Doing an online Tesco shop and I actually feel suicidal

[HowDee]

Granted I have MH anyways. Anxiety, depression, PTSD as well as physical illnesses.

Every month it just goes up. Tesco own brand potato waffles used to be £1,

Last month they were £1.60 now they're £1.85

A bag of tescos own fries are £2.50 now.

I don't have the fucking money to pay more for EVERYTHING. Rents gone up. Gas, electric.

I put the heating on TWICE over winter. Twice.

I've just shut the app crying because I'm just so sick of it all.

Where do they think we can get the money from? Where?? For everything going up?

And before you tell me off for buying frozen fries and waffles my child has ARFID and autism and has a very select amount of things she will eat.

It's shit and no one should be struggling the way that so many are right now. Poverty should not be normalised. But it is. I would get the Olio app, and keep an eye on any local Facebook groups, especially if you have a Free cycle or Eco Community Group - food is often given away on our local ones.

I really hope things start to look up for you.

Justforlaffs that is a ridiculously ableist thing to say.
TBF.

Glad to read you’ve managed to place an Iceland order, it is much cheaper especially for branded items.

it is shocking how items are continuing to increase every week, it will be interesting when profits are announced!

Surely this has all got to start righting itself soon?

Except its much more than that.

Does your child heave, vomit and shake of there's something in their plate they don't like? Do they sob and rock themselves for comfort? Does that set them back with even their safe foods and go on hunger strikes for days?

I haven't read the full thread, so maybe this has already been suggested, but do you know anyone who has a Booker card? Anyone with a business address can get one, and it would mean you could buy retail volume packs of the things she does eat, which would mean you'd get them cheaper per item.
Its a bigger outlay initially and you'd need freezer space to store them but could that be an option?

Not even only autistic people - I was forced to finish plates of food as a child - even when I was literally gagging.

It's led to a lifetime of overeating and feeling like I always have to finish what's on the plate.

Weekly shop this week for us is £87 🤯 no treats or special items it's getting ridiculous

Sounds like my son.

Has to leave the room if someone else is eating fish or olives.

It's so much more than just being a picky eater.

I understand how you feel; I’ve been living off food banks for a while now. My husband took his own life 2 weeks ago and nothing will ever be the same again. I also have a child with ASD who will only eat certain foods - they tend to be processed and therefore not cheap.

I really do feel for you but your family will never get over it. Please can you reach out to the Samaritans or someone similar?

Similar situation here. Live on my own, this week's shop came to £51. It was one bag with a loaf tagged to the handle. There were no 'expensive' household items or toiletries in it.

Said to my partner it doesn't seem that long ago for that amount I'd be looking at three, possibly, four bags of groceries.

@HowDee Have you had a benefit check to make sure you are receiving everything to which you are entitled? CAB can help with that and it's worth doing just in case.

I would echo what others have said, apply for DLA for your child as a minimum.

Why don’t you claim DLA for her autism?

You're not wrong.

Oh OP things are really tough just now. Wish I could say it will get better but who knows when. Just something to try if they won’t go to waste my dd thinks the Iceland chicken breast nuggets (the ones in the red bag definitely not the blue) when done in the air fryer taste like McDonalds nuggets. You get loads for the money so hopefully might be something she would take to.

I really hope you get the help you need soon, OP. It is absolutely vile being in survival mode and having no money and very few options.

So sorry to hear this. I can't imagine what your family is going through 💐

You don't need a diagnosis for dla. Get the dr who suspects its ARFID, school and anyone else involved to back you up and apply. The dla will help immensely.

The Birdseye chicken nuggets are eye wateringly expensive atm. We get through 20 a day.

Yep. Slow clap to those fuckers

I've not read the whole thread but you can get DLA without a diagnosis. My dd has suspected ASD. I had to do some box ticking parenting courses but was then helped by an early help person who said I should claim DLA and added her evidence to the paperwork. There's no harm in trying.

OP, is there anything any of us can help with? Maybe if we know your locality we could do an Aldi or Lidl shop for you, granted they aren't as cheap as they used to be but things are still good value. I know what you mean about the sensory issues around food as my daughter has this issue (ADHD). Just a thought. Sending love as I know how difficult this is and also how much harder it's possible going to get for many many people.

Please do look in to it. You really don't need a diagnosis just be able to describe and show how needs differ from peers. There's a guide on the cerebra website which is really helpful when we applied (with undiagnosed but suspected ASD)

We started Tesco delivery when I became unwell for convenience. I forgot to book a slot and had to go to Aldi this week. The difference in price is bonkers ! Tesco prices have increased so much! They tend to have items out of stock, then hey ho, back in and 50/90p dearer ! o/h just pops to get brands/catfood (it's the bloody cat, that will only eat a specific brand )

Could I suggest you get a taxi/friend/neighbour? to get essential brands for you at Tesco, or just bulk buy your brands to last a fortnight/month on delivery and try Iceland/Aldi/Lidl home delivery. You could get a taxi once a fortnight/month to a cheaper store perhaps. Aldi does not deliver to our area. ( I don't know if it delivers at all )

I am so glad I forgot to book my usual slot, I would have just continued with Tesco for the convenience, but like thousands, I'm really struggling with food/energy super increases.

Good luck x

Sorry, no advice OP but I've never heard of ARFID before so looked it up and OMG, it totally describes me. People don't seem to understand why I have such a visceral reaction to so many foods and how the thought of eating the wrong thing makes me want to be sick.

Using cheese as an example, I can only tolerate medium cheddar from a particular creamery and have to study labels to check. Sainsbury's used to do it which is great as that's where I shop but they changed and since then I've rarely eaten it as it would involve going to somewhere else just for cheese. I genuinely can't imagine just eating cheese without being 100% sure it came from the right place and my diet is terrible because of it.

I hate feeling this way and generally avoid going out for meals when asked as too often people suggest places where there is literally nothing on the menu that I would eat. I'm all to aware of what a PITA this makes me and I sympathise with you having to deal with someone like me as everything is difficult

Would your daughter eat the brands of the foods she likes from Iceland (unsure if it’s Tescos own brand she likes or not?!) I do an Iceland freezer fill every pay day and find that it tends to get us through a few weeks with just little top ups/things like buns and salad for burgers and such. It’s not great as I’d rather we were eating far more fresh than relying on frozen, but it’s convenient at least. Iceland do free delivery over £40 and have a lot of deals on.

No, they don’t - as I said, they don’t have autism. I was simply empathising with the fact that kids often won’t eat “own brand” food and that it’s often difficult to save money that way.

It was really nothing more than that - maybe don’t look so deeply into innocuous comments for some kind of offence to be taken?