Do I still fit in here if...

thriftlady_2

Wine is an essential item on my shopping list Cecilia. I'd make my kids eat dust before giving up my wine. Does that make me a bad person? It does doesn't it?:D

I'm joking about the dust btw, I'd give them grass as well -for vitamins.

Life is not worth living without something to look forward to. Just make sure you get a good diet, and remember wine is made out of fruit, so that must be 6 servings a bottle.

Penelope_Penguin

faithcecilia wrote: »

I'm going to go back on Tesco.com and try to do a 'basics' shopping plan, allowing maybe £20is this week, to get the bits I won't need every week, then back to my £10 from next week, I hope.

Can Iask why you only have £10/week for food Even on JSA (which you said in a previous thread you were claiming) there should be more than that

Not meaning to pry, but it looks like you need to reassess your budget.

Penny. x

jackieglasgow

As someone who is very skint just now, with very little income to feed four, I would say it is OK to have your wine, but not at the expense of food! I don't drink, but my DH does occasionally, and he's accepted that he can have only one or two bottles of Cider at a month just now until things improve, so that we can eat. I would suggest that you let coupons become your friend. Get over to the coupon thread. I've managed to get my weekly shop down to a fornightly shop with the help of meal planning and making everything from scratch, including biscuits etc., and am now spending about £35 a fortnight, and using about £20 of coupons to top it up.

I'm not saying you'll be able to do all this, or that you should, but it's amazing what you can do when you use these boards for advice and inspiration.

buxtonrabbitgreen

There's nothing wrong with Lambrini. It is what I like best. I think I am a bit common when it comes to wine. But you do get a lot for your money. I can understand you wanting the wine after 3 years in a convent. You must feel you want to live a little.
Food has got a lot more expensive while you have been there so it will be difficult for you now.
My sister is runnig her house and eating on just her JSA. But only just. And she certainly doesn't have enough to save anything. She walks miles to interviews and indeed the jobcentre when she can't afford the bus. At least you have smoewhere to stay and access to soya mince so it's a start. I find monday mornings at my local farm shop and the Co op are good times for reductions. hth

faithcecilia

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

Can Iask why you only have £10/week for food Even on JSA (which you said in a previous thread you were claiming) there should be more than that

Not meaning to pry, but it looks like you need to reassess your budget.

Penny. x

I want to have a buffer, a 'just in case' fund, and remember at the moment I have scarcely anything - almost no clothes, only sandals, etc. Its not that I only have £10 for food, its that I want to try to stick to only £10.

Penelope_Penguin

faithcecilia wrote: »

I want to have a buffer, a 'just in case' fund, and remember at the moment I have scarcely anything - almost no clothes, only sandals, etc. Its not that I only have £10 for food, its that I want to try to stick to only £10.

OK. Have you thought about applying to the Social Fund? There may well be grants or loans available to help you adjust to your new life. Best of luck.

Penny. x

valk_scot

faithcecilia wrote: »

I want to have a buffer, a 'just in case' fund, and remember at the moment I have scarcely anything - almost no clothes, only sandals, etc. Its not that I only have £10 for food, its that I want to try to stick to only £10.

Well, it's a good time of year to hit the charity shops for a new wardrobe. Kids have gone back to school and there's more time to have a clear-out, plus of course people are sorting through their winter clothes.

As to transport, why not ask on your local Freecycle if anyone has an old bike you could have?

And back to food. I think you should spend that £10 on food and take the wine out of your "other things" section of the budget. The basic budget division should be rent, utilities and council tax, food, essential clothes and personal items, fares, savings and "other things". The first three are the priorities, everything else has to shuffle to suit your income. You need to be looking at your health and welfare first ie roof, food, fuel etc. Yes by all means have a treat or two but not at the expense of your health and nutrition. Wine is not food! It shouldn't be part of the food budget, but the treat budget.

If you're entitled to JSA then I think you should get down and claim it asap. I'm not sure how long it can be backdated, if at all.

faithcecilia

valk_scot wrote: »

If you're entitled to JSA then I think you should get down and claim it asap. I'm not sure how long it can be backdated, if at all.

I am delaying a little for a couple of reasons, firstly my deed poll hasn't yet arrived, and I can't face having to go through everything twice, also, I am not yet in a state to be fit for work, though I am not 'ill' and able to claim anything else, I just don't think it would be honest just yet, maybe another week. Lastly, quite frankly, I am petrified! Just walking down the street is still a strange experience and I felt dreadful in tesco last week (hence buying a strange combination of foods:rolleyes:) I'm not having panic attacks, but do feel very nervy, and the thought of the dss is just frightening:eek:

notjustlaura

Oh, I am glad your first post was tongue-in-cheek - I was thinking about you this morning and trying to find a tactful way to say that if alcohol's your only pleasure, for which you're willing to forgo food, then you're heading for a problem - if you don't have one already!

Anyway. My reading of the situation is this: You have very limited funds and are not ready to face the DSS. You would like to spend the absolute minimum on food because you have other genuine needs (like shoes for the winter). You would also like the occasional treat (which might - or not - be a bottle of wine). Is that about right?

You spent three years in a convent? I must have missed that bit somewhere along the line. Anyway - does the convent not help you get back on your feet when you leave? Are there charities that would understand your situation and help you get back on your feet? And not just financially but with moral support too.

Laura

rosieben

I've no advice to offer but just wanted to say that I admire you for how you are coping with the difficult situation you are in; your life has changed so dramatically in ways that most of us cannot begin to imagine, so please be easy on yourself and yes, a bottle of wine is not a luxury, its a bona fide grocery item