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 :(

I don’t know if anyones posted this (I’ve only read up to page 14 so far), but if you do have to give up Netflix there are some free alternatives.

Ok it might not be the latest programmes and they may be things you’ve seen before but there’s absolutely loads to watch, and we’re not missing netflix at all (yet…)

The main apps we’re using are All4, My5 and UKTVplay. ITV hub has stuff on too. There are adverts, but that’s the price you pay for it all being free I guess. Annoying but it’s ok

Please please have a look. I was really upset that we had to give up paying for streaming, but there are SO many boxsets here. It’s worth a try, even if you just use Netflix every other month?

I pay for Netflix with a gift card, once the money on it runs out it stops.

It isn't the government who set prices it's the growers, manufacturers, shippers, wholesalers, retailers and all of them must make a profit if they're to stay in business. There's also the packaging, storage, deliveries ( including fuel) advertising, gas electricity, insurance, staff costs plus wages and a million other unseen costs before you see a treat on the shelf.
The government has no say in all of this.
Government cannot keep giving handouts as it's really you and your nextdoor neighbours whose tax is paying towards a whole range of benefits, food vouchers for during school holidays, extra help for people with disabilities, JSA, UC and council tax exemptions +++++
It's a finite pot and we are already in huge amounts of debt. Help must be limited otherwise the economy crumbles and we get high inflation.

Or you ensure wealth is more fairly distributed and not hoarded by a tiny minority, that would go some way to helping. I've said it about 100 times previously but the richest 1% of UK residents could afford to wipe out our entire national debt and still have over £1,000,000,000,000 left between them. Approximately £15m each if your split the remainder equally, can you honestly think of any one deserves £15m all to themselves when the average net worth of 16-42 year olds in the UK is £7k?

And you're wrong about the pot, it is infinite when it comes to money because it's a completely man-made concept (I know there are reasons it doesn't work that way). What there isn't an infinite amount of is resources, which is why its beyond ridiculous that we have based our society on a system that requires perpetual growth to function. Infinite growth in a closed system with finite resources is not possible, it will collapse, it IS collapsing and the longer we pretend it's not the worse things will get.

@Discountclaimed

For those who have said they are going without food so the kids can eat:- A cup of sugary tea fills you up and raises your blood sugar Water works in moderate quantities Boiled sweets fill you up - even one boiled sweet (32p a packet can stop hunger for an hour or two) I’ve just torn a little hole in a plastic bag and stuck it in Henry Hoover. I can’t be paying £4 for hoover bags

I totally appreciate your intentions posting this, I really do, but it's one of the most depressing posts I've read on here (no disrespect to you )

Tory Britain people?? - life hacks to be resilient through starvation

@Londoncallingme

Get an electric bike for work?

If she's struggling to pay for a 55p treat for her children, telling her to buy an expensive electric bike isn't going to help.

Yes if you drink lots of water you feel less hungry so don't need to eat as much x

Lots of us are having a thorough sift and sort to find things to sell on eBay etc. The sale proceeds will help cover price increases, but won't last very long. I think the canniest thing to do with one-off extra money like this is to invest in items which will save money going forward. Like a slow-cooker - or the now notorious electric bike.

@velvet24

Yes if you drink lots of water you feel less hungry so don't need to eat as much x

This isn’t great advice, especially for someone who is already underweight. People need calories for energy.

Don’t know if it’s been suggested but finding our local community fridge (ours is called the pantry) saved is. We pay £4 a week and get about £25-30 worth of food. More on a good week less on a bad week but always well worth it even if just for the free fruit and veg. Have a look into it it’s so worth it if you’re struggling!

I just did a shop and got as many value brand as I could, even my 30p value chocolate for a treat, the 20p pasta bags are now 30p I noticed.
Got some bits reduced but most had gone. I just had half a can of soup today and stretching the rest out for my lunch tomorrow.

Sorry if it's already been mentioned, Mumsnet makes it so awkward to search through a long thread for a keyword... But please ask for a referral to a foodbank. They're exactly for people in your situation. Don't feel as though you're taking from others more desperate. My local one has been fully stocked for the past 2 years from corporate donations so haven't accepted donations from individuals. Please take what you need!

