Money matters

[Jellytot101]

What do you actually do when you have no money.
payday is 28th and I’ve got nothing - has has run out so no hot water - no food to speak of and food bank here isn’t open until Wednesday afternoon!
I mean really what can I do?!
im looking round the house for stuff to sell but short of selling my phone which is on contract I don’t have anything!

In terms of food:

• check loyalty cards, anything you can use to get a few basics in
• contact churches to see if they can help with a food parcel - may also be able to help with gas
• often Sikh Gurdwaras put on meals and anyone is welcome
• speak to friends and family to see if anyone can help with a loan or buy you a bag of food

Gas

• speak to your energy provider to see if you can get emergency credit to pay back Wednesday when you get paid

Do you have friends and family who could lend you money until the 28th? Do you have anything in your food cupboards/fridge freezer at all that we could help you make a meal from?

I would Google what help there is in your area. Salvation Army or community fridges?

Talk to your neighbour and ask if they can lend you some tins

Try the Olio app? There might be some food bits on there or is the a neighbourhood pantry nearby?

I second the olio app and community food pantry.

Have you checked pockets, old bags, down the side of the chairs, any little dishes or pots in case there is any loose change.

We are a low income family but I always have a few tins of beans, tomatoes, long life milk and a spare loaf of bread in the freezer. I would happily make up a bag for any friend or neighbour who needed it.

Are you on your own or are you also trying to feed children?

The first thing I would do would be to speak to my family and see if they could help me out, either with a bit of cash, raiding their cupboards or if I could go round for dinner. Appreciate not everyone is on good terms with family or has a family in a position to help.

If friends and family can't help, Olio app is good. A big supermarket near me gets rid of lots of bread and cheese through this (and other things, but an extraordinary amount of bread and cheese!)

You could also message local food banks or church groups through Facebook and see if they can provide an emergency food parcel.

If you live close to a church, it might be worth going there tomorrow and asking for help. Many churches have food collection on site so they might be able to send you home with a few bits.

Good luck 🤞

If you have a small local shop you could ask if you could take a few bits and pay on Wednesday. I've forgotten my purse before (when sleep deprived with a newborn) and the shopkeeper gave me the receipt and told me to pay when I next came in. Probably not possible with a big supermarket, but if you have a small independent shop they may do this if you are a regular customer.

You could also check Facebook in case anyone has posted asking for babysitters or dog walkers or other cash-in-hand tasks

Could you swap a skill? In exchange for a few cooked meals you'll do ironing for someone...or something like that?.have you got friends who can support?

Busking?

You could also take your phone to somewhere like Cash converters and get a loan on it,the interest rates are a lot better than an unauthorised overdraft/credit card etc and you just get it back when you are paid

Ring your energy company. Even though it's Sunday they'll have a line open for those off supply or in an emergency. They'll give you a code for emergency gas that you can take to the shop to get your water back on.

I'm in the same boat this month and have done the same with my electric.

Look on Facebook for community food banks. We have one where you can basically go in any day of the week as long as you call up to say and take 15 items. I've had to use it this month (first time ever I find myself using a food bank) and it's been a lifesaver. You might have a similar community one near you, post anonymously in your local Facebook group and ask if anyone knows one?

As others said ask friends or family

If on a local Fb group post on there. We often have people in your position struggling and people post and many offer tins of soup /bread /pasta

Is it just you or a family /children

Thank you guys turns out i have some amazing neighbours! just had to swallow my pride a bit and ask for some help :)

And sure you would do the same for them

Fab, that's great op