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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:
Blueswede · 07/04/2020 11:00

I used to work in Tesco. Many times on the self service machines women would try and use their healthy start vouchers on items that were definitely not a healthy start. I recall one woman trying to buy a big bottle of own brand vodka with them and of course the machine flagged up a coupon issue. I went over and said I’m sorry but you can’t use this voucher for that item it’s clearly for milk fruit veg (can’t remember exactly what they can be redeemed against ) and she said “well Morrison’s lets me use them”.
I said sorry but I’m not putting it through.
I agree 100% OP. I breastfed my child and now weaning him and I make such an effort to buy the healthiest food I can afford, I don’t qualify for help! I buy the frozen or wonky fruit and veg, cheap cuts of meat and cook bulk meals from scratch. It’s disgusting the government puts systems in place to attempt to give children decent nutrition and some parents think it’s ok to use the vouchers on other things.

Jellycatspyjamas · 07/04/2020 11:10

If people in Scotland who don't need it actually give the voucher straight to food banks then fair enough. But I don't see why anyone would cash it in when they don't need to.

Because my voucher needs identification to cash it, and the rules state it must be used to buy goods at the shop it’s cashed in (to support the local economy). So I bought goods in the shop, per the rules, and donated food to the value of when I did my next food shop. In saying that, I honestly don’t care whether you think I did what I said I did, I have no reason to lie and my conscience is clear.

The point was actually to illustrate that seeing one isolated transaction doesn’t remotely tell the whole story. Some parents don’t care well for their children, some will use the money for their own needs, some will use it as part of the wider budget.

boringrobot · 07/04/2020 11:11

People on Mumsnet are skewed middle class.

If they don't see it - it doesn't happen.

Soooooo true!

PardonWhat · 07/04/2020 11:19

So 1/10th of the food shopping spent on wine that doesn't benefit the kids.

Hmm I didn’t write out a food budget. I was pulling hypothetical amounts out of the air to illustrate a point - quite clearly.
Why would anyone buy more food than they needed anyway?
I spend much more than 10% of my weekly shopping on alcohol. Shoot me Smile

Patte · 07/04/2020 11:24

My friend got them and could only use them in Tesco, which isn't where she normally shops. Now she didn't use them for wine, but I can completely see why someone who normally shops elsewhere and who liked some sort of wine you can get in Tesco, say, might use their vouchers for the wine, and the money they would have spent on the wine buying food elsewhere.

Yesmate · 07/04/2020 11:30

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll

You need to be far more understanding of poverty. You need to be far more understanding of safe environments.

MamaBearOnLockdown · 07/04/2020 11:33

Why would anyone buy more food than they needed anyway?
I spend much more than 10% of my weekly shopping on alcohol. Shoot me

if you can afford your alcohol and use your own money, why wouldn't you? It's a free country.

If you shamelessly ask for help but have so much you can waste it on luxury, you don't need it and it should go to someone who does.

How much are these vouchers that people would end up with "extra" in the first place! When I see how much money I spend on food for my family every month, I'd love to know how much more you get that you have "extra" for non essential.

Nottherealslimshady · 07/04/2020 11:39

Despite what some people seem to think, there are parents out there who couldn't give two shits whether their kids have enough food. And certainly plenty that would rather have something for them self than food for their kids. They should be for food only. Booze is not essential. Fags are not essential. Scratch cards are not essential. It's not the parents money to do with as they want. Its money for food for the children.

MamaBearOnLockdown · 07/04/2020 11:43

It's not the parents money to do with as they want. Its money for food for the children.

but as you can read, "mummy needs her bottle of wine". It's utterly depressing.

pjmask · 07/04/2020 11:51

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?

This made me laugh 😂

sqirrelfriends · 07/04/2020 11:58

I agree it's wrong but they would probably spend the money on alcohol anyway, this way at least there's spare money for food.

I think we're quite a sheltered lot here on Mumsnet. I know someone very well who worked for social services, she had to leave in part because what she was seeing was affecting her mental health and wouldn't have batted an eyelid at a parent spending food money on alcohol.

