It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

CCW007

TheAble said:

Fair enough. She's time poor and doesn't have a car. Home delivery then? And no before you say it I don't mean do it every week which would make it uneconomical; rather, save a bit each week and then do a bigger shop once in a while to make it economical. Over time, and it may take a while initially, you will build up a good supply of better priced goods, even if you don't shop around, and that will mean you don't have to keep making the dashed trips to the expensive local. So you end up saving money and time. But I've made this point before.

Or have it your way and just accept your lot and that there's nothing you can do to improve your situation.

I think the point is that someone who needs to buy 20p pasta to be able to afford to eat can't afford to "save a bit each week" whilst buying 70p pasta, in order to be able to pay for an online shop to buy 20p pasta. 

CCW007

EssexHebridean said:

Some folk (and this is general, not aimed at anyone specific, but comes from conversations I’ve had over the years both here and on other social media) will simply never acknowledge privilege exists because they simply see “privilege” as something you’re born with, rather than the reality, that it can be arrived at because of your own hard work, because of luck, or simply down to circumstance. We worked hard some years ago, and did a fair bit of going without things, and careful management of money, to pay off our mortgage early. Now we have no mortgage or rent to pay - and we’re privileged to be in that position - regardless of the fact that we worked to earn that privilege. 

I wish I could thank this more than once.

Rosa_Damascena

Floss said:

TheAble said:

Fair enough. She's time poor and doesn't have a car. Home delivery then? And no before you say it I don't mean do it every week which would make it uneconomical; rather, save a bit each week and then do a bigger shop once in a while to make it economical. Over time, and it may take a while initially, you will build up a good supply of better priced goods, even if you don't shop around, and that will mean you don't have to keep making the dashed trips to the expensive local. So you end up saving money and time. But I've made this point before.

Or have it your way and just accept your lot and that there's nothing you can do to improve your situation.

The hypothetical single mum is not just time-poor, she is poor. To be able to put some money by each week to enable a larger delivery shop potentially is not possible, as almost all of the income will be needed to cover budgeting for bills & feeding children.

It seems