When it's freezing and you can't put the heating on and breakfast is porridge made with water...

[UndertheCedartree]

AIBU to wish so hard the uplift was never taken away? We were doing so well with that extra amount! But now that has gone and utilities have gone up we are left with little for food and heat.

Sorry, this is just a vent! Nothing anyone can do but I'm just feeling a bit upset this morning.

@NotMyCat

Also I'm not suggesting getting into debt but if you struggle over a couple of weeks, there is an app called zilch If you pay all at once you get 5% back in rewards you can use or you can split payments and use in store or online - some shops charge £2 so check for this! Iceland and Aldi is free and I know Asda is £1 if you split the payments See screenshot - and you can use it for as little as you need so you could split a £20 food shop

@NotMyCat - oh, I think I get it. I did use something similar in the summer to get some shoes. It splits the payment over a period of time with no interest. I didn't know Aldi etc did it. Thank you.

@UndertheCedartree did you used to be a registered nurse? The Royal College of Nursing has a great list of organisations who could help - some of these funds look especially promising as they say former nurses can apply:

www.rcn.org.uk/get-help/member-support-services/lamplight/signposts-for-funding

@Waterlemon - I managed to get a crate in Lidl! It has potatoes, onions, carrots, a cabbage, satsumas and blueberries! Amazing for £1.50! I'm thinking fried potatoes for breakfast, a potato, onion and cheese bake (I got one of their massive blocks of Simply cheese), roast potatoes and cabbage on Sunday with sausages and carrot soup. Satsumas for snacks and the blueberries for porridge and pancakes. I also got a big tub of yogurt, some cereal bars and biscuits, apples, cereal, bread, milk, crumpets, pasta, tins of tomatoes and baked beans and a few other bits. Also had to get toilet roll etc. I spent £30 plus £5 taxi to come home as unfortunately I can't carry the bags due to my disability. Feels good to have some food in the house again! I'm still going through the thread and reading all comments. You have all helped me so much not just practically but emotionally so much. Just knowing I have Mumsnet cheering me on in the background really helps!

@Ozanj

You can replace the oats with dried corn flakes or rice puffs from an Indian cash and carry if you fancy a change. The same places often also sell bags of gram flour cheaply - these can be used to make ‘vegan omelettes’ with just water and a microwave & are high in protein.

@Ozanj - I'll have to try that thank you.

@immersivereader

I'm sure it has been mentioned but if you do put the oven on, don't only cook one thing. Stick some spuds in to make jacket potatoes for a later meal , an apple crumble /cake, roast veg. Also, soups, bolognaise, chilli etc can be cooked in the oven too in a casserole /Dutch oven.

This is a really good idea. I would really like to do this. I find it really hard to be organised enough to do this but I'm going to work really hard to try and make a plan.

I think the biggie here OP is getting the interest on your mortgage paid, which I know is possible for a period, I am guessing looking at how little you spend on food that this is at least several hundred a month and its not surprising you can't manage if you are paying this as well. If this has been going on for a long time, really prioritise it, they will owe you a load of back money !! Speak to social worker, citizens advice or the benefits dept or even someone like shelter if you don't feel strong enough to deal with this yourself

[quote Livebythecoast]@UndertheCedartree, it's heartwarming to see so many replies from people with great advice and tips which I'm sure you'll put to good use. It's also heartbreaking to hear many people are also in this situation .
I work in a GP surgery and we have a social prescriber (I'm sure most surgeries have them, not one per surgery but they cover a few) The social prescriber can issue food bank vouchers, fuel vouchers and signpost to other help and support. We just make a referral and the social prescriber gets directly in contact with you.
Wishing you all the very best [/quote]
Thank you so much and yes it really is heartwarming. As you say I know there are so many others in the same situation. I've not heard of fuel vouchers I will look into this, thank you.

@LakieLady

*Haha! Yes! Have a Whippet on my shoulder as I type and she’s radiating heat. She needs fuel though. Animals are great bed warmers.*

A friend used to refer to his whippet as the Barnsley Bedwarmer.

I dogsat for him once. He forgot to warn me that she'd join you under the duvet in the night. Really made me jump when I felt something snuggle under the covers with me!

You're doing great OP, although you shouldn't have to struggle like this.

Thank you so much! The Barnsley Bedwarmer! I need to think of a name for my cat! Maybe the Cosy Kitty?!

[quote UndertheCedartree]@Waterlemon - I managed to get a crate in Lidl! It has potatoes, onions, carrots, a cabbage, satsumas and blueberries! Amazing for £1.50! I'm thinking fried potatoes for breakfast, a potato, onion and cheese bake (I got one of their massive blocks of Simply cheese), roast potatoes and cabbage on Sunday with sausages and carrot soup. Satsumas for snacks and the blueberries for porridge and pancakes. I also got a big tub of yogurt, some cereal bars and biscuits, apples, cereal, bread, milk, crumpets, pasta, tins of tomatoes and baked beans and a few other bits. Also had to get toilet roll etc. I spent £30 plus £5 taxi to come home as unfortunately I can't carry the bags due to my disability. Feels good to have some food in the house again! I'm still going through the thread and reading all comments. You have all helped me so much not just practically but emotionally so much. Just knowing I have Mumsnet cheering me on in the background really helps![/quote]
Pop a wanted add on Facebook for a push/pull shopping trolley free or cheap, there's always people near here giving them away or selling for around the five pound mark from house clearances. Makes it easier to get shopping home, I know it might cost a few quid, but it's a few quid once, rather than every time you shop.

Oh on the subject of taxis and public transport do you have a 'ring and ride'? It's basically a minibus service door to door but only costs the same as a bus.

