To have cried in asda

[Littlemissdan]

Is it just me that the whole cost of living thing is getting too much for? I actually had a (very small and no one watching!) cry in asda when I saw some reduced bakery goods because I didn’t know if I could afford them alongside my entire smartprice shop. £30 I had for a 2 week shop including nappies, and it just broke me that I actually had to wonder if I could afford a 55p treat for my kids. I can’t believe we’re living like this, 3 years ago we were comfortable and now I’m relying on the free school meals half term vouchers.
Not really looking for advice or budgeting advice here, just a bit of solidarity really :(

Will everyone that wants to save £ be cancelling their Netflix, sky tv packages ect I know the internet is an essential for most, but tv is a luxury.

@Hawkins001

Will everyone that wants to save £ be cancelling their Netflix, sky tv packages ect I know the internet is an essential for most, but tv is a luxury.

Sky yes. Netflix no. It's the only thing this family has to enjoy. And provids hours of entertainment. Are poor people really to have absolutely 0?

@Hawkins001

Will everyone that wants to save £ be cancelling their Netflix, sky tv packages ect I know the internet is an essential for most, but tv is a luxury.

The lucky ones will. The unlucky ones won’t have anything to cancel to have more money for food and energy every month.

@justonanote

A good book cheap as chips in charity shops, and food on the table and more £ for gas and some savings on electricity being saved via not having tv on or routers, etc

@Icantfly
They have my sympathies.

@Hawkins001

Will everyone that wants to save £ be cancelling their Netflix, sky tv packages ect I know the internet is an essential for most, but tv is a luxury.

This is the usual ignorant response.for one many won't even have it to begin with. And Lots of families also need something,anything to get through the days.a tv can be the only solace,distraction,comfort a family has.oftrn on credit.but now actually yes,I've seen discussions going on about timing and turning off tv's,measuring water,certain amount of kettle boils.

[quote Hawkins001]@Icantfly
They have my sympathies.[/quote]
Fucking big of ya - that'll keep them warm and fed.

Fuck those with Netflix though eh?

Is there to be a discussion with work colleagues or even those in same area about car share?

I think Londoncallingme gets the message. How many people need to dig the person up for her comment?

It is horrible

@lemmein

How is spending £ on tv packages better than spending £ on gas and electricity for uses such as cooking or heating ? Especially when books can replace the tv that don't cost extra £ to run ?

@kateandme

I understand your perspectives, but which is cheaper books vs using electricity to run a tv ect ?

[quote Hawkins001]@lemmein

How is spending £ on tv packages better than spending £ on gas and electricity for uses such as cooking or heating ? Especially when books can replace the tv that don't cost extra £ to run ?[/quote]
Seriously, you're boring - go and read your book, silly! 😴

It's crap OP and the government could do something about it.

I agree to using Olio etc and don't be scared to ask friends / neighbours, most of us have been in similar situations and are happy to help.

Ignore people telling you to change supermarket, my carer lives virtually next door to an ASDA it makes sense for him to shop there or the Iceland near by.

If you can extend your budget to £40 Iceland deliver for free but I know that might be a few months away.

Do you have a Sikh temple or mosque near by?

Langar is usually referred to as a community kitchen or meal set up to feed anyone for free. Depending where you are you can go for a free meal (you have to sit on the floor) if you are somewhere with a large Sikh population you may find you can get a food delivery,

My local one even provides Xmas presents for children who wouldn't get them otherwise.

Muslims have an obligation to help people known as Zakat, it's treated like a tax, now some funds only help other Muslims but some do general feeding of people A lot of Muslims who own take aways will give away some food, it's Ramadan at the moment so you may find a public iftar you can join.

I know not everywhere in the UK is so multicultural so if these are not options I understand.

