for you to use a food bank at all OP. There has been a huge rise in the amount of working poor people over the past few years, so you will certainly not be the only employed people availing yourself of the service. Good luck OP and I hope things improve for you soon.

squeakybike · 06/09/2019 11:10

As an aside, I'd have thought '100% disabled' means dead...

Fucking hellllll 😂😂😂

That's enough internet for me today. Cracking up.

Nomad86 · 06/09/2019 11:22

I volunteer in a food bank. Many of our clients work and just struggle to afford everything they need. Some are referred, and receive everything for free. Others self refer, and are asked to pay a small donation if they are able to.

OP, please don't hesitate to go to a food bank if you need to. That's what they're there for.

SoupDragon · 06/09/2019 11:26

That said, we also wanted to remind folk that disablist posts aren't acceptable on the boards in any form.

Were there any? I can't see any deleted posts that were and surely you would have deleted them

peppaporkysandwich · 06/09/2019 11:38

@Dipi you're Not a very nice catholic are you? Whatever happened to catholic alms?

Rainbowknickers · 06/09/2019 11:41

Please go to one
It’s what they are there for
I’ve been here myself (I didn’t know about food banks then) with 2 kids years ago
(Long story but family did help-with a lot of strings attached)
I would have used one in a heartbeat at the time
You need to eat

I know a couple who refuse to work
They get their benefits and blow it in crap like phones/clothes/fags
Then head to the food bank to eat and gloat at anyone who does work saying it’s a mugs game
That’s taking the piss-not you who’s really in need

S1naidSucks · 06/09/2019 11:44

As an aside, I'd have thought '100% disabled' means dead

Oh that is genuinely funny. 😂

Ponchie · 06/09/2019 11:57

I hope you're feeling better after your accident op.
Have you managed to find out where your local food bank is and how to access it's services?

I'm ashamed that our government has allowed hard working people such as yourselves to have to use a food bank.

Good luck and I hope that your situation improves soon
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