You know you're truly skint when...

[ratflavouredjelly]

I've decided to humour myself and start this thread laughs hysterically. Anyone care to join me with their stories. Maybe we can out skint each other...

So, you know you're truly skint when:
Shopping in charity shops are no longer ironic.
The middle of the month arrives and you panic about feeding the family.
You can not afford the petrol to work.
You're growing your own veg but cannot stretch to compost to enrich the soil.
DS and DD's shoes are too tight (something you never thought you would allow to happen)
Your bra is too tight, buying a new one is out of the question, so you just 'get used' to the pain.
Yadda harumph harumph

Ha! Have uploaded a pic for the first time ever!

Pic on profile - brand new with tags, New Look 34D bra, underwired and matching knickers, also new with tags. Pink and coloured gingham, would say it is for a small 34D not a generous one!

Pic on profile - Marks and Spencer cyberman costume from Dr Who (I think!). Age 3-4, great condition, can't see anything wrong with it - don't think it was used actually as no Dr Who fans here . . . could make someone very happy!

This is such a sad thread. I was completely skint about 6 years ago, but thank God I was on my own and now don't have to work out if I can eat and feed DD at the same time. I have memories of writing down everything I spent and reviewing my list at the end of the week to see what 'luxury' I could do without the next week. It started OK with deciding to do without the laundrette and a weekly newspaper, by the end of six months I was making a potato last me two days because I couldn't afford to eat any better.

I have 1 pair of size 5.5 shoes and a pair of size 6 wellies (would fit 18 month - 2 year old girl?) in really good condition if anyone's interested? We're in the south east. Will have a look and see what else might be useful...

Can someone send this thread to David Cameron and show him how the 'ordinary' people in this country are suffering?

I want to offer a word of hope. Christians Against Poverty is a national debt counselling charity with a network of 200 centres based in local churches. CAP offers hope and a solution to anyone in debt through its unique, in-depth service. You can find them at www.capuk.org/home/index.php They offer FREE money management courses, have a FREE online money-management service and have a FREE debt service (CAP money plus) that helps deal with big debts, they literally take over all your bills, loans etc and help negotiate a deal to help you afford to pay the debt back over a reasonable time span, without incurring unreasonable interest. Their WHOLE service is FREE and there are no catches, but when you manage to get debt-free quite often people want to give a little per month to help fund the charity to help others have financial hope for the future. Really hope this thread helps someone, somewhere. X

This is a more direct link to CAP FREE DEBT HELP: www.capdebthelp.org/en_GB/home please believe me, the motivation behind this charity is to help ordinary people become debt-free. You'll not see them doing TV adverts or anything, they are not in the game to make money. Sometimes their staff go without pay to help others. They are just motivated by a passionate desire, yes convicted by their faith, to help others.

Pics of all these on profile:

Next Sonic zipped hoody, used but great condition, washed, age 6.

Dorothy Perkins floral, scoop back, stretch dress, szie 14, washed, used, great condition.

New Look dress, apple green, crinkle effect, brand new with tags, size 12.

All from non smoking house, but we do have a dog and cat if anyone worried about allergies.

Pix on profile again:

Really nice teal silky/crinkly long top/short dress, lined, size 10 but would do up to 14 I reckon.

Disney Baby Winnie the Pooh 3-6 months, unworn, with tags, short cream dungarees and white short sleeved t shirt with bees and 'Pooh' design

Lovely Marks & Spencer jacket, 3-4 years, navy/denim colour, zipped hoody inside/attached, buttons on front - this was always a favourite of mine, so would love it to go to good home!

Disney 0-3 months, new with tags, all on one Winnie the Pooh with poppers

Gap shoes, brown and orange, leather and suede, unworn - the size is the problem. Cut label off before DS decided he didn't like them - so, I think they're for age 4. Perhaps someone could take them if they were a little smaller so they could definitely grow into them? Perfect condition, velcro straps.

If you have things to offer theres another thread over here

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/for_free/1474481-I-have-x-if-anyone-is-in-need

the lightbulb goes and you can't afford another one

Thanks Mibby - have put things on both.

As a previous poster said, this thread needs to be shown to David Cameron.ffs in this day and age we shouldn't be living like this! We are supposed to be an affluent country,yet people are living third world lives.
It's disgraceful.
We are not rich,but can afford to live,just,butmy heart breaks for all those people who can't afford petrol, car repairs, children's shoes.
Honestly. It's just soul destroying x

Blue (sort of turquoise) rainjacket, the type you can fold up available if anyone wants it, free to post. From H&M, age 2-3 years. Perfect condition.

Anyone need size 4 shoes, trainers and also smart work/interview clothes in normal and petite sizes 8-12, barely worn, need to have massive clear out, so doing me a favour. Also boys stuff 0-4 and girls stuff 0-8 incl school shoes with plenty of life left. Can post.

PM me.

Pic of all these on profile:

Yellow Marvel comics t shirt 5-6 years
Navy New Look plain boy's t shirt, short sleeved, age 5

Checked boy's shirt, blue and grey with grey hood, H&M, 10-11 years
Checked boy's shirt, red and blue and white with grey hood, Cherokee, 12-13 years
(they would both probably fit same size).

All are in great condition.

I know so well what is like to be so skint I have 2 bras both ready for the bins! My 2 pairs of jeans have to be worn with a long cardi to cover the holes! Not been to a hairdresser in 3 years I could go on but thankfully things are slowly getting better we have a couple of pounds extra a month so in a few months might be able to treat myself!!

Just read through some of this thread and it's made me and that people are living like this.

We aren't well off by any stretch of the imagination, but we can pay the bills each month (even if that leaves us very little!).

I'm going to have a sort through and see what else I can give. I'm on the other thread and already sent some stuff off to people but I will have more, I'm sure.

Call me Dave should definitely see this thread!

When you pretend you "forgot" the dinner money as it was that or the petrol to get you to work. 3rd week in a row. It'll be paid tomorrow from CB. But I know I've messed up their figures and DS will have been made to search bag and bookbag to see where mummy put it.

twirly you need to make your profile public :o

Mine at the moment would be....buying your dad 2 Primark tee-shirts and some liquorish as a 50th birthday present. Now I know that there's nothing intrinsically wrong with that but he's so lovely and it makes me sad I couldn't afford to get him anything special.

On a positive note though, I just wanted to say for all those of you who worry about your children. I was, looking back, really poor as a child (FSMs etc) - and I honestly had no idea that I was any different from other kids until I was about 14. One of my favourite childhood memories is of going to the playground and then getting lots of McDonalds chips for dinner! (big deal as my mum is a bit of a hippy foodwise). Also have lots of fond memories of mum taking me to the library as a child. I think those simple things are the things that kids remember most.

Last but not least - I have a pair of size 5 black work/smart wedges that I've worn about twice (too big) if anyone would like them.

it's a pride thing though isnt it? you want to be able to provide/do things and when you cant it makes you wonder what you're doing wrong.

we cant all be totally feckless can we? I mean, I know we have been feckless from time to time, but not to the extent of the situation we are in now...

Headfairy - how do I do that? Oh, I'm dim at this sort of thing . . .

Think I've done it! Thanks for telling me - if it hasn't worked, can someone let me know?

it works twirly