To start a Prepping for Poor People thread?

[TooBigForMyBoots]

I'm poor (household income well below £20k). With the energy price rises, CoL crisis and possible power cuts ahead I'm wondering what tips other people in my position have to give to prepare us for the winter ahead.

As this is a thread for poor people, recommended purchases should be £7.50 or less. This is not the thread for recommending Agas, sheepskin boots, 70quid blankets or moving house.

Feel free to move this to Prepping or CoL @MNHQ if you think it's better there.

[verdantverdure]

Meat free meals definitely help cut costs.

I'm trying to cost all the things I serve up regularly do I know which are the most economical.

So far veggie chilli and veggie curries are winning and tuna sweetcorn mayo jacket potato and salad is surprisingly expensive.

[ExpectMore]

@sashh

It costs about the same to pay for the prescription as it does to buy it over the counter, but I get free prescriptions and my Dr is happy to prescribe it because of that.

I'm sorry, but this feels like a waste of NHS money... (unless it's needed for medicinal reasons & can't be purchased off-prescription for cheaper E.g. like the issue of gps prescribing paracetamol in Scotland).

[antelopevalley]

@ExpectMore Maybe the GP recognises that it is more important someone has their medication?
And I have to be honest, it is a bit sickening to see such a lack of understanding on a thread for people in poverty.

[antelopevalley]

@sashh

Only if you live in a soft water area. But you can buy 'solid shampoo'.

I actually get my shampoo on prescription. It costs about the same to pay for the prescription as it does to buy it over the counter, but I get free prescriptions and my Dr is happy to prescribe it because of that.

One from the 1920s depression, libraries are warm and free, you don't need to be a member to sit and read the newspaper.

My local council allows anyone to order meals on wheels. It's about £5 so not a cheap option, but cheaper than a take away and more balanced nutritionally and arrives hot, with a pudding.

They do a different menu for Christmas which is when it might be worth getting for a family, although it's not so festive as a turkey on the table.

I am in a hard water area and have used ordinary bar soap. It does not lather much, but still cleans your hair. Solid shampoo bars are rarely cheap.

[Seenandheard]

@Nat6999

The dupe Oodies from Amazon are amazing, I've bought the zip up one, I wear it with M & S Heatgen plus base layers & will put a sweatshirt under as well when temperatures drop with a pair of fleecy socks inside Heatholders socks & Ugg boots, will keep me toasty for the winter.

How cold are you expecting your house to get?!!! 😟
It's awful how British built houses can't even hold heat in, and we all just accept this as the norm

[ExpectMore]

@antelopevalley

@ExpectMore Maybe the GP recognises that it is more important someone has their medication?
And I have to be honest, it is a bit sickening to see such a lack of understanding on a thread for people in poverty.

No pun intended right...?

[TooBigForMyBoots]

@antelopevalley

I am in a hard water area and have used ordinary bar soap. It does not lather much, but still cleans your hair. Solid shampoo bars are rarely cheap.

Home Bargains do solid shampoo for £1 a bar.

[antelopevalley]

I did not know that, thanks.

[TooBigForMyBoots]

No probs @antelopevalley.🙂

Does anyone have any tips specific to helping elderly relatives or those with dementia? I'm not the only one with this issue so anything you can suggest to make life easier/less stressful would be most welcome.

[sashh]

@ExpectMore

@sashh

It costs about the same to pay for the prescription as it does to buy it over the counter, but I get free prescriptions and my Dr is happy to prescribe it because of that.

I'm sorry, but this feels like a waste of NHS money... (unless it's needed for medicinal reasons & can't be purchased off-prescription for cheaper E.g. like the issue of gps prescribing paracetamol in Scotland).

Well a GP can't just prescribe shampoo not for medical reasons. To buy it is £12 a bottle in my local chemist.

My GP is like that, there is never a charge for travel vaccinations. He works on the premise it will cost the NHS less if you are vaccinated than it will if you come back from somewhere with yellow fever or rabies.