I totally get your frustration
I know it's probably not what you want to hear, but I'm 100% sure you would be entitled to help from the food bank. The money you have for food it not doable, we get help from our foodbank and it has been a lifesaver!
We are a family of 4 who are on benefits as my son & I are disabled, my husband had to give up work to care for us, 2 are gluten & dairy intolerant & 2 are just gluten, a little loaf of (edible) bread (1/2 size a normal one) is around £3! It does 1 breakfast or lunch! Our food bill has gone up by 1/4! We buy toilet roll kitchen roll etc online in bulk, we don't have room for it but it's the way we afford things.
We have been frozen the past 2 days, scared to put on the heating, I don't think people realise how tough it can be for regular families.
I really hope some of the tips that have been shared here help.

[quote Kitkat151]@ReadyToMoveIt do you live very rurally? I live in a small market town...we have Morrison’s, m&s food, Lidl, Aldi , Iceland , home bargains and b&m all within a 10 minute walk from my home ......Can’t imagine not having local shops[/quote]
It varies MASSIVELY.

We live in a (pretty middle class tbh) market town of
c12 000 people.

Would love to have this much choice.

Our ONLY supermarkets within a 30 min walk for me (&live centrally) are Waitrose & Tesco... That's it...

Morrisons /Lidl /aldi//M&S/Home Bargains are ALL at least 30 minutes Drive.

It's shit OP what can I say? Hope its considerably brighter for you soon

I've just seen that the foodbank is only open when you are working, if you are able, it would be worth writing and letting them know that, you definitely aren't the only family in the situation, they may consider opening an hour or 2 later one day if they realised.
I have to have my carer, or a friend go to collect for me as my husband doesn't drive, I wonder if that's a possibility for you?
Sending you hugs of solidarity.

I'm sorry op

For those naive posters suggesting Aldi/Lidl.. not everyone lives in cities. Sometimes the bus fare/petrol to get to a cheaper supermarket isnt possible

@Londoncallingme

Get an electric bike for work?

With what ????

Aye its very fucking depressing. I had a stroke a few years ago and get the lowest thing of disability benefit, same amount as job seekers. When my youngest gets old enough I will literally starve I reckon. I get 48 quid a fortnight after energy, water rates and debt is taken out of my benefits. I honestly hope I'm dead before then. I can't think of a job I could actually do, my writing hand is clunky and useless.

Sending solidarity OP. An awful situation.

I shop at Tesco. Just one random example, but the bin bags I get used to be £1 for a pack of 10. Now the same pack is £3.
Crazy.
Really feel for you, OP x

@GrandTheftWalrus

A woman moaned at me taking 3 packs of 20p chicken, it was for at least 4 meals for the week and I had £5 to my name for shopping. I snapped at her and told her it was to feed my dd and not everyone has money.

Could it be that the woman was in the same position?

This may not be applicable to you. MN please don't lynch me.

Have you asked your employer for a pay rise? I was working in a school around London a few years ago as an NQT and could not afford rent. I said this to my boss and said I would have to move to a cheaper part of the country as I couldn't make ends meet. I was given a small (but appropriate) pay rise meaning I could stay working there. Now, someone working at Starbucks may have less luck than I did as it is a chain/standardised but you have nothing to lose by asking the question.

For cheap meals, as a student I used to make a sort of stew which was delicious:
Stock cubes or equivalent
Smoked paprika if you can afford (or bbq sauce) - you need lots as this is the flavour part
Garlic (real or powder)
Cubed potatoes (I used to do this in a huge pot and used a whole bag of potatoes)
Some veggies- sweetcorn was a cheap addition but bell peppers would work
Some cornflour/flour to thicken it a bit
If you can afford it get the cheap cheap pack of cooking bacon and add some of this. Nowadays I am able to splash out on chorizo but it still works without any meat.

I could get 10+ bowls out of this. It is better the next day as it thickens up and the potatoes go mushy. We still have it now I am fortunate enough not to be needing super frugal food.

For anyone struggling with nappies, check if there is a reusable nappy library near you. Could be cheaper but not necessarily feasible. Probably worth investigating though.

I am sorry you are in this position OP. I hope the advice from PP is helpful to you.

What a disgraceful situation. Sending you a big hug OP.

If anyone is reading this thread and wondering how they can help, I discovered Act 435 on MN a few weeks ago - you can make donations directly to people in need of specific help.