Charitable help for essential household items? 16 June 2013 at 11:43AM in Charities 11 replies 2.9K views

Sky12

Our 16 year old fridge freezer is dying on us, but we cannot afford to replace it due to vastly reduced income in the past 18 months. We don't qualify for any benefits (couple in 50s, no children), spend only on essential items (bills, rent, food etc) and Step Change have advised that our expenditure technically outstrips our income by £444 monthly (we don't actually budget for many items they suggest, such as clothes repairs etc as we can't afford to). We have personal debt that is being paid off in token £1 monthly sums, so can't get credit but it looks like we are high and dry as we won't qualify for any of the government emergency payments.

We can't be the only household in such a situation. Does anyone know of any other charities that may be able to help? (Our second hand sofa is also knackered, but we can't afford to replace that either and would assume that, unlike the fridge freezer, it would be seen as a non essential item).

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

whitewing

Have you joined your local freecycle?

McKneff

It is a non essential item.

Thousands of people live without them every day. I never saw a fridge in our house till I was 18.

Put up an SOA and we will try and help you budget better so you may be able to afford to buy one on interest free credit.

OpDawn2

Agreed with McKneff. Time to get moneywise and foodwise!

Katiehound

In my area there is a charity which accepts donations of furniture, does them up/mends if required and then sells them at a very modest price (it was set up to help people after flooding.) I don't think they take white goods. We also have a food bank run by the local churches.
I can only suggest that you ask around locally.
Look in the small ads in the local paper? Sometimes people get new kitchens and the appliances they already have are in good condition but they get thrown out/ sold off cheap.

forgotmyname

I hope the charities are not as fussy as the heart foundation furniture shop.

I popped in and told them exactly what we had, Old fashioned proper wood wardrobe, dresser/ draws etc. Double bed and a few other bits and pieces.

When they arrived they said they couldnt take the wardrobe etc. Couldnt take the bed because the mattress didn't match.
BUT they would take the mattress which was almost new and very expensive. But who would buy a mattress that wont match their bed i asked.. No reply.

They left with nothing. With no time left to arrange for someone else to collect i had to smash it all apart and take it down the rubbish tip.

What a waste. Made me angry because i told them exactly what we had when we arranged the collection.

kingfisherblue

British Heart Foundation were exactly the same with me a few years ago. I rang to say I had a tall, dark wood corner unit with a wooden door on the bottom half and a glass door on the top. They came out, as arranged, but refused to take it as they 'didn't know if it would sell'. A local charity were pleased to receive it instead.

RuthnJasper

whitewing wrote: »

Have you joined your local freecycle?

As Whitewing says; I cannot recommend Freecycle highly enough.

http://uk.freecycle.org/

I've used it for things I needed and things I could pass on for others to use. An idea that REALLY works.

Good luck OP - best wishes to you. x

laurel7172

Try the local paper. Someone in mine is selling a fridge for £30. Also keep an eye on the local ebay sales through the distance app on this site. I bought a cheap freezer that way.

snookey

Hi try your local gumtree. We were given a nearly new oven by a guy renovating his kitchen.
Also have a look at places you have worked as some companies have hardship grants for present and ex employees.
Ebay also advertises free goods.

lollipopsarah

Try calling your local council, when we moved we got a whacking great big fridge freezer for just over a £100 and delivered too from their recycle scheme thing we also got two wardrobes for about the same price and they also took away our old ones (too large).
Life sucks doesn't it, I thought things would get easier in my 50's - pah!
Best wishes.
xx