Famous Rich and Hungry

Lozzy88

I am in full support of food banks and helping people get through rough patches.

My concern is people abusing this, I had a school friend on Facebook who has one child and is currently pregnant. She lives through Facebook and posts 6-10 times a day. She said how she has spent far too much on the unborn babies clothes and is now skint. Then several post later she was asking people about the food bank and how to 'gt summik 4 nout'.

Now if this was me I would of returned the baby clothes, instead she got her boyfriend to get a taxi to and from the church food bank!

paulineb_2

lozzy88 wrote: »

I am in full support of food banks and helping people get through rough patches.

My concern is people abusing this, I had a school friend on Facebook who has one child and is currently pregnant. She lives through Facebook and posts 6-10 times a day. She said how she has spent far too much on the unborn babies clothes and is now skint. Then several post later she was asking people about the food bank and how to 'gt summik 4 nout'.

Now if this was me I would of returned the baby clothes, instead she got her boyfriend to get a taxi to and from the church food bank!

There will always be people who abuse things, particularly if its a church food bank where people dont have to be referred.

But there are many more people who are really struggling and need help, it wouldnt stop me donating. Also, facebook can cause more trouble than its worth a lot of times.

Oakie

http://www.trusselltrust.org/foodbank-projects
Here is a link to the foodbanks if anyone is interested in donating
a few tins

esmerelda98

Oakie wrote: »

I have only seem the first episode.I wondered if parts of it were staged?
The part when one of the celebs Cheryl Ferguson [?] went down the supermarket bins. I thought it was degrading offering her host out of date bread.
For me I feel its the likes of Wonga and Doorstep lenders that play a big part in keeping folk in poverty. Its easy to say to say don't take out a loan,but there are times when there is no other option. Wish the govt would cap their interest rates and outlaw their sharp practises like their continous repayment clause.
And while the govt are about it they should outlaw zero hours contracts.Allowing people to enjoy a regular income.

Whilst I have never taken one out myself, I do believe that payday loans have a (small) place. Say I need my car to get to work due to location far from public transport, unsocial working hours or just the nature of the job (e.g. salesman). It breaks down and I have no-one to borrow from. I don't like debt so I only have a basic bank account, no overdraft, no credit card and I need to fix my car. It's not long till payday. I'm due X amount of money from my job and I can easily cover the repayment. In that situation I'd happily pay say £250 for a 10 day £200 loan, many people would. The problems with payday loans come with people who cannot easily afford to make the repayment still taking out the loans.

thorsoak

paulineb wrote: »

I manage to walk a mile each way to Tescos and did so when I was on JSA if I didnt have bus fare, I dont drive and lots of people around here dont either, but some people use the local shop even though its probably costing them a fortune.

It actually amazes me how many people where I live (the specific area of town I live in has very high unemployment) use the local NISA shop and yes they have offers, but the items that arent on offer are total rip off.

3 times the price that you'd pay in the supermarket.

I live in a medium sized town and there are no farmers markets or anything like that here, but there are numerous supermarkets, I actually agree that if someone is on a low income, even if they need to walk, using supermarkets such as aldi, shops like home bargains and the like is much better than using the corner shop.

My local spar is extortionate, I can't afford to shop there, the prices arent competitive at all.

When I was a young mum, I would walk the 31/2 miles to the "local" supermarket (still not Tescos) a couple of times a week. Walk there wasn't bad, as it was downhill all the way - but walking the three and a half miles back, in all weathers, pushing a large (silver cross) pram with 2 babies and all the shopping on the tray underneath, in all weathers - wet or fine, cold or hot - was fine for a young, healthy woman. Were I undernourished, with inadquate shoes or clothing, it might not have been so.

It's not a case of "oh they should look in the clearance bins at the supermarkets" - a lot of these people may have had inadequate education, come from families who have never cooked (it surprises me just how many people come on these forums who have never cooked a meal from scratch because they don't know how) - or they have health problems. It's not a case of one size fits all.

What is needed - as well as more money - is education on how to cook basic meals properly - and with proper costings. A girl called Jack is a book which has been written by someone who has taught herself budgeting and cooking - but not everyone caught in the poverty trap has the nous that Jack has. Maybe some cookery programmes that cost things out PROPERLY - including all ingredients (not everyone will have the spices/flours etc in their cupboards and have to budget for these in the very first place.

And maybe, just maybe, Supermarkets could start making special offers on more healthy foods .......but I think this will take an awful long time to come about. Cheaply manufactured food doesn't need cooking - therefore doesn't use much gas/electricity ....

reehsetin

Only seen the first episode so far, I had sympathy for most of them but got very angry with the lady saying that she would never downsize her house cos it's where she'd raised her two kids etc. Now I don't agree with the way the 'bedroom tax' has been implemented but that attitude really grates me.

missprice

paulineb wrote: »

People would be cheaper buying their food from a supermarket online in those circumstances and paying a few quid for delivery than using corner shops.

