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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Re: free school meal vouchers

339 replies

Hadenoughofitall441 · 06/04/2020 22:35

My mum works in a local supermarket, she told me today that at least 6 of the kids parents from dd 7 and DS 12 school came in to use them but spent them on alcohol. Now let me know if I’m being unreasonable but I find this totally out of order. She said it’s been happening last week aswell.
She said the cards have the kids names on so she knew what they were. She too is disgusted by this but obviously can’t say anything because it’s at work. One of the other customers said he thought it was wrong too.

OP posts:
Stopspendingmoney · 06/04/2020 23:19

Mamabear get a grip Grin

MamaBearOnLockdown · 06/04/2020 23:19

AlbusSeverusPotter13
you aren't actually reading, I responded, I couldn't believe it was actually possible to spend them on wine.

If it is true, then it's high time the rules change and stop people who clearly don't need them waste them on non-essentials. There, i have responded again.

AlbusSeverusPotter13 · 06/04/2020 23:20

@MamaBearOnLockdown you do know that fsm were protected when changing from child tax credits to universal credits until the end of school (primary or secondary dependant upon age). Some people will have been eligible and still are despite changes in their circumstances. Some people are on employment and support allowance due to chronic health conditions. Take a look at my first post. I’m paying out way more than I expected just to support my children’s learning. I bought food first, then school supplies. Then the odd luxury. My priorities were correct. Just because my circumstances are different to others does not mean I need to wear a hair shirt daily!

PickAChew · 06/04/2020 23:20

And they haven't gone to someone else. The money stays with the school.

Beingyellow · 06/04/2020 23:20

I did exactly the same thing last week. We had already done our big shop on the Monday, then we got 2 vouchers, one on the Tuesday and one of the Thursday. The one we received on the Tuesday was due to expire on the Thursday. So that day I took both up. I didn't need any more food but I did need to grab a birthday gift for my mum. I got her some whisky. I am still feeding my kids....just with the stuff I bought on the Monday which was plenty.

Sick of these judgemental posts when you have no idea of the background or circumstances.

MamaBearOnLockdown · 06/04/2020 23:21

Mamabear get a grip
you tell that to families who are struggling but will be delighted to know that meal vouchers are spent on wines and scratch card. Priorities hey.

Original poster
Hadenoughofitall441 · 06/04/2020 23:22

@EmAndes it bloody well isn’t, there’s a lot of poverty where I live and I’m lucky my kids don’t need them but some of dcs closest friends have free school meals and I know DS best friend comes from a real rough background, when she comes to our house she can’t believe the amount of food we have in our cupboards. It was just my opinion that it’s wrong to spend them on alcohol and fags when it’s money you wouldn’t have had given the current situation. Maybe it’s because I don’t drink or smoke who knows, but I certainly know drink doesn’t solve your problems, with one set of alcoholic grandparents and an alcoholic father you know.

OP posts:
EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 06/04/2020 23:24

My younger ones stated they were only for food. Donr know about the older ones, I haven't tried to tried to spend it yet

MamaBearOnLockdown · 06/04/2020 23:24

wow

well, it's clearly time to reassess the way these vouchers are given. Once the pandemic is over, let's hope the government will tidy that up swiftly. Knowing how bad the economy will be, and how many families will be in NEED of help, the 1st thing to do will be to stop such ridiculous entitled and wasteful behaviour.
We really have to help those who need it, not those who are on another jolly.

Interesting thread, how stupid of me to think it's was just invented when posters are proud of themselves.

DailyKegelReminder · 06/04/2020 23:25

I do think your DM and the customer aren't very nice though, gossiping about peoples spending habits.

ChandlerIsTheBestFriend · 06/04/2020 23:25

Mamabear you’d have a coronary with me then. Mine goes into my bank account. You have zero chance of deciphering whether it went on food for my children, my rent, petrol, dog food, a pair of slippers, or ..... ALCOHOL! Shock

AlbusSeverusPotter13 · 06/04/2020 23:26

A bottle of wine is on a jolly? Jeez, your life must be full of fun 🙄

EmAndes · 06/04/2020 23:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JemimaPuddleCat · 06/04/2020 23:27

Oh alcohol and fags? Hmm

Original poster
Hadenoughofitall441 · 06/04/2020 23:30

@EmAndes 👍 I say a rough background because they are, her mum is a good friend of mine but hey you Believe what you want just as I believe it’s wrong to spend the vouchers on alcohol and fags 😊

OP posts:
IhateBoswell · 06/04/2020 23:30

when she comes to our house she can’t believe the amount of food we have in our cupboards

How often is she copping an eyeful of your heavily laden cupboards?
What do you do, stand there opening and shutting them to give the waif a taste of the high life?

myfav · 06/04/2020 23:32

Okay, this thread has been eye opening, the amount of people in receipt of the vouchers when they seemingly don't need them is high. Meanwhile some children are actually starving.

cabbageking · 06/04/2020 23:32

The vouchers can't be redeemed for alcohol? The supermarket is clearly breaching the rules.

Which one is it so it can be reported.

ChandlerIsTheBestFriend · 06/04/2020 23:35

So really what you’re saying is someone with a child in receipt of FSM can never have a drink of alcohol? Never go out for a night out, never go to the cinema or out for dinner? Really?

Beingyellow · 06/04/2020 23:36

In Scotland the vouchers are given for every parent who has a p1, 2 or 3 child regardless of income. Also, the vouchers I get are cashed in for money. Then you shop after that in asda.

Original poster
Hadenoughofitall441 · 06/04/2020 23:36

@cabbageking I can’t say because it could be outing for my mum but she is going to talk to her manager about it, because the system is letting them use them for alcohol. She doesn’t think it’s right but they hadn’t been informed what the restrictions are on the vouchers so they they figured there wernt any.

OP posts:
cabbageking · 06/04/2020 23:38

We haven't been able to access the scheme yet?

It starts for us after the Easter holidays.

BringMeSunshineInMyLife · 06/04/2020 23:39

I worked in a shop in the early 90s.there was a milk voucher (for parents of young children) for 7 pints of milk which was £2.10 if `i recall correctly (back when we paid a true price for food)

I have found an article from the time that says

Milk tokens are a form of benefit under the welfare, milk and vitamins scheme, which grants tokens for up to seven free pints of milk, or 900 grams of dried baby milk, to pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and families with children under five who receive income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance. Families receiving family credit who have a bottle-fed child under one, get discounted milk.

We used to have a weekly bet on what people would try and put through- not much milk.

cabbageking · 06/04/2020 23:44

There are only certain supermarkets involved.

I can network to ensure it isn't misused.

lilmishap · 06/04/2020 23:45

YABU unless your mum saw what food these parents had in. I got mine a couple of days ago they can only be spent in Tesco....I can't go in Tesco as I'm a single parent and my local has the 1 in 1 out rule so I sent them to my brother and he transferred cash to my bank......I spent it on wine, cat litter and a drawing pad, crayons and chalks.