Eating healthily for £25 a week

Ames

She doesn't have too much commercial debt because dad lent her a lot. Her direct debits, before bills, are £110, mainly mobile phone and car/bike insurance. Her rent's 300 a month. Dad was lending her that much because for a few months she had interviews and stuff down south and had to go down at £100 a time. Also, I suspect he was exaggerating a bit when he told me that was how much he was giving her.

greenbee

Ames wrote: »

She doesn't have too much commercial debt because dad lent her a lot. Her direct debits, before bills, are £110, mainly mobile phone and car/bike insurance. Her rent's 300 a month. Dad was lending her that much because for a few months she had interviews and stuff down south and had to go down at £100 a time. Also, I suspect he was exaggerating a bit when he told me that was how much he was giving her.

Harsh as it sounds, you and your dad have been very kind and supportive, but she needs to learn to stand on her own two feet. I'm sure she'll come back to you if she gets in a muddle, but any further subsidies should be conditional on her sorting out her finances and doing some budgeting, and putting in writing a commitment to pay it back when she does get a job, even if it's at a pound a week to begin with!

Penny-Pincher!!

You sound like a lovely sister/person Ames.

One thing I would say is that if you are giving her a regular amount of money, this has to be declared to the DWP and could effect her benefits. It sounds silly, but apparently this is the case.

Maybe it would be more practical to offer to sit down with her and go through all her ins and outs and come up with a budget together. She needs to realise that she is an adult and needs to stand on her own two feet. The debt can be repaid offering a token payment each month and as she is on benefits, then the company have to accept this. The CAB would negotiate on her behalf if needed.

I have devised a brassic shopping list monthly for the 3 of us including our F&V quota if we ever needed to cut right back and this comes in at under £30pw for all of us.

It sounds like you need some essential items and why should YOU go without because of your sister not being able to budget

Chin up girl.

PP
xx

Ames

Wow, I didn't think of the effect on her benefits. JSA would be ok because it's contribution based, but it could affect her Housing Benefit.

I doubt she'd go for token payments as it'd affect her credit rating. Although the only debt she has that needs payments is her credit card, I think the balance is about 800 so the minimum payment shouldn't be too high.

She wont go through her budget. Me and dad have both tried to talk to her about it, she spends a fortune on her mobile and he keeps telling her to get a landline but she wont. Dad's started paying her car insurance for her, which should be a big help to her.

I suppose the idea is that my benefits are a lot higher than hers so I should help her out. I've just got a community care grant for a bed and sofa, but need a few more bits. Most of it's not essential though.

Anyway thanks for all your support!

Gigervamp

Ames wrote: »

She wont go through her budget. Me and dad have both tried to talk to her about it, she spends a fortune on her mobile and he keeps telling her to get a landline but she wont. Dad's started paying her car insurance for her, which should be a big help to her.

She'll never learn if she keeps getting bailed out and if she's unwilling to go through her budget and do the things you and your dad have suggested, really, your dad should stop paying for things for her. After all, why should she try to get a grip on her budget if someone else will pay?

Penny-Pincher!!

Ames wrote: »

Wow, I didn't think of the effect on her benefits. JSA would be ok because it's contribution based, but it could affect her Housing Benefit.

I doubt she'd go for token payments as it'd affect her credit rating. Although the only debt she has that needs payments is her credit card, I think the balance is about 800 so the minimum payment shouldn't be too high.

She wont go through her budget. Me and dad have both tried to talk to her about it, she spends a fortune on her mobile and he keeps telling her to get a landline but she wont. Dad's started paying her car insurance for her, which should be a big help to her.

I suppose the idea is that my benefits are a lot higher than hers so I should help her out. I've just got a community care grant for a bed and sofa, but need a few more bits. Most of it's not essential though.

Anyway thanks for all your support!

Why dont you offer to pay the minimum payment on her CC each month if you really feel you should be doing something...also your dad paying the insurance would count as income too.

If you have qualified for a CCG, then you really cant afford to help her out much.

She has to start acting responsible and so do you, by not helping so much. Sorry if this is harsh but you and your dad are actually making the situation worse and her more dependant on you.

PP
xx

Ames

I agree we're making the situation worse, but I've only just started to see that. She's not actually talking to me at the moment, but when she does if she still wants help I'll try and do it in a more pro active way. Like you say, pay the minimum on her card, or just buy her some bits of food - maybe offer to stock her cupboards with enough basics to last for a few months so she just has to buy fresh stuff every week.

Trinny

Hi there

I bounced the MBaz thread on feeding a FAMILY for £20 per month.

That should help with more ideas

Trin

Ames

Thanks Trin, I'll have a look. Don't think my sister would take any notice (you can take a horse to water and all that) but I'm happy to take any tips I can!

oceanspirit

Ames, I do hope your sister comes to her senses very soon and realises how lucky she is. You have done so much for her, particularly at a time when you are making big changes for yourself as well as needing to take care of your health.

Thriftlady - thanks again for your link through to the barley recipes. I tried one of them yesterday - barley and pea "risotto". I also threw in a handful of broad beans (from my 3 plants in a pot!) and added a couple of shitake mushrooms which were whoopsies from this week's shop. It was yummy, really filled me up and I don't think I'll need to eat for the rest of the week :j. Looking at prices it cost about 20p a portion - I made enough for 3 meals and used whoopsied onions too.