The prices in my local corner shop are eyewatering. £2 for a can of tuna compared to 49p in aldi or 40p in B and M for example

Or companies such as approved foods where people can stock up on basics, even with delivery, still much cheaper than using corner shops. I got 5kgs of pasta from approved foods for £5 last year and Im still working my way through it.

I used to buy a bus ticket when I could afford it when I was on JSA, if I couldnt, I walked and even if I had to do a shop every two days as opposed to once a week, still saved me more money than shopping in my local corner shop.

To this day I buy a daily bus ticket only when I can justify it. Justifying it means more than 3 bus trips and carrying something heavy. Rest of the time I walk. This is a hangover from being that skinted. And yes I would probably be online shopping if I lived there now and had the same money I have now. Not quite so easy to afford tinty web on job seekers. And even back when I lived there it was a mobile library, no idea if they still have that and not a clue if internet is provided. Although they were a nice bunch and the church was somewhat helpful if a bit preachy and they may allow internet access for the poorest.

Just checked re mobile library and they don't even have that any more. So the next nearest is about 2 and 1/2 miles away ish. Better than a 14 mile round trip I agree but then look at the opening times. Mon 9am til 1pm wed 2 pm til 6pm Fri 2pm til 6pm. I mean at least its open 3 times a week. But you will be stuck between a load of people trying to get internet at same time.

Buick

Bublin1 wrote: »

Maybe Martin Lewis should do a similar show where MS Experts from this site go and visit some of these people and show them how/where to shop, budget and advice re DMPs. There are so many things I had never heard of until I came on here which then led me to blogs and other financial gurus.

That sounds like a great idea, actually!

TV programmes like the one being discussed are too much in favour of getting viewing figures by setting up these 'extreme' experiments. A bit like Supersize v Superskinny. They're not very helpful.

paulineb_2

thorsoak wrote: »

When I was a young mum, I would walk the 31/2 miles to the "local" supermarket (still not Tescos) a couple of times a week. Walk there wasn't bad, as it was downhill all the way - but walking the three and a half miles back, in all weathers, pushing a large (silver cross) pram with 2 babies and all the shopping on the tray underneath, in all weathers - wet or fine, cold or hot - was fine for a young, healthy woman. Were I undernourished, with inadquate shoes or clothing, it might not have been so.

It's not a case of "oh they should look in the clearance bins at the supermarkets" - a lot of these people may have had inadequate education, come from families who have never cooked (it surprises me just how many people come on these forums who have never cooked a meal from scratch because they don't know how) - or they have health problems. It's not a case of one size fits all.

What is needed - as well as more money - is education on how to cook basic meals properly - and with proper costings. A girl called Jack is a book which has been written by someone who has taught herself budgeting and cooking - but not everyone caught in the poverty trap has the nous that Jack has. Maybe some cookery programmes that cost things out PROPERLY - including all ingredients (not everyone will have the spices/flours etc in their cupboards and have to budget for these in the very first place.

And maybe, just maybe, Supermarkets could start making special offers on more healthy foods .......but I think this will take an awful long time to come about. Cheaply manufactured food doesn't need cooking - therefore doesn't use much gas/electricity ....

Im well aware of the difficulties that unemployed people face. I worked with young single homeless people for almost 20 years, the majority of them were on benefits. I also live in a very deprived area where around 85 per cent of the people in the housing scheme I live in dont work and are on benefits of some kind. 3 generations of people in the same family who dont work. One girl who has 6 kids and lives in the next block to me has worked for about 2 weeks out of the last 18 or so years. Both her sons have families of their own now, one of them is 16 years old. Some kids dont get encouraged to get an education, its finish school and straight onto benefits.

I dont disagree with everything you have said above, but Ive lived where I live for almost 20 years and I see people at the local shop week in and week out. Many dont set foot outside the housing scheme apart from to sign on.

I know who Jack Monroe is as many people do. Shes actually from quite a middle class family as she'll say herself and had a decent education, but of course anyone can fall on tough times.

Id have to say though, no one taught me how to shop, clean, cook and budget, its something you learn. And Ive been on JSA on a few occasions in my life. But my priority was keeping a roof over my head and making sure I got best value for money on everything I was buying.

Ive posted in the other thread, that isnt other peoples priority. I have neighbours who have left their homes owing 4 grand sums to fuel companies, who run up debts with companies who sell white goods to people, they are quite open about it. Some people live a lifestyle where they will just go from day to day and if they can find a way not to pay for something, that's the way they live, because there might always be someone, social work, support staff to pick up the pieces.

Im 45 and there are people in my area who are older than I am who exist to drink, take drugs, fight and cause anti social nuisance. Of course things need to change, but there also has to be some willingness on the part of some people who are struggling to change their lifestyle.

tea_lover

I've seen quite a few programmes where Martin Lewis has helped people budget and helped with things like DMPs. I remember one family they revisited after a few years and they had since emigrated. It's definitely been done already.