Preparedness for when

[Deleted User]

SORRYIMOVED thanks for sharing what is happening across the pond with us, I guess that must really make you think that prepping is such a sensible thing to do, and I'm sure we're not immune from things of a similar nature happening here in the UK. I think when anything that 'big' happens folks first reaction is anger and then fear that the future will be a hungry one. No excuse for inciting rioting and mayhem but understandable behaviour in the first instance. Things would probably calm down once the realisation dawned that it wasn't the end of the scheme to feed us and some normality would be in place again. Scary stuff though, I hope you are all ok noe, Cheers Lyn xxx.

ALIBOBSY

westcoastscot wrote: »

Hi Greyqueen, EBT is electronic benefits transfer, and my understanding is that it allows gubment to control where and what you spend, and what you purchase. On reading the news I hear folks advising to buy a little extra, but my understanding is that may not be possible with EBT, seeing has how it is a minimal amount and monitored? Not a situation anyone would want to be in eh?

edited to add: there was talk a while back about doing something here with Asda? cannot remember what exactly but worrying for people here as we're 150 mile round to trip to the nearest one! Off to have a search and see if I can find it again

edited again to add this:
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/mar/29/asda-welfare-scheme-birmingham - the thin end of the wedge I thought at the time!

TBH this is nothing new. The current healthy start vouchers-for when you are pregnant/have children under 4 and are on benefits can only be used on certain items and only in stores signed up to the scheme. When we had these (after OH was made redundant for the second time in 2 years) we luckily had a local farm shop who had just signed up to the scheme, so could get good, fresh and cheap fruit and veg without going into the big stores. Although we did use some for milk in mr t or mr a.

Years ago when I worked for the DSS as was we almost always issued crisis loans as specific cheques or vouchers. If they needed furniture or a cooker or whatever the cheque was issued in the name of certain local companies and they were usually expected to have second hand. If they needed cash for food we had to do manual vouchers and I vividly recall writing in BIG red letters along the top "TO THE RETAILER NOT TO BE USED TO PURCHASE ANY ALCOHOL OR TOBACCO PRODUCTS".

Mind you often these were emergency "grants" so you didn't pay them back. I remember one application with the guy kicking off when he was turned down for a grant to buy a gas cooker because he was NFA (NO FIXED ABODE).

Once they got rid of the grants and everything had to be repaid these vouchers were phased out.

We are only talking probably late nineties early nourties so not that long ago.

But I think it should be like the healthy start vouchers and available at any store who will sign up to the scheme and not be limited to one store. I don't see limiting what you buy to say just food and non alcoholic drinks as being an issue. This is over and above your normal benefit and is supposed to be a payment when you are in crisis.

So really just going back to how things were a few years ago.

The bigger issue to me is the fact that the balance is tipping the wrong way, with more and more of us on the "poor/out of work/relying on benefits/wages staying same whilst bills balloon" side of the seesaw. This country already owes more than ever before, and more than the economy has ever been worth. Feels like we are limping to a financial crash, less a bang than a whimper.

Prep harder.

PS Thanks for the good wishes, feel somewhat better. Although chest still very sore and feel weak, shaky and tired. Still miles better than when I had to go to the hospital.

Had heating on this morning, blow the cost. When you are ill got to keep warm.

Ali x

westcoastscot

Hi Alisbody, glad to hear you're feeling better - if you can manage it keeping the heating on will really help.

It's interesting the voucher/welfare fund issue - for my clients here it's a godsend, as prior to this they were given set amounts for goods with prices set at places like Argos, which is a 160 mile round trip for some of my clients. With vouchers they are tailored to the local shop, which is great when it is a grant, less so when a loan, although the cost of living is generally higher here anyway.

I use George, our local coalman - he comes every week and I purchase year around. My stove is in 24/7 like Mar's although I use less in summer which allows my bunker to fill for winter. (ooh eer missus!!)

