To feel fed up of being poor.

[laptopba]

Just that really. Feeling rubbish about how my life has turned out in relation to finances. Its bloody shit.

Are you paying off debts? If you are then there maybe some way of restructuring the repayments?

I’m so sorry the road is long but don’t get disheartened, there is always a turn. Keep going and all the best.

Does any of this information help:
Do you have a Food Pantry near you - brilliant for stretching a food budget - www.yourlocalpantry.co.uk/pantry-listings/
If you are on UC, have you enquired about moving onto a social tariff for Water, or Broadband - www.ccwater.org.uk/households/help-with-my-bills/
www.gocompare.com/broadband/benefits/
Entitled to any benefits? www.turn2us.org.uk/
Could you apply for Discretionary Housing Benefit www.gov.uk/government/publications/claiming-discretionary-housing-payments/claiming-discretionary-housing-payments
Are you renting from a housing association, then many offer help with a range of issues and it is worth checking what they have for you as a tenant, including help with training grants
Some local authorities have school uniform grants and some schools have uniform exchanges, they often will not advertise they have but always worth asking. I work in an advice service and many are finding it incredibly tough and there really are no easy answers or quick fixes at the moment, but perhaps some of the above info might be of use and help someone, whether those on the forum or by mentioning to others.

I think the real kicker is that it's so expensive being poor.

If you have enough to buy in bulk you'll get the best deals. But so many don't have the means to do this.

Cash points that charge for withdrawals are most commonly found in deprived areas.

Poor people need to rely on credit & have fewer options, so spend more on interest.

My son gets DLA, but we were only able to get this after a report from a private therapist. For those who need the money more they will have to wait a ridiculous amount of time to access treatment (and therefore evidence) from the NHS.

The poverty premium is real.

And those who think it's just a case of working harder and saving, have no idea what about disability and caring duties do to your life.

What do you do for a living OP? Is there something you would say you're good at? Where are you based?

I’d never heard of reciprocity. What an amazing idea to reduce waste and have someone else benefit for a low cost.

Also online for those who don't live near to one.

www.recipro-uk.com/

Is there anyway you can save money on food? There's a group on Facebook called living on less than £1 a day. They have meal plans and price lists too like 20 pound a week. There's the olio app for free food. I'm not sure what you're budget/situation/income is so please forgive me for assuming...anyways I hope ur kids help you when they grow up...

@BellaTheDarkOverlord

I have two DCs both girls who have outgrown half
A dozen world book day costumes. Would you consider letting me post you something? How old is your DD? I have Harry Potter, Moana, several
Others in ages 6-10?

Just wanting to add some solidarity. I hear you and i feel you all . Not sure i have anything of use to add. I am in thr same boat but i just wanted to say I'm thinking of you all and hoping you come across a brighter day xx

@cookiemon666

I am fed up too. We are in a rented house and have been served a section 21. In our area there is literally nowhere to rent and house prices are ridiculous. I had to take medical retirement last year and now can only work a few hours a week. We have struggled anyway as a single parent family but did okay when I was working normally. And yesterday my son got an ier at school as he was wearing black trainers, so somehow today I had to find money to buy him a pair of leather shoes, not easy when his feet are size 12.

It just never seems to get any better.

I’m a very shy and reserved person IRL - but I will absolutely “kick off” when I get any shit like this from school! Seriously- raise hell with the fuckers - they don’t get the right to punish your son for living in a low-income home.

I can only feed my child healthy enough food. For the last month I have been living on 22p noodles day in day out. First time in eight years I didn't quite make the rent this month also.

Im well and truly in the gutter, I look like a tramp, my hair hasn't been done in two years, I've got very little clothes, my bras have holes in them and are grey but I just cling to hope it will change someday. It can't change now as I'm alone with my daughter, I have no support, my family are in another country.

Similar position. I have worked hard to change jobs with better prospects but as a manager I still only earn mid 20ks for salary. On paper is look to be OK but as a single mum with a house and a car and ever increasing bills it is terrifying.

I earn over the threshold for any assistance above basic child benefit so I get no help towards childcare etc. If my parents didn't help out I have no idea what I would do.

I just about scrape by each month but with spiralling costs it is a huge worry.

For example last week I put fuel in my car, it was 144.7p per litre. This week 152.9p per litre at the same place.

With the rises in gas, electric, council tax and petrol being allowed to happen exponentially things are going to get so very much worse.

Except for putting money aside for expenses that need to be paid you are better off spending than saving the way the cost of everything is going up. I found if I had money I was often best spending it when I had it on filling up the car or buying store cupboard food. If things were then stable I could top up the car each payday and stick to the food budget replacing what I used. If I had unexpected expenses I could then run down the petrol tank and the food cupboard to free up the petrol money and some of the food money.