You have to register and book ahead, I realise that a taxi might be more economical for short journeys but it's worth looking in to.

With your Lidl goodies you could also make cabbage leaves stuffed with sausage meat (and onion if you want) put in a baking tray, pour over a tin of tomatoes (chop them first) and bake for 20-30 mins, you can add cheese towards the end too.

Or you can make it on the hob or in a sc or microwave.

It uses up the big outer leaves that are often not nice to eat, then you have the inner cabbage for something else.

Do you have any flour? If so bake some potatoes at the same time as you ave the oven on for something else, then the next day, peel and mix with flour to make gnocchi - it's really easy and you can then boil or fry them and add any butter or tomatoes or even serve with beans.

@beautifullymad

The Lidl fruit and veg boxes are often frustratingly the far side of the checkouts. Just a tip if you go in looking. I'd ask what time of day they make them up so you get first pick...

Yes, that's where they were! I had to ask and was why I'd missed them before!

@PottererCrouch

Hi OP, haven’t managed to read the 15 pages of replies unfortunately but I saw that you said you don’t have curtains, only blinds. This will be making a massive difference to how warm your house is, thick curtains tucked up onto window ledges really do make the world of difference. I would scour any local charity shops to see if they have any, and in the meantime if you have any blankets, towels and an old curtain pole you could try a make shift curtain with that.

I’m so sorry you’re in this predicament sending you many well wishes and hugs.

Thank you that's so kind! I am going to put a blanket up at my front window and will look for curtains.

[quote EatSleepRantRepeat]@UndertheCedartree did you used to be a registered nurse? The Royal College of Nursing has a great list of organisations who could help - some of these funds look especially promising as they say former nurses can apply:

www.rcn.org.uk/get-help/member-support-services/lamplight/signposts-for-funding[/quote]
Yes - thank you I will have a look.

I do understand by the way what you said OP about the house being your only security , and as you rightly said it's often the case in private rented that housing allowance only covers part of the rent, so if you don't have a big mortgage you could indeed be worse off, do push for what you are due though, whilst you won't be well off, it will make a big difference getting your interest paid.

Oh and if this has been going on a long time and they owe you months worth, I would sit there and insist on a social fund loan, let your MP know as well if it's been months and months.when I once had a passport issue , was going away and had changed my name and passport stuck at passport office, our MP had it sorted and back to me in 3 days!!

@Crikeyalmighty - yes, it definitely is. I do struggle so much with dealing with it. I really need some hands on help but everything is phone calls or Teams/Zoom. I am going to raise this at the next Child in Need meeting and see if it is possible to be referred for a volunteer to help.

@sashh

Oh on the subject of taxis and public transport do you have a 'ring and ride'? It's basically a minibus service door to door but only costs the same as a bus.

You have to register and book ahead, I realise that a taxi might be more economical for short journeys but it's worth looking in to.

With your Lidl goodies you could also make cabbage leaves stuffed with sausage meat (and onion if you want) put in a baking tray, pour over a tin of tomatoes (chop them first) and bake for 20-30 mins, you can add cheese towards the end too.

Or you can make it on the hob or in a sc or microwave.

It uses up the big outer leaves that are often not nice to eat, then you have the inner cabbage for something else.

Do you have any flour? If so bake some potatoes at the same time as you ave the oven on for something else, then the next day, peel and mix with flour to make gnocchi - it's really easy and you can then boil or fry them and add any butter or tomatoes or even serve with beans.

I'll have a look into ring and ride. Those recipes sound great. I didn't know gnocchi was so easy to make! Both my DC love them.

@Crikeyalmighty

Oh and if this has been going on a long time and they owe you months worth, I would sit there and insist on a social fund loan, let your MP know as well if it's been months and months.when I once had a passport issue , was going away and had changed my name and passport stuck at passport office, our MP had it sorted and back to me in 3 days!!

It's being going on for years. I will raise this all at the CIN meeting and see what they think about contacting my MP. I don't have much faith in him as he wouldn't help me when Tax credits screwed me over many years ago but perhaps it's time to try again with him.

Pop a wanted add on Facebook for a push/pull shopping trolley free or cheap, there's always people near here giving them away or selling for around the five pound mark from house clearances. Makes it easier to get shopping home, I know it might cost a few quid, but it's a few quid once, rather than every time you shop.

Yes.Also try your local Freecycle website and post a 'Wanted' .

Easy gnocchi recipe from Jamie Oliver, but use baked potatoes instead of boiled. You don't need egg or cheese although you could add them.

www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/potato-recipes/potato-gnocchi/

Actually to really get the use out of the oven and keeping warm, bake the potatoes with your dinner, then use the potatoes as hand warmers in pockets (you are going to throw the skin away so it doesn't need to be fluff fire) then let them go cold over night.

Honestly this thread is such a fucking indictment of life in Britain. I'm glad there are so many ideas on it but why on earth are we accepting a Government like this? And why are Labour squabbling over who is the wokest while dozing through the actual poverty people are living in?

there are 397 messages on here and 99% of them are about saving money. What about some suggestions on increasing your income? I thought that the amount you can keep on UC is increasing? Are you working at all? what sort of jobs might you be able to do?

@funinthesun19

They picked the worst possible time to remove the uplift. Right before winter kicks in when people will be spending more on heating and electricity. If they absolutely had to do it then they could have at least waited until Spring when it gets warmer.

This

They could have waited another 2/3mths to get over winter and Xmas

If you aren't getting all you are entitled to OP please make that a priority , because that is what is draining what little you have. What they owe you I'm sure would more than cover getting your shower and heat situation looked at too.

OP, not much help but I knit warm cosy hats and scarves and could knit you and your children a set each. Just message what colours you would like and I'll get to work!