WCS

Wyre

I just looked at the coal merchant's prices (and yes he does deliver, Hubby didn't notice that!). Home Bargain's is actually cheaper (and right next door to Te$co so no extra fuel involved when buying)- 39p kilo as opposed to 47p per kilo with the coal merchant. I shall keep looking hehe.

bluebag

I am sat here shaking my head, talk of vouchers, food banks, food stamps discounts for heating. Wonga loans and grants.

My parents both worked low skilled jobs in the late fifties, early sixties, very poor wages but they still had enough to heat the place and eat.

Shows just how bad wages are now. It's about time the government stopped all the 'benefits' that make people jump through stupid hoops, costing a mint in administration just to barely live and started investing in real paying jobs.

GreyQueen

bluebag wrote: »

I am sat here shaking my head, talk of vouchers, food banks, food stamps discounts for heating. Wonga loans and grants.

My parents both worked low skilled jobs in the late fifties, early sixties, very poor wages but they still had enough to heat the place and eat.

Shows just how bad wages are now. It's about time the government stopped all the 'benefits' that make people jump through stupid hoops, costing a mint in administration just to barely live and started investing in real paying jobs.

Seems we are of the same generation; my parents joined the workforce in the mid-fifties as 15 y.o.s, worked and then married in their early twenties, us 2 kids, Mum a SAHM for a few years then back into paid work in the 1970s.

Some things have changed dramatically tho; Dad found an old rent card and the rent+ rates together were pretty modest compared to what he was earning. These days in my hometown or in my city, a council house is £100 a week and the rates equivalent (council tax) is about £100 per month for the cheapest Band A homes.

I work at 60% FTE at well above NMW and I pay more CT than income tax; in fact, I work one month a year just to cover my CT. :mad:

One thing I haven't heard any handwringing pol suggest is that they remove the 5% VAT they stuck on utility bills a few years ago. Gouging beggars.

My Nan's 90 so born in 1923 and can recall the 1930s very well; she was in domestic service in London just before WW2. Her family were very poor but she says she has never seen such hardship as we have now with food banks. This is one of the world's richest countries, FGS, and we're forcing a big chunk of the population into pauperism.

I had my first payrise for 4 years this year. 1%. Woop de doop; 6 months' worth of it caught up with me in a lump sum in Sept and it was about £40 before tax. An extra £5 or so a month is really going to mitigate the rising cost of living, innit?

Prep harder, peeps.

bluebag

GQ
Could echo everything you've said.

I have had times of extreme poverty in my life, but have always been able to feed myself.

It is indeed becoming quite 'Dickensian' not that we have workhouses, but workfare is the modern day equivalent. We don't shove kids up chimneys, but have them eating all sorts of high fat, high sugar rubbish as parents can't afford decent food.

Prep harder indeed, it would seem we will all be a lot worse off and without the benefit of a social safety net too.

Take care to prepare and take care of each other.

ginnyknit

I lived on tinned tomatoes for a while back in the 80's thanks to the Dhss but my baby boy was well fed and clothed. Then they paid me all the money they owed, I lost my lovely house and swore I would never be in that situation again so when it happened again a year or so ago I was well prepped and survived, it wasnt easy but it helped that I had food supplies in.

Daz yes the Ashton Ikea is probably the nearest to you and easy to get to by bus or train from Manchester. ( probably tram too but I dont use them meself

I have lots of those little outdoor solar lights and will bring one in tonight to test the theory and let you know Bob ( it was Bob wasnt it, had a lot to catch up on?)

[Deleted User]

The reason they haven't removed the 5% VAT from utility bills is, they're not allowed to, under EU law.

westcoastscot

GQ I too concur. I think compared to our parents' generation we're doubly damned - both by high rents/rates as a % of our wages and less flexibility in our living arrangements. One reason I have a fuel stove is I know if things get bad and I cannot afford coal I can burn anything, which will give me a means of heat and cooking - labour intensive and not pleasant, but doable. That kind of flexibility can be the difference between empowering an individual or encouraging dependency. If you're all electric the only currency you have is coin, yes?