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 :(

@Londoncallingme

Get an electric bike for work?

I was looking at the discount section in my local supermarket yesterday. It struck me that for a lot of items the ‘discounted’ price was about what the regular price would have been a year ago. On top of that there was only maybe 10 items. A year ago there would have been 100. Everyone is trying to tighten their belt.

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.

@Londoncallingme

Get an electric bike for work?

Aren't they like quite the chunk of change?

@HollysBush

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.

Thank you, I really do need a hug! I’ll take a look at the link, I can stay up late to do some cooking once the kids are in bed.

Food bank darling.
And Olio.
And Jack Monroes website
It's bloody sickening and in sorry you are in this situation.
Yet still people fawn over the rich .

I was going to add, maybe approach a good bank.
If you're eligible for food vouchers and or Pupil Premium then have a chat with the Family Liaison Officer at your school.
They will be able to give you paperwork that you might need for your local food bank.
Your children may well be entitled to free school meals too.

I'm so sorry that you're in this position.

@Londoncallingme

Get an electric bike for work?

Well if this isn’t peak Mumsnet! Can’t afford 55p baked goods in Asda? The solution is to spend several thousands on an electric bike! It would be funny if it didn’t illustrate the difference between the haves and have nots.

@Tiredtiredtired100

YANBU to cry, it is a very upsetting and frightening thing to be on the breadline. You have my complete and utter sympathy.

I always remember a thread on mumsnet from some years ago about meal planning where one poster said that they were so poor they meal planned everything and once a friend and daughter came over and she gave them a cup of tea and biscuit using her last biscuit and bit of milk. They barely drank the tea and the child merely nibbled at the biscuit. When they left she sobbed because that was all she had left. This story has stuck with me as it epitomises how little we know about the struggles of even our closest friends.

I hope things get better soon 💐

That is bloody heartbreaking.

Can you lift share with anyone for work? Food banks and local charities are great help, don’t be too shy/embarrassed to ask for help. Your kids school can also signpost you to more support.

Op I feel you. I'm the same. I saw some muffins in Tesco for £1 the other day and felt a bit emotional that I couldn't afford then and I've been working since my early teens. The country is an absolute shambles.

@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 😕

This has worried me, they've been so useful to me since they started. Where did you hear this? Thankfully I've managed to also get mine into a funded holiday club this term using a code I got when I got my free meals voucher. I've sort of becomes reliant on the vouchers for the holidays.

@StScholastica

Food bank darling. And Olio. And Jack Monroes website It's bloody sickening and in sorry you are in this situation. Yet still people fawn over the rich .

"When the people shall have nothing more to eat, they will eat the rich."

Jean-Jacques Rousseau:

[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]
We're in a small, rural town and we have two supermarkets within 25 miles - a Tesco and a Co-Op. There's also a tiny Spar attached to the petrol station but that's even more expensive.

The nearest Lidl is probably 50 miles away and the nearest Aldi, ASDA and Morrisons are closer to 30 miles away.

It’s worth checking out what the local churches do as well. On a Friday I walk past a church where they leave containers of fruit, veg, bread etc just put it the street for anyone to help themselves. I always think that is quite handy as some people might feel embarrassed to go in and ask for help. Look for different community groups on Facebook too,

Definitely worth checking out community fridges. I volunteer in a community cafe and we have one where anyone is welcome to take anything free of charge.

I don't have any advice, I'm so sorry in this day and age that children are going cold and hungry. I thought those days were over but even I'm out scavenging wood to heat my home at nearly 60 years of age.
I thank the Lord it's just me and I don't have young children to feed and keep warm :-(

OP please please ask for a food bank referral - your DDs nursery should be able to help you with this.

People should not have to live like this in the 21st century. I know communism isn’t the answer but I wish we could find a system of fair wealth distribution that works.

This has worried me, they've been so useful to me since they started.
Where did you hear this?
Thankfully I've managed to also get mine into a funded holiday club this term using a code I got when I got my free meals voucher.
I've sort of becomes reliant on the vouchers for the holidays.

It’s on my councils website that this Easter holidays will be the last payment.

Its sickening that people are being put in this position. This government needs to step in.

@GrandTheftWalrus What kind of chicken are you buying for 20p?

OP, I know it's been said on this thread but I empathise. It's truly a very shit time with no end in sight. Ensure you're getting all your entitled too. A lot of people for instance didn't know they can get support if e.g. have a higher energy usage down to medical needs.

@Londoncallingme

Get an electric bike for work?

OP just stated she only has £30 for two weeks worth of food. How do you propose she acquires this extremely expensive item?

Soup is amazing for stretching budget. Carrot and red lentil is a favourite.

I’m a yellow sticker reduced Queen, bag meats into portions and freeze everything. I love too good to go and scan it daily.
We’ve had a lot go on money wise the last few years and Aldi is a godsend.