This is what I got last week which was a REALLY good week and will keep us going ages!

@Thebestwaytoscareatory

*It isn't the government who set prices it's the growers, manufacturers, shippers, wholesalers, retailers and all of them must make a profit if they're to stay in business. There's also the packaging, storage, deliveries ( including fuel) advertising, gas electricity, insurance, staff costs plus wages and a million other unseen costs before you see a treat on the shelf. The government has no say in all of this. Government cannot keep giving handouts as it's really you and your nextdoor neighbours whose tax is paying towards a whole range of benefits, food vouchers for during school holidays, extra help for people with disabilities, JSA, UC and council tax exemptions +++++ It's a finite pot and we are already in huge amounts of debt. Help must be limited otherwise the economy crumbles and we get high inflation.*

Or you ensure wealth is more fairly distributed and not hoarded by a tiny minority, that would go some way to helping. I've said it about 100 times previously but the richest 1% of UK residents could afford to wipe out our entire national debt and still have over £1,000,000,000,000 left between them. Approximately £15m each if your split the remainder equally, can you honestly think of any one deserves £15m all to themselves when the average net worth of 16-42 year olds in the UK is £7k?

And you're wrong about the pot, it is infinite when it comes to money because it's a completely man-made concept (I know there are reasons it doesn't work that way). What there isn't an infinite amount of is resources, which is why its beyond ridiculous that we have based our society on a system that requires perpetual growth to function. Infinite growth in a closed system with finite resources is not possible, it will collapse, it IS collapsing and the longer we pretend it's not the worse things will get.

One of the issues with redistribution of wealth, is at some point does it not lead to a similar results further in the future, let's say all wealth is redistributed across the population everyone has a set amount, then Some save Some spend Some invest Then before long the same tier with different people will arise ?

It's interesting that this thread has become about Netflix/Sky/etc - the OP was in tears because she couldn't afford 55p for baked goods - but it has been assumed that the reason for this must be because she blows her money on 'luxuries'. The Daily Mail really has a lot to answer for.

The pandemic highlighted that the poorest homes didn't even have internet access for children to be home-schooled, yet some posters assume they're skint because they've got a £75 Sky package I can understand if you've never been exposed to poverty that you might not appreciate how dire the situation is, but read the OP, really read it - perhaps trust that the OP has looked at ways to save money already and still couldn't afford that 55p!

@GirlOfTudor

Sorry if it's already been mentioned, Mumsnet makes it so awkward to search through a long thread for a keyword... But please ask for a referral to a foodbank. They're exactly for people in your situation. Don't feel as though you're taking from others more desperate. My local one has been fully stocked for the past 2 years from corporate donations so haven't accepted donations from individuals. Please take what you need!

Thank you - I don’t even know how I’d get a referral, we don’t qualify for universal credit bar a contribution to our childcare costs so I don’t think I’d be eligible.

I volunteer at our local Foodbank and you don't need a referral for ours (Scotland) please get in touch with your local one we have a Facebook page maybe search? Good luck OP please there are no judgments so sad to hear peoples experiences very humbling 💐

One of the issues with redistribution of wealth, is at some point does it not lead to a similar results further in the future, let's say all wealth is redistributed across the population everyone has a set amount, then
Some save
Some spend
Some invest
Then before long the same tier with different people will arise ?

A lot of the wealth in this country is inherited - do you think you'd even know Boris Johnson's name if he hadn't benefitted from inherited wealth and, in turn, a private education? Do you think he'd be prime minister on his own merits without all the privilege behind him? Of course not!

Rees-Mogg's another one - generations of inherited wealth means he can lord it above the rest of us with very little personal effort.

Rishi Sunak, again inherited wealth.

You've got to wonder why these people with personal fortunes are attracted to public office in the first place? After all, the salary is 'chicken-feed' to them - and I think we can safely assume they aren't doing it for the public good. I suspect they do it so they can syphon billions from the coffers in plain sight, whilst those at the bottom scoff at their peers wasting money on Netflix.

