Living on £53 a week?

Rosemary7391

Bangton wrote: »

I ought to have pointed out that's for two. 24 pounds roughly goes on fruit and veg ... pineapples and berries, oranges, bananas and whatever veg I fancy that week. . Usually butternut squash, potatoes, carrots. Then the rest is bread, meat for my partner, extra ingredients for meals such as spices and herbs, milk, halloumi cheese, cereals. I don't know what else usually snacks for work maybe nuts ( which cost a bit). I also get toothpaste and toilet roll with food although not every week . It's hard to say exactly everything I buy because I vary things I eat and cook from recipes and things. I discussed this at work today and people Spend roughly same?

That makes a lot more sense! £70 for 2 is only about one and a half times what I spend, rather than 3 times I could probably spend that if I had it, but I don't so I stick to things that I can afford. I still manage quite well

geoffky

geoff -
400,000 in less than 4 days -- incredible!
First of all I want to say thank you. When I started the petition calling on Iain Duncan Smith to live on £53 a week I hoped it would have some impact, but I never imagined it would set off such a huge chain reaction. As I write the signature count is 408,593. It is ove rwhelming and inspiring.
This week the Government wanted to control the debate and dictate the tone -- you have taken that from them and given it back to the people!
The petition has been talked about on Facebook and Twitter, and covered hundreds of times in the media. It was on the front page of The Independent, BBC, Sky News, The Guardian, The Daily Mail, The Telegraph and many more.
Iain Duncan Smith has not yet replied directly to me, but told his local newspaper that he thinks the petition is "a complete stunt which distracts attention from the welfare reforms". In fact it is the total opposite.
This petition represents over 400,000 people concerned by the welfare cuts.
Iain Duncan Smith is clearly rattled and wants this to blow over. Let's not give him that privilege.
In the coming days I will deliver the petition in person but let's have a final effort to remind him once again what this is all about -- men who live comfortable lives in country mansions have no right to tell people what poverty feels like.
Post a Facebook message or send a tweet today. Some ideas below...
Please keep supporting the petition -- we have started this conversation, let's keep it going.
Thank you,
Dominic

princesstippytoes

pigpen wrote: »

The guy in question isn't either.. he pays the bills and has £53 left.. maybe he should look at cheaper accommodation and cutting costs of the bills he has to pay. He should be sent an invite to MSE

And here, at the moment.. 50 people apply for every job on average with over 450 applying for 1 vacancy as a binman not so long ago... which is the case in many parts of the country. When you look at the job centre positions here they are mostly for specialised roles.. teachers, pharmacists etc. which are never filled. OH was told to apply for a job as a maths teacher.. despite having no teaching qualification as it was the only thing they could come up with! it is insane. So yes, there are vacancies but not for just anyone and there are no training opportunities available or they are prohibitively expensive.

How long has your OH been out of work? If you knew the state wouldn't provide for your family while neither of you worked would you be pregnant with another child? I can't remember if this is your 10th or 11th.

System

have any of you seen the latest take on the Ian Duncan Smith article?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2304042/Iain-Duncan-Smith-right-You-CAN-live-just-53-week-says-cash-strapped-teacher-Kath-Kelly-survived-year-1-day.html

Personally, i'd rather not scrounge leftovers.... but thats me.:o

lindseykim13

princesstippytoes wrote: »

How long has your OH been out of work? If you knew the state wouldn't provide for your family while neither of you worked would you be pregnant with another child? I can't remember if this is your 10th or 11th.

Wow harsh...

lindseykim13

Judi wrote: »

have any of you seen the latest take on the Ian Duncan Smith article?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2304042/Iain-Duncan-Smith-right-You-CAN-live-just-53-week-says-cash-strapped-teacher-Kath-Kelly-survived-year-1-day.html

Personally, i'd rather not scrounge leftovers.... but thats me.:o

I don't think i quite believe the article to be honest, it doesn't do a break down of what she had to buy out of that £1. It says that all her bills are covered in the rent..
If it's just food then fine but what about the things not mentioned that most of us need to pay for. Contents insurance for example, if you were jobless then you'd need to get to the jobcentre probably involving a bus fare. No toiletries?
The article seems to suggest she bought clothes & food with the £1 but in fact had more than £1 a day as she found £130 in the streets and in fact got fed quite a lot with free buffets.

I'd like to know where i can go to get a free buffet and which bins to dive in. Somehow i don't think thats a suitable life for anyone to have to live.

SillyButSense

princesstippytoes wrote: »

How long has your OH been out of work? If you knew the state wouldn't provide for your family while neither of you worked would you be pregnant with another child? I can't remember if this is your 10th or 11th.

I know not the circumstances around the lady you're speaking to but that's just downright rude! What is it to you if she had 100 children or 10? :shocked:

*max*

SillyButSense wrote: »

I know not the circumstances around the lady you're speaking to but that's just downright rude! What is it to you if she had 100 children or 10? :shocked:

I think it's a valid question to someone who thinks £52 a week for 2 adults is not "fair", yet doesn't mention the number of children she has (and is expecting to have) would amount to a rather generous sum in benefits on top of that, seeing neither of the parents are working. I think to compare those circumstances to the very real plight of single childless people who are genuinely struggling on very little money is "not fair", and also, quite rude to be honest.

naturaljazz

On benefit you have to pay all the water rates, some housing costs too and you have gas and electric on top, and at the moment you would need a sleeping bag to sit in because you have no money left for heating. Also you would go mental without a computer for i player and job searches - Jobcentres closing all over so the walk may be a long one, as here a weekly bus ticket is £18. Tooth brushes, loo roll and sanitary pads all add up, as does shower gel etc.
I lived on benefit when my kids were younger and it always looked OK on paper, but then something would come up like paying for us all to go by bus to the dentist (rural wales) and the spare money had gone in a flash. You just dread anything going wrong or a school trip. I did take them camping on the bus and beach, hills, woods (Wales). They say they have good memories. But it was so hard. Like looking in on a world I could not be part of. I am on a very low wage/tax credits now but I am better off working. I would not go back to those days again, but I would love to see those lot in parliament/welsh assembly try it for a year.

owen_money

podperson wrote: »

Have just read the article and the man who's challenging him to do it lives on £53 a week after rent AND BILLS! That's more than I have left a week after paying them and I work full time :rotfl:

I've been there as well