InglouriousBasterd · 07/04/2020 11:59

They were sent out automatically, DD never actually takes the FSM as she hates them but we were on the list as school asks anybody who can to register for PPG as they get more funding. They were also Tesco vouchers, which is bizarre around here as there isn’t a Tesco for miles and it’s London - low income families don’t run cars here.

I (gratefully!) rejected them because they would simply go to waste, but they insisted it was too late and sent them anyway. Regardless, I’d already bought food by the time the vouchers arrived and I imagine others were in that situation.

ChandlerIsTheBestFriend · 07/04/2020 11:59

If your weekly food budget includes wine, you don't need a top up and you are basically stealing resources from others who do need them.

The sense of entitlement of some people is astonishing.

It’s not a sense of entitlement. It’s an actual entitlement. These families are eligible for this support. Not decided by you, but by their local authority who think they should have it.

ChandlerIsTheBestFriend · 07/04/2020 12:00

if you can afford your alcohol and use your own money

She did. I know maths is hard for guy but give it a try.

PardonWhat · 07/04/2020 12:00

It’s not a sense of entitlement. It’s an actual entitlement. These families are eligible for this support. Not decided by you, but by their local authority who think they should have it.

This. If someone’s one luxury is a £5 bottle of wine a week then Jesus - I don’t begrudge it.

InglouriousBasterd · 07/04/2020 12:01

Should add - there are Tesco metros etc a couple of miles away but they’re so bloody expensive, 15 quid wouldn’t go far.

Tadgh · 07/04/2020 12:13

15 quid wouldn’t go far.

£15 wouldn't cover a loaf of bread, a pack of meat / cheese, a multipack of crisps and a pack of apples / bananas / grapes Confused??

It's only intended to replace 5 lunches for one child.

Seems like a hell of a lot to me even if they made you shop in M&S!

Clearly the express shops are more expensive but it's free money.

FoldenHoard · 07/04/2020 12:18

15 quid wouldn't go far

On school lunches? Weird, the school meals here cost £2.25 a day (£11.25 a week).

So people are actually getting more than it costs for school meals? 🤔

ChandlerIsTheBestFriend · 07/04/2020 12:22

Cost of school meals varies between LAs.

Ours are £2.60 a day. Others are £3.00.

InglouriousBasterd · 07/04/2020 12:25

That’s a good point, fair enough. I was thinking of snacks / extras and families with more kids. It was an odd choice as it’s a school with tight catchment areas and we have literally every other supermarket within close walking distance!

boringrobot · 07/04/2020 12:25

Yesmate

You need to be less patronizing.

Jellycatspyjamas · 07/04/2020 12:29

The councils who can't be arsed with means testing should set up similar schemes and help those who actually need it.

As I understand it means testing in my authority area would cost far more in assessment and administration (particularly given the local authority are short staffed like everyone) than it would save, hence vouchers being given to parents across P1-3.

MamaBearOnLockdown · 07/04/2020 12:34

Not decided by you, but by their local authority who think they should have it.

time to campaign to make things fairer again then and ensure local authority do it right!

ChandlerIsTheBestFriend · 07/04/2020 12:36

time to campaign to make things fairer again then and ensure local authority do it right!

Go for it. Can’t wait to see your petition.

dontdisturbmenow · 07/04/2020 12:37

This. If someone’s one luxury is a £5 bottle of wine a week then Jesus - I don’t begrudge it
I do. This is not child benefit. This is specific money to feed their kids. Would those parents walk in the school cantine, and tell the kitchen attendant that her kids don't need the hot lunches because they got some sandwiches and an ape but could she 0lraee have a bottle of wine instead?

I am not naive enough to believe it doesn't happen in real life. I'm shocked that some posters here admit to it and show no shame at all. Poor kids who have to grow up with parents who think a bottle of wine is more important than healthy food for them or to give to others more needy who do need them for healthy food. What selfish and entitled behaviour.