Living on £53 a week?

seven-day-weekend

DeeDee74 wrote: »

$53 a week is what people under 25 get being on benefits so no not random

Although I don't think most single people under 25 have their own place so should be easier to manage if they have no bills to pay, or a share of bills, rather than be responsible for the whole lot.

iwb100

daska wrote: »

Easy to understand breakdown of the figures here: Expenditure by recipient as a percentage of total, 2011-12

And people should read this, and then vote out this horrible sham of a government for the lies and myths it has so readily and happily propagated to divide society for cheap political gain. All politicians lie, but this lot have really done it in a disgusting manner.

neverdespairgirl

DeeDee74 wrote: »

$53 a week is what people under 25 get being on benefits so no not random

Random. People under 25 years old get £56.80, not £53.

DeeDee74

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

Random. People under 25 years old get £56.80, not £53.

Lo ur rite .... 53 was what someone quoted in the news paper to be living on..

neverdespairgirl

DeeDee74 wrote: »

Lo ur rite .... 53 was what someone quoted in the news paper to be living on..

Yup, some market trader who claimed to be working 25 hours a day and earning a couple of grand a year.

iwb100

shellhawks wrote: »

I'm a final year student and my loan and grants from the government have been cut, and due to my workload I don't have time for a part time job. This means I'm having to ration the money I have left in my savings. I reckon I spend between £30-40 a week. It's definitely possible for you to do it, I just hope you're able to think of more creative meals than I do... bread, rice, pasta, bananas and frozen food are my weekly staples ergh. best of luck to you!

Do you not get a maintenance loan? Or are you saying you only get enough to spend £30-£40 a week? Can't be right surely?

daska

shellhawks wrote: »

I'm a final year student and my loan and grants from the government have been cut, and due to my workload I don't have time for a part time job. This means I'm having to ration the money I have left in my savings. I reckon I spend between £30-40 a week. It's definitely possible for you to do it, I just hope you're able to think of more creative meals than I do... bread, rice, pasta, bananas and frozen food are my weekly staples ergh. best of luck to you!

Sounds like you're a low on your protein and fat. Eggs are a good, cheap source, along with piles of green veg and plenty of butter makes a more nutritious meal than pasta, jazz it up with garlic, cayenne, a dab of pesto - whatever you fancy (when we add pesto to omelettes we call them snotlettes LOL). How about this one: http://www.healyrealfoodvegetarian.com/spiced-kale-scramble/ If you can ditch the carbs you'll probably find you eat less overall - seriously, you're talking to an EX binge-eater who can now go 24 hours between meals. Nuts are another good one to include (eat a good variety). And if you really need some bulk go for lentils and beans - more protein, fewer empty carbs. The next few weeks, as noted earlier, are going to be a bit lean and I don't want to stop DS2 from going to his equine assisted learning morning but that won't be a problem as I know I can go several days on just coconut oil, cream cheese buttered almonds etc, all of which I have in the stock cupboard - should lose one of the outbuildings I'm still carrying around as well LOL

daska

Was reminded of this speech this morning:

If Margaret Thatcher is re-elected as prime minister on Thursday, I warn you.

I warn you that you will have pain–
when healing and relief depend upon payment.

I warn you that you will have ignorance–
when talents are untended and wits are wasted, when learning is a privilege and not a right.

I warn you that you will have poverty–
when pensions slip and benefits are whittled away by a government that won’t pay in an economy that can’t pay.

I warn you that you will be cold–
when fuel charges are used as a tax system that the rich don’t notice and the poor can’t afford.

I warn you that you must not expect work–
when many cannot spend, more will not be able to earn. When they don’t earn, they don’t spend. When they don’t spend, work dies.

I warn you not to go into the streets alone after dark or into the streets in large crowds of protest in the light.

I warn you that you will be quiet–
when the curfew of fear and the gibbet of unemployment make you obedient.

I warn you that you will have defence of a sort–
with a risk and at a price that passes all understanding.

I warn you that you will be home-bound–
when fares and transport bills kill leisure and lock you up.

I warn you that you will borrow less–
when credit, loans, mortgages and easy payments are refused to people on your melting income.

If Margaret Thatcher wins, she will be more a Leader than a Prime Minster. That power produces arrogance and when it is toughened by Tebbitry and flattered and fawned upon by spineless sycophants, the boot-licking taboid Knights of Fleet Street and placemen in the Quangos, the arrogance corrupts absolutely.

If Margaret Thatcher wins–

- I warn you not to be ordinary

- I warn you not to be young

- I warn you not to fall ill

- I warn you not to get old.

RAS

mumps wrote: »

Sorry if this is a dumb question but what would the £53 cover? I mean I assume it wouldn't be expected to cover rent but what about CT, gas, electric, water? If it is £53 for food and clothes/entertainment then I could do it. If it was expected to cover all the bills I couldn't. Could someone explain what it is expected to cover?

Quoting my previous list

RAS wrote: »

A car is not an option; to be blunt a bus is not really an option either in most of the country. You learn to walk everywhere.

The single persons allowance has to cover

Electric and gas
Water rates (these may already be taken out of your benefits if they are included in the "rent")
A contribution towards Council Tax.
Any transport costs (so if you work but do not earn enough to stop signing on, you walk to work).
Clothes and footwear
Household items - kitchenwear, linen, lightbulbs etc
Sanitary and grooming products
Any insurance products
Communications (phone, TV etc)
Food and consumables.

You will not be able to afford all of the above. freecycle and charity shops are your friend but not much use unless you can get to them (so if you live in a deprived area what is on offer is not great).

Things you will not be able to afford are
Any entertainment or going out money
Car
Satelitte TV
hair cuts
large household items

mumps

RAS wrote: »

Quoting my previous list

Thanks for that, I must have missed the original post. I don't think I would want to live on that long term, in the short term it would be OK, medium term doable but once things start to need replacing it would be difficult. I suppose I would find it easier than some as I don't drink or smoke, have my hair done about once every 3 months at local college and don't spend alot of clothes, my mobile cost me about £15 several years ago and £1 a week would cover my use of it. I don't like the house hot, although my husband would probably spend all of his on gas and electric. I'm not sure what he would eat, I suppose he would want some of mine.

I would find it very hard if I couldn't replace the fridge, freezer or washing machine.

Just thought I don't watch Sky so no problem there.