Poor, Hungry, Stuck - Advice Please?

[Deleted User]

When I was a student I had to live on £52 a week and it wasn't enough. I lived in a one bed flat (social housing) and curtained off the living area, got a lodger who slept in the bedroom and could use the kitchen attached to the lounge (Open plan). It was NOT ideal or easy (I hated the lack of privacy as I have always had problems sleeping so am up at odd hours) but had to do it to manage. Hated it every day i did it but there was just no other way.

I also took any job whatsoever whenever I heard about it. Cleaning hospitals, telephone interviewing (even with voice problems), Waitressing, bar work, packing dressings.., anything legal that paid money. I ached so much at times it was disgusting but just did what I had to. Now I have kids I couldn't do what I did then. I also learned a lot and met people I wouldn't have met if I hadn't done those jobs.

Please don't feel this is talking down to you. Its just what I did. £300 a month isn't a lot to live on when living in a property so try applying for PIP as well, its not easy to get and could take a year but worth a try. I get it now and its transforming my life. But I have to say it was hell getting there lol.

As for walking four miles to get to a food bank, its a walk I had to do every day to get my son to a paid for nursery place. I had problems walking even then but gritted my teeth and did it. There was no choice. To be frank, my feet would bleed with blisters cause I could only afford cheap trainers (I will never ever buy trainers with internal seams in again), but I got some sudocreme, rested my feet all other times and saved for some new trainers. Paying attention to your posture can help with back pain when walking (keep head up, don't look at ground).

Not patronising.., just passing on experience when life was very very tough. I lived on toast for months on end to feed my kids who both had special needs (and it later turned out, I have too). I am not judging you, I have been in situations like yours where there seemed no options, no choice and no hope. But you can and do survive, even if doing so seems to make life tougher. And value each and every win. Be proud of each day you get through.

For now concentrate on finding a way to get some food. Phone your town's civic centre, ask their advice, phone the food bank, explain your situation, see if there is any way you can get some food. Email your MP, email the churches in your area. You just need one person to come up with a viable solution amongst all the 'can't helps'.

tomtom256

So you live in a city, surely there are cleaning jobs and care work in the local area?


Maybe you are only applying for the jobs you want to do, but it appears to have come to the point where you need to look at all jobs, if you are not already doing so.


What benefit are you currently claiming as it is unclear from the amount you receive?


You state there are no cheapie shops within walking distance, surely bus fare to a cheapie shop would help you to save money in the long run, have you not considered that?


Have you asked your work coach if they offer the 25% travel discount card, they will even pay for the photo for it if you ask them.

Kris35

This is a wind up. Why are people still wasting time trying to help someone who I suspect is having a laugh.

[Deleted User]

Because I have at times (and on here) been told I am a fool, making my own problems, am lying, I have communication problems and have been suicidal, no food, desperate (in the past, not right now).

Even if the advice doesn't help the OP, it might help someone else who reads the thread because they are in a similar situation.

Because this is what the forum is for. If the OP doesn't like what I have said, that is their right. But I will still write down what information I have to write.

DCFC79

Well they have more replies than last time.
But the advice hasn't changed OP, you need to be active to change your situation.

Cyclamen

Google LINK - they are a volunteer driver scheme and cover quite a lot of the UK. They may have a volunteer who can help you get to shops/foodbank etc.

Contact your local church /faith group and ask for a volunteer driver

Check supermarket points etc to see if enough to pay for a delivery programme. My clubcard points pay for tesco deliveries for a year. If not would any points help with food.

Rent the bedroom and turn the lounge into a bedroom.

Using volunteer driver aldi or lidl (I'm sorry can't remember which) do Gluten free ranges.

Ask a neighbour if you could have a lift when they shop.. some of the social media sites would be a good places to ask for help.

borkid

Cyclamen wrote: »

Google LINK - they are a volunteer driver scheme and cover quite a lot of the UK. They may have a volunteer who can help you get to shops/foodbank etc.

Contact your local church /faith group and ask for a volunteer driver

Check supermarket points etc to see if enough to pay for a delivery programme. My clubcard points pay for tesco deliveries for a year. If not would any points help with food.

Rent the bedroom and turn the lounge into a bedroom.

Using volunteer driver aldi or lidl (I'm sorry can't remember which) do Gluten free ranges.

Ask a neighbour if you could have a lift when they shop.. some of the social media sites would be a good places to ask for help.

Lidl do, not bread, from memory oat cakes, sweet biscuits, nut/ fruit bars, spaghetti, breakfast cereals,pakora and few other bits in the chiller section but that's only in my larger Lidl. Still with what's there plus the naturally gluten free foods in the shop it would be easy to get a good value/cheap healthy meal if you are prepared to cook from scratch.

marliepanda

borkid wrote: »

Lidl do, not bread, from memory oat cakes, sweet biscuits, nut/ fruit bars, spaghetti, breakfast cereals,pakora and few other bits in the chiller section but that's only in my larger Lidl. Still with what's there plus the naturally gluten free foods in the shop it would be easy to get a good value/cheap healthy meal if you are prepared to cook from scratch.

But how can he when he is allergic to 'ALL fruits and vegetables...' Basically he enjoys cheese and meat, and therefore has decided thats all he can eat and the foodbanks don't provide cheeseboards and steak.

Food allergies: all fruit and veg (yes all of them), I can't eat bread/gluten and canned pastas/canned meats gives me an upset stomach. My body works best with meat, fish, cheese and eggs - none of which my local food bank provides.

borkid

marliepanda wrote: »

But how can he when he is allergic to 'ALL fruits and vegetables...' Basically he enjoys cheese and meat, and therefore has decided thats all he can eat and the foodbanks don't provide cheeseboards and steak.

Food allergies: all fruit and veg (yes all of them), I can't eat bread/gluten and canned pastas/canned meats gives me an upset stomach. My body works best with meat, fish, cheese and eggs - none of which my local food bank provides.

I was talking about fresh foods not tinned all cooked from fresh. Lidl's is still a lot cheaper than most places for meat, cheese and fish.



Maybe the upset stomach is due to a change in diet rather than the food itself, that can only be determined by experimentation. Or even due to gluten getting into the processed foods the OP eats. Upset stomach is a known side effect for some gluten intolerant sufferers.


Re fruit and veg changing from a diet high in animal protein and no fruit/ veg to one with increased fruit and veg ( high fibre) could cause stomach problems. These would only be short term.

QuackQuackOops

Clearly a wind up