How much do you live on per month?

missworks2jobs

Oh Mibbs, thats so unfair. I feel awful as I have in the past flown into a rant about single mothers and benefits (usually about the ones PRETENDING to be single, PRETENDING to be unemployed - whilst sneakily working cash in hand, and spending all their benefits on booze and fags - I have a sister in law who does this). Its women like that you give the genuine caring mums like yourself a bad name. You're obviously trying your best to get by on what you can.....which clearly isn't enough.:(

Have you tried food parcels? Thats WHY the charities do them - to help people like yourself & your little boy to tide you over while you're in a fix. The salvation army do it, and there was a news article about the "trussel trust" who are helping families suddenly out of work during the credit crunch - they dont judge, dont ask you to explain or give details apparently if you contact them and tell them a food parcel would help you....they'll arrange getting you one.

Have you tried searching "food banks in *insert your area here*" on t'internet to see if there's a one near you?

Also some cafe's/bakeries etc give the unsold goods away at closing time to the staff or just bin it.....if you dont ask you dont get. Sometimes if you're polite and honest, people dont mind...after all better than it going to waste. Just mention the magic "carbon footprint". What about local soup kitchens? We did some work in one of their buildings (I work for an electricians) and you'd be surprised all the people who go there.....all ages, ethnic backgrounds, all walks of life, more women & kids than I thought (some womens refuges run them too) even some students who have mis-managed their budgets!

There was a tv programme on a while ago (BBC or sky) called the great british waste menu where loads of celeb chefs made a banquet from stuff supermarkets threw out (stuff that was perfectly good and totally edible). I'm sure its probably still on the iplayer or repeated on one of the satellite channels. It might give you some ideas on where to get free (and perfectly good food) that would otherwise just be thrown out. As the old saying goes "shy bairns........" (get no sweets - just incase you're not familiar)

Good luck hun, I feel very mad at myself :mad:for moaning about having to have crappy packet soup for lunch when others are really struggling.

Souk08

Morning Lucy what an interesting thread!

I am single and live alone and have just over £300 a month left for 'spends' after my debt is paid, my food is budgeted for (£60 for the month)and I have put £200 in my savings and £100 in my holiday fund. (Saving while I have a bit of debt as my job is temp and I need a buffer)

I am in a good place now as I have a better paying job but at my lowest only had £40 a week for all spends including food.

I manage my food budget pretty well but don't subscribe to the 'It's only me so I wont bother cooking' school of thought. We ALL deserve to eat food that we enjoy, whether we're with someone or not. So many women do this and it makes me sad!

Re Aldi, I live above one and it HAS a few choice characters and aye some of them smell awful but when I'm getting carrots for 39p and a swede for the same that I can fling in a pan and make mash for the freezer with then I couldn't care less. It's thanks to Aldi and shopping on the cheap that I can afford to have a holiday this year and go out for nice meals etc when I want. No one gets to have everything, even if it looks like they do at times!

Good luck with all this Lucy, it has got me down at times but I can honestly say that if I suddenly got given another 50K I still wouldn't spend loads on work lunches, magazines etc as this site has helped me so much. The single thing is a mindset one girl, I have always been on my own and therefore I expect to be and to have to manage my own money IYSWIM but it must be hard to suddenly have less to spend X

Lucy1010

Souk08 wrote: »

Morning Lucy what an interesting thread!

I am single and live alone and have just over £300 a month left for 'spends' after my debt is paid, my food is budgeted for (£60 for the month)and I have put £200 in my savings and £100 in my holiday fund. (Saving while I have a bit of debt as my job is temp and I need a buffer)

I am in a good place now as I have a better paying job but at my lowest only had £40 a week for all spends including food.

I manage my food budget pretty well but don't subscribe to the 'It's only me so I wont bother cooking' school of thought. We ALL deserve to eat food that we enjoy, whether we're with someone or not. So many women do this and it makes me sad!