@lemmein

*One of the issues with redistribution of wealth, is at some point does it not lead to a similar results further in the future, let's say all wealth is redistributed across the population everyone has a set amount, then Some save Some spend Some invest Then before long the same tier with different people will arise ?*

A lot of the wealth in this country is inherited - do you think you'd even know Boris Johnson's name if he hadn't benefitted from inherited wealth and, in turn, a private education? Do you think he'd be prime minister on his own merits without all the privilege behind him? Of course not!

Rees-Mogg's another one - generations of inherited wealth means he can lord it above the rest of us with very little personal effort.

Rishi Sunak, again inherited wealth.

You've got to wonder why these people with personal fortunes are attracted to public office in the first place? After all, the salary is 'chicken-feed' to them - and I think we can safely assume they aren't doing it for the public good. I suspect they do it so they can syphon billions from the coffers in plain sight, whilst those at the bottom scoff at their peers wasting money on Netflix.

Id guess it's not about the capital, more about the philosophy of being part of guiding and building humanity's future on this planet then into the galaxies.

@lemmein

It's interesting that this thread has become about Netflix/Sky/etc - the OP was in tears because she couldn't afford 55p for baked goods - but it has been assumed that the reason for this must be because she blows her money on 'luxuries'. The Daily Mail really has a lot to answer for.

The pandemic highlighted that the poorest homes didn't even have internet access for children to be home-schooled, yet some posters assume they're skint because they've got a £75 Sky package I can understand if you've never been exposed to poverty that you might not appreciate how dire the situation is, but read the OP, really read it - perhaps trust that the OP has looked at ways to save money already and still couldn't afford that 55p!

I believe the op "Not really looking for advice or budgeting advice here, just a bit of solidarity really " so the discussion about tv and sky packages, was a discussion with other mumsnetters on this thread and not ment for the op based on the ops own words.

I believe the op "Not really looking for advice or budgeting advice here, just a bit of solidarity really " so the discussion about tv and sky packages, was a discussion with other mumsnetters on this thread and not ment for the op based on the ops own words

No, actually @Hawkins001 it was you who brought Netflix onto the thread with your prejudiced Daily Mail views 🤷🏻‍♀️

Factory shops are worth a look. Maybe ask on local Facebook as lots are word of mouth. The biscuit factory I go to has shop open to public and is cheap for massive bags of broken biscuits.
Cheap shops or market stalls selling food about to go out of date or just out of date. We have one called All sorts. At first glance it’s just choc and crisps but further back they have tinned goods and cereals for pennies. Also broken biscuits and cakes. The caterpillar birthday cakes are £1.80 (no box) and they had 1kg of Jaffa cake biscuit mis shapes £2.

@lemmein

I believe the op "Not really looking for advice or budgeting advice here, just a bit of solidarity really " so the discussion about tv and sky packages, was a discussion with other mumsnetters on this thread and not ment for the op based on the ops own words

No, actually @Hawkins001 it was you who brought Netflix onto the thread with your prejudiced Daily Mail views 🤷🏻‍♀️

And I admit I should of worded it better than I did but if memory serves, I phrased the question to everyone about if they were saving £ , hence I was not intending it as budgeting advice to the op.

Littlemissdan I just tried searching Facebook for Foodbank's in other areas seems they also are on there just search say "Birmingham Foodbank" and you can message them and ask advice about access 💐

And I admit I should of worded it better than I did but if memory serves, I phrased the question to everyone about if they were saving £ , hence I was not intending it as budgeting advice to the op.

On the contrary, I think you worded it perfectly well - your views are very clear on this thread. It's interesting that you had no empathy in your first post for the OP - yet another poster who described how she and her retired DH struggles and suddenly your sympathy twinges. Definitely an air of the 'non-deserving/deserving poor' about your posts. Now, I don't know if you read the DM, but your posts scream of it, so if you do, you might want to consider whether you want to continue parroting their prejudices or form some opinions of your own.

@Littlemissdan
You can get a referral to a food bank through your DC school usually. Please ring up and ask, don't be embarrassed as we have a lot of parents in this situation.