How are you coping if you are on benefits at the moment?

[Ginisnnice]

We are what you would call the squeezed middle. No gov help. Just about scrape by. No take aways, basic food, reduced car journeys, camping holiday think about every penny.
I cannot imagine what it is like on benefits at the moment. I feel like when we are in a city , where loads are drinking and eating out..that those of v limited incomes are just invisible.

I'm wcoping okay. Money tighter but nothing too bad

But my son is disabled and I get more because of that

Thats good.
We are starting to struggle to afford the fuel to get to work
. Its made me think how the hell people are managing.

I'm not.

I went to a food bank for the first time at the weekend. I saw someone I knew working there but I can't remember how I know her. I'm hoping she's not gossipy.

Single Mum here; I am struggling with the rise in everything. My parents keep giving me handouts, which I have never had before, and really upsets me as they should be enjoying their retirement. Getting to the point that I can't afford to fuel my car for work, so may have to ask if I can wfh although I'm not sure how that would go down.

I'm unemployed for various reasons too dull to go into. I get less than £1000 a month for DD and me.

Once Rent, council tax, electric, internet, gas, water etc is paid. There's barely anything left. There was a time food would be about £80 a month.. but it's crept up slowly over the last couple years and now it's more like £150 a month.

Luckily I don't smoke, I can't drink or do drugs.
We've never been on holiday, not even a week's camping. We never have deliveries like pizza or whatever. A treat for us is a 50p pack of biscuits.
But.. we are getting by, just about. Daughter is always fed, I've skipped several meals tho.

All the claims from benefit bashing idiots that us unemployed folks live the life of Riley are wrong, very very wrong.

Yes , we are struggling to get to work too. We cant work from home.
We mix with a fair few of age 50 well of retired people.. we managed to do a camp hoilday and they just were astonished that with 2 jobs we could not afford a meal out on holiday. Not a clue.

I'm lucky I walk to work or I would have lost my job. Also lucky its summer so I don't need heating or lighting.

No idea how I'm going to deal with winter at this point. I am fortunate enough that I won't need foodbanks but it'll be tight. Kids have everything they need but I can't get a haircut or any new clothes. Hoping that something will give soon.

I'm on benefits at the moment but I'm in a very privileged position in that I'm coping fine. But in September my son goes to university and I'll lose £80 a week AND have to pay bedroom tax :(

Am glad its not too uncomfy for all.. but that will be a change in sept re bedroom tax... can you argue its still his home( long hols)

I think I’m mostly spared by the fact I don’t drive.
That said, I don’t really go anywhere or do anything that costs money. I have one hobby that I pay a sub of under a tenner for, and that’ll be the first thing to go if I start to really struggle.
My family have started to buy more things for my son so I don’t have to.

My rent and energy have both gone up, and it seems like food shopping costs more too. I’m debating moving closer to my parents, but that’s a long way away and my kid wouldn’t get to see his dad.

I’m okay for now, but it’s hard to see a way forward. This isn’t exactly where I wanted to be.

It cost my daughter £93 to fill the car with petrol yesterday. It needs filling twice a month to get to work. She also has to pay £75 a month toll payment for river tunnel. So about £250 a month to get to work. Her income is just over the benefit threshold but with the £250 off it is below it so, although a full time worker, like so many others, on benefits or not, she is struggling at the moment. Don't know how some people will manage if essentials like food, kids essentials ext go up anymore. Of course we do what we can to help but not everybody can help as many people are finding that their parents bills are shooting up as well. It will eventually hit the economy and more jobs with people spending less on extras like retail goods, holidays and eating out