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 :(

@AHungryCaterpillar

I think this is the last time they are doing the vouchers just to warn you, I know it’s the last time our council are. So won’t be able to rely on them soon 😕

I hope there is another big campaign from footballers over this as it’s really not acceptable in 2022 for children to have no food for two weeks. I’d much rather they payed out less money in one of their contracts to billionaires for overpriced MPs stationary or whatever.

@Londoncallingme

Get an electric bike for work?

?

@Londoncallingme

Get an electric bike for work?

How is she going to pay for that?

@Londoncallingme

Wow! Yeah... thats such a cheap option isn't it... not

Seems a lot of items have gone up 25p/50p that over a grocery shop makes for a bloody big increase.

*Londoncallingme

Get an electric bike for work?*

Are you joking??

@Londoncallingme

Get an electric bike for work?

I feel like you’ve not really registered the fact that I wasn’t sure I had 55p spare, I don’t quite know where I’m going to pull an electric bike from?

@Londoncallingme

Get an electric bike for work?

OP can't afford food how will she buy an electric bike? How will she afford to charge said bike?

My weekly online shop was £100 inc household stuff. Never a thought adding 'have you forgotten' or 'flash sales' to my order

This week for standard shop was £150. I went back in removing items. There’s no real big ticket items I can remove it’s an increase on every item

It does worry me

Get an electric bike for work!!!! ... the op just said she didn't know how she was going to afford food. How on earth can she buy an electric bike. Obtuse post Londoncallingme.

Do you have a food share or community larder near you?If you can you pay a £1 for a bag of on the date food from local supermarkets,most towns and even villages have this now.Credit Union run one here.CAB should be able to tell you or Facebook will have the places.Really worth looking.Hope this helps a little.

It's a horrible feeling. I was £1.50 for a direct debit in my account on Friday and my bank messaged they would reverse the debit if I didn't have the money in my account by end of the day (get paid on Monday) I had to message my best friend to ask if she would transfer me it and I was so embarrassed. Bless her, she put £30 in my account so I wasn't short over the weekend which made me cry. It's a scary time right now

@Londoncallingme

Get an electric bike for work?

Yeah, if she drops her weekly food budget to £28 a week and puts the other £2 aside, she might have enough for one in… 9-10 years?

It is really shit and this shouldn't be happening. Hugs, OP xxx

@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

Would you be eligible for help from the food bank?

Search Facebook to see if there are any shopping clubs near you. There's one near me, it's £4 for a full food shop. Really sorry op, it should not be like this.

@Nsky

Are you entitled to any help? Very scary and unfair for lots

We get about £100 give or take back gel or our childcare costs, but unfortunately not eligible for anything else. I was paid on the 31st and it’s all gone on bills. DH gets paid on the 5th and that will be drank up in maintaince, fuel, and the remaining bills. Last month was lean, this will be worse as larger childcare bill. It’s just shit.

Unmumsnetty hugs to you, it’s very stressful and exhausting living like that. (I did it for years when my children were young so I understand)
This is my recommendation, lots of cheap ideas and fully costed meal plans. thriftylesley.com/meal-plans/
Involves quite a lot of home cooking which you might not manage with working as well, but you might get some inspiration.

[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]
Not rural particularly. Large village which has a Co-Op and a Londis (ruinously expensive). I have a Tesco and an Asda within 8 miles.
Yeah I’m sure it would be nice to have all those places within a 10 min walk. I don’t, though.

Poor darling.

@Londoncallingme

Get an electric bike for work?

Um.. are you on the right thread?

@Ragruggers

Do you have a food share or community larder near you?If you can you pay a £1 for a bag of on the date food from local supermarkets,most towns and even villages have this now.Credit Union run one here.CAB should be able to tell you or Facebook will have the places.Really worth looking.Hope this helps a little.

There is but it’s only open when I’m working, which is a bit rubbish (for me, not for the people who can use it and I’m thankful to the volunteers that already give up their spare time so I’m definitely not complaining!) I might try to take some annual leave one day it’s open :)