Should I donate my £400 to the foodbank

[Heathofhares]

I’m surprised to discover that we will be getting the fuel allowance. It seems madness when we can afford our bills without help. What are other people in this situation doing ? I am thinking I should maybe donate it to the foodbank or similar. WWYD

We're keeping ours.

I think it's nice if you can do it. I can't afford to sacrifice the full £400 but it will make things a bit easier for a time, so will see if I'm able to donate at least a bit.

Have you asked your pals on Fakebook this too?

But Wor, just because lots of people have paid tax, doesn't mean they shouldn't also contribute to charity if they can afford to and want to, surely ?

why would you say 'no' ?
OP hasn't asked that everyone does, just if she should.

Yes, please donate it if you can. We will be doing the same.

I'll bet. This sort of virtue signalling shouldn't be confined to AIBU. It deserves a much wider audience.

In fact much better on Facebook where people know who you are. What's the point of showing off from behind a fake ID on Mumsnet?

I will probsbly give a bit extra to charity. But when I look at the steps folk like Rishi Sunak and his wife take in order to hang on to their billions I dont feel too guilty spending a bit extra on myself.

I will be keeping every penny with no regrets.

I do wonder how many people actually think the government is depositing the £400 in their personal bank accounts.
You'll never actually see that money. The government are just giving money to the energy providers so they don't have to pressure them to lower their prices. It has nothing to do with you. You'll just see temporarily lower bills as a result of them doing business. Politics, ya know?
So, if you donate £400 to charity, that is your own money you're donating. Not the "free" £400.

When you say ‘the’ food bank, do you think there is just one food bank that serves all? Do you even know where your local food banks are located?

You can opt out, unfortunately only 132 of the wealthiest people did.

. Apologies if this came across as virtue signalling. If I’m honest I wanted to start a debate which would raise the issue of a non means tested benefit being given to those who don’t need it. Perhaps encourage other people to think about donating theirs.

I guess I should have asked should I donate to the foodbank or is there another option such as the fuel poverty charity or shelter of some such who are in more need of support.

I am not unaware of how much the present shit show is a direct result of the fuckwits in Westminster but I am unable to make a difference with my vote in this area. So I am looking for other small ways I can mitigate some of the crap for some people.

i

Bear in mind bills are going up in October again when it’s paid (to the supplier). So you may not be any better off.

Honestly I am not likely to need the full amount this October but I may well need it into next year should prices increase all round so I will be keeping it as credit as much as possible.

Women's Aid or Refuge is where I'd make a donation.

I'm good with people virtue signalling all they want about this! As long as they actually make the donation (as I'm sure OP will) and it's not just empty words.

I'm fed up with having MeMeMe and Greed is Good modelled by our masters in the current government. I think it does good to see that some of us share very different values from that.

Thank you, OP. Donating will be a very thoughtful thing to do.

If I’m honest I wanted to start a debate which would raise the issue of a non means tested benefit being given to those who don’t need it.

Debate has been had (several times)! It's disproportionately expensive to set up a whole system with forms and rules and appeals and staff to means test this one-off payment of a few hundred quid.

Do you have children?put it in their savings account?

It even extends to LinkedIn nowadays (professional site, whazat) along with people's infertility problems, sponsored 1000 km walks, helping a Ukrainian and other stuff. Nowhere is sacred least of all on here!

I just don't understand why the question needs to be asked. Are people so incapable of managing their own bank balance, they need us to tell them whether they can afford it or not?

I'm looking towards Waitrose Wine-and-Spirit section.

How are they giving it to the energy companies, sure what if you need some for gas and some for electric. We are pay as you go so how does that work.

How do they know which energy provider we are with?

How can it be virtue signalling on an anymous board where no-one knows who OP is?

I think any discussion about doing this, is welcome, because it encourages other who are fortunate enough not to need the extra cash, to consider doing the same thing. If no-one spoke about it, or talked about it among their equally well-off friends, then far fewer would think to do it, and those who are in need would be less likely to get financial help.

That said, I'll probably keep the amount that goes into my energy account, but donate my winter fuel allowance (this is the first year I'll have had it, so it won't be missed)

all the facts here. www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-living-support/cost-of-living-support-factsheet-26-may-2022

We thought it might be easier just to donate £400 out of the bank account (or just make it an even £500), rather than working out percentages of how much it'll take off our bills monthly.