Re Aldi, I live above one and it HAS a few choice characters and aye some of them smell awful but when I'm getting carrots for 39p and a swede for the same that I can fling in a pan and make mash for the freezer with then I couldn't care less. It's thanks to Aldi and shopping on the cheap that I can afford to have a holiday this year and go out for nice meals etc when I want. No one gets to have everything, even if it looks like they do at times!

Good luck with all this Lucy, it has got me down at times but I can honestly say that if I suddenly got given another 50K I still wouldn't spend loads on work lunches, magazines etc as this site has helped me so much. The single thing is a mindset one girl, I have always been on my own and therefore I expect to be and to have to manage my own money IYSWIM but it must be hard to suddenly have less to spend X

Oh thanks so much, I will give Aldi another shot and let you know but seriously it does smell in there lol

Souk08

It does, as does my Lidl lady and it's staffed by the most miserable bunch of folk that God ever put breath to...but at 39p for a big bag of rice and £1.99 for a nice bunch of flowers I couldn't be less bothered!!!

kerri_gt

The problem these days is that we expect, or would like Edwardian service but still with supermarket prices which just isn't going to happen. The people serving just get paid by the hour to do a job - previously grocers etc were family run business' with people relying on the income of these for their livlihoods so they cared about their customers and got to know them.

asp746

mibbs - i brought 2 kids up whilst i was in debt and it was really tough and after i'd paid everyone out esp nursery fees i was working for 50 per hour. Unfortunately, i grew up in the care system so have no support network whereas a lot of single mums have mum & dad giving them handouts or are able to mind them afterschool etc and it makes all the difference.

jaffacakegal

kerri_gt wrote: »

The problem these days is that we expect, or would like Edwardian service but still with supermarket prices which just isn't going to happen. The people serving just get paid by the hour to do a job - previously grocers etc were family run business' with people relying on the income of these for their livlihoods so they cared about their customers and got to know them.

But the people working in Aldi are on more per hour than me! Thats what bugs me! They really are just so rude at my local! But like previously said it is worth it, for me as there are less temptations! I actually think that in bigger supermarkets you are paying for the better service, just a shame you don't always get it there either!

SuziQ1962

Mibbs -I really feel for you, but you really need to look after yourself as well as your little one. Even if you have a big bowl of homemade soup with bread it's got to be better for you than water.Scones cost pennies to make and are really easy,add herbs or a bit of grated cheese.Look on the OS board, it's brilliant for cheap nutritious food ideas-though you may have to learn to love lentils!Smart price pasta,with tomato sauce and grated cheese again doesn't cost much but fills you up.
I am with you on how much things have gone up-it's frightening!
Have you checked to see if you are eligible for any more benefits?
Wishing you all the best,hope things get better xxx

7roland8

The people serving just get paid by the hour to do a job - previously grocers etc were family run business' with people relying on the income of these for their livlihoods so they cared about their customers and got to know them.

But surely even working in a supermarket you can take pride in your work. If you are in a job serving people then why not put your 'all' into it - would make their day brighter as well.
hatever you are doing you should do to the best of your ability - even if its collecting bins.

Cyril

MibsXX wrote: »

I keep my 4 yr old son and myself on just £23 per week for everything after rent and bills! This time last year I had a whole £31!
This scrimping living has been going on for some three years now, and with costs going up all the time I dread where we will be financially in 6 mths time!

This really is all I have left after paying rent, C/Tax, elec gas water, he gets all he requires, and thus I generally eat once per day for three days per week now, the rest of the time I just drink a lot of water to feel full!

I may even lose my part-time job due to inability to concentrate! Saw docs and he just blithely suggested that I eat more! WITH WHAT!

All I can say is, despite what the papers will insist on saying re single moms, it simply isnt the case that choosing to bring a life into the world is an easy option, I would not change this for the world, but do wish I had more to offer my son!

Thank the good being above for Freecycle is all I can say!

This makes me so angry, How can we justify zillions in foreign aid when we have people who cannot afford to eat. I cannot imagine long term the horrors of surviving on £23 per week.

My heart goes out to you, truly shocking.