The comments about doing a foods fuel and electricity budget at the beginning of each month and then due to price increases there not being anything left for the last week is exactly what's happened to us the last couple of months. It's been hell

I was a skint young single parent at 19 and my god it was a struggle then and the last couple of years have taken me right back there more than once and it's been horrid.

Waking up with that feeling of dread every day has really affected my anxiety and all while working seven days a week

We took on the extra job so it gives us more Lee way as everything's going up in price and we've really tightened and meal planned.

Last month we managed to shop every 10 days instead of weekly and scraped by

Know exactly how everyone here feels and it's horrid but at the minute I'm just reminding myself how much worse it could be

To be honest I don’t understand why people are up in arms about the poster who said they saved £50. I don’t think the poster was boasting about the amount but talking about scraping together the most you can.

Maybe this thread is more about people commiserating with the OP as opposed to giving constructive advice. Maybe there’s things she can do to change her position but it’s better to shout down people who’ve turned a corner?

Slagging off someone for being ‘rich’ for saving £50 is a bit shit in my opinion. They were only trying to give support and advice.

Food prices have definitely shot up in recent times and it irks me no end to know it's not the grower receiving the extra amount!

Posters have already given great advice and I will add one I think is worthwhile...

Sometimes when you are right in the middle of a situation and you cannot see your way out of it, seeking professional help can really open doors. The Country where I live has budgeting service organizations that usually have some sort of food bank attached.

They are seeing an overwhelming need for their services, but it's worth the wait to make an appointment.

Can I suggest you ask around to see what budgeting services are in your area?

Sometimes the name can be misleading, as they can do so much more, but it's a start, and talking to someone looking in from the outside might bring you an immense self of relief.

x

As others said not everyone has a spare £50 a month, sometimes not a spare £10 a month

So great you have over £3k in a savings account, not all manage that

And if we did, sure myself and others would be raiding that to pay for essentials

I work, I’m self employed so if don’t work don’t get paid, before covid I could afford to take time off, few weeks unpaid

Now with rising food, petrol and heating costs any spare cash I did have will pay towards that, esp heating, bulb want another £100 a month

It doesn’t sound much an extra £3 + a day with rising gas and electric, but that’s roughly £100 a month , Every month so another £1200 a year to find

Some people would consider 20k a low income household.

Isn’t that what the benefits cap is? That is a low income household. According to IFS it’s a higher income than only about 30% of people. Of course there are some households who have less but I can’t think that 20k is anything other than a low income.

The £50 a month comment reminded me of the help to save scheme the government have I don’t know if it’s still open or whether it’s too late now but if it’s not honestly please go and look at it because for every £50 that you can save the government will give you 25 honestly if you do it once And take the money straight out it’s 25 free pounds off the government that youll never be offed ever again.

Training and skills - you need to put all your efforts into maximising your income. People start from nothing and eventually can insulate themselves from the twists and turns of life. No matter what your circumstances you can always do something

Sadly poverty will be on the rise due to the insane cost of living, inflation and stagnant wages

@Jvg33

I am worried about people. Everything on my usual shopping list has increased. One item I usually buy has increased by 55p in in week!

It's a joke isn't it. I paid £6.60 for two boxes of fishfingers today at Tesco express as had no car to go anywhere cheaper.

@JackieWeaverHandforthCouncil

To be honest I don’t understand why people are up in arms about the poster who said they saved £50. I don’t think the poster was boasting about the amount but talking about scraping together the most you can.

Maybe this thread is more about people commiserating with the OP as opposed to giving constructive advice. Maybe there’s things she can do to change her position but it’s better to shout down people who’ve turned a corner?

Slagging off someone for being ‘rich’ for saving £50 is a bit shit in my opinion. They were only trying to give support and advice.

There is a lot of studies to show that when people are poor and struggling, the last thing they need is more budgeting advice or information on how to save 50p on their next shopping. Because they already know how!!

@laptopba

BeagleBum2001 it's rubbish isn't it. With the cost of everything going up, I just feel like I'm sinking further.

I felt so sad when my DC asked me the other day which jobs pay well as they didn't want to be poor like mummy.

:(

That's a sad comment from your kids. Must have been hard to hear.

@CPGyellowwallpaper

Similar position. I have worked hard to change jobs with better prospects but as a manager I still only earn mid 20ks for salary. On paper is look to be OK but as a single mum with a house and a car and ever increasing bills it is terrifying.

I earn over the threshold for any assistance above basic child benefit so I get no help towards childcare etc. If my parents didn't help out I have no idea what I would do.

I just about scrape by each month but with spiralling costs it is a huge worry.

For example last week I put fuel in my car, it was 144.7p per litre. This week 152.9p per litre at the same place.

With the rises in gas, electric, council tax and petrol being allowed to happen exponentially things are going to get so very much worse.

I'm looking for a new job at the moment but not having much luck despite many years of experience. I think it also get harder as you get older. I am mid fifties and it feels like my brain has turned to mush and I get so stressed with the interviews.