January - the month tighter than Mr Tighty's hosiery

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

That's about it in the cupboard/fridge. He will usually either eat breakfast or lunch, I really don't like breakfast, but I can just about do porridge with water if I soak it in a tub overnight and nuke it at work in the late morning, rather than have lunch.

I think his boss is just a bit disorganised and assumes he's ok because I work, rather than dodgy, she's never subbed out work before - and he's too mild mannered to push it too much, in case she decides it's all a bit more hassle than she signed up for.

There are the express supermarkets nearby, but they don't do the value/basic ranges. There is a market and an Iceland close by, so fresh and frozen veg is ok, but the proper supermarkets are quite a bit further away. I don't think I'd be able to walk it, anyhow, never mind carry anything back.

I will also need to get loo roll (no rolls at work, it's those dispensers that offer up one tiny sheet at a time), but I'll be able to use ecover washing up liquid to do my hair, as I've still got some conditioner left. The pound shop sounds like the best option for that.

Getting milk from work is a possibility, as nobody questions if it goes, they just assume it was off.

Sigh. I did subtly look into the food bank thing, but it seems you have to be referred by somebody official after attending some sort of interview during working hours - so when I'm at work. I might be missing something, but I think that means people with kids to feed, homeless people, asylum seekers, people with absolutely nothing to their name, the type who hover around the market at closing looking for squashed tomatoes because they're that desperate and they have nobody else willing or able to help them.

It's a fortnight. After that, things will still be very tight, but if I can get through this and he gets paid, the help I've got here will see us through. And it won't hurt to lose a bit of weight - it's obviously why I put it on in the first place!

Thank you all so very much.

samanthaneww2d

JOJO wrote "Sigh. I did subtly look into the food bank thing, but it seems you have to be referred by somebody official after attending some sort of interview during working hours - so when I'm at work. I might be missing something, but I think that means people with kids to feed, homeless people, asylum seekers, people with absolutely nothing to their name, the type who hover around the market at closing looking for squashed tomatoes because they're that desperate and they have nobody else willing or able to help them"

If its a trussell trust foodbank they can as a one off raise a voucher if you would be unable to get one from a front-line professional and you would be surprised that its all kinds of people that need a food bank now and again. Lots of people who work and are on zero hours people who have had a spouse taken to hospital a big bill they didn't anticipate the list is endless.Ring up and ask to speak to the centre manager and explain your criteria you have no money and no food you will get a three day emergency supply with things like pasta rice and soup/ tomatoes etc if you go on the trussell trust website you will see what kind of things you get . I used to centre manage a food bank last year and granted yes the majority of people needed a voucher from a social worker / doctor/ health visitor etc but you will be ill if you continue and thats enough to merit the centre helping ( or at least it should be ). Please find out the local details and like I said no one judges and its not all people on benefits or homeless people etc etc

whiteguineapig

happy birthday jojo, have a nice day
in case it happens again you could always have a tin of corn beef in , i make corned beef hash every week and thats very cheap

Butterfly_Brain

Do you have any store cards with money on them such as nectar etc?

candygirl

Happy Bday hun:jSorry to read you're in such dire straits There are some fab ideas and recipes on this thread, n I also recommend the Jack Monroe books:D

savingqueen

possible options for loo roll: any b00ts points going spare, tissues would do if no loo paper for sale? a few sheets from public loos? "borrow" from a neighbour towards the end of the 2 weeks and then replace soon after.


ask on freecycle for any toiletries?


aldee do big tins of new pots for 15p - great to add as a side to a meal or maybe a frittata or similar if you have eggs.


any unwanted Xmas gifts you could return for a refund?


Happy Birthday. Enjoy your flowers.

Tink_04

Does your OH not question why there is no food in the house at all? I understand what your doing trying to protect him but surely he must know things are bad if everything is run down to nothing. I'm assuming you have no one you could lend some money from? Do you qualify for any benifits - WTC for example? Can you invite yourself somewhere for for tea? If you don't want to worry your partner can you not share this with someone else? A parent, sibling or friend who could help? Can you get access to hardship from either your work or somewhere? I hope you get sorted but don't deal with this all alone - a problem shared and all that.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I don't have any points on anything - I used them all up to get through previous months.

No Xmas presents and no family. And the food bank isn't a Trussel one. Just my luck. Have to admit that makes me feel a bit awkward about the amount of stuff I've put in the collection point in the past. But I'll get over that soon enough.



I've reinforced the budgeting and weight loss story with a general reference to things not being great - and tempered that with reminding him that, on the plus side, the rent and council tax are both in credit. He's going to try and get something to bring home tonight from where he is at the moment.

I've done it that carefully because he found himself homeless and in debt due to the actions of an ex who claimed they were broke, let him starve himself (I've seen the photos - he looks like he weighed about eight stone) but she had some lovely holidays without him and drove a nice car which attracted parking and tow fines wherever she went. I don't want him to be reminded of all that. I'm not her; if I were, we'd be eating like kings whilst bailiffs hammered on the door weekly, because I wouldn't have paid my rent, council tax, gas, TV licence, etc. Or I'd have an amazing collection of holiday snaps, all without him.


I'd like to say he's completely oblivious, but he's not sleeping at night and is very quiet - and hasn't asked me for a penny to go shopping with for days. He's also been making quite a few hot drinks (black tea/coffee), when he'd usually get soft drinks. That's with the reassurance (and proof because I've left the rent statement on the coffee table) that the bills are paid. I'm obviously a bad liar, but telling him just how bad it is would be too much to handle.

I managed to get some leftovers at work this morning, which sorted me out. Tonight is going to be some pasta and tomato pur!e with a half onion I found embedded into the ice at the back of the freezer.



However, amazingly, help has been offered from totally unexpected quarters and I can't begin to explain how grateful I am for that surprise; so I should be able to get him to go out and buy some basics whilst I'm at work in the next couple of days.

Just as well, because we've been told he's got his little girl staying with us all weekend whilst her mum has a weekend away. :$


(And...deep breaths, smile and wave, smile and wave....)

skintmum2012

Hi I know this might not be my place to say however if I was your other half I would want you to tell me I would not want you worrying about it on your own and I would have thought his past would make it even more so he would want you to be honest with him. I never hide anything from hubby as I find his take on thing and ideas to helpful o and I have a big mouth can you tell lol.

zippychick

Jojo, sorry to hear it's such a tight time for you. I take my hat off to your efforts, you obviously believe it's the best thing to do not telling him so i for one will trust your judgement.

What storecupboard ingredients do you have now? same as original post?

I know exchanging personal details is against the forum rules:o, but i do have to say how heart warming it is to see the offers of help. I don't think you're anywhere near me, but if you were i would happily send some stuff your way. (where ish are you?)

Chin up and happy belated birthday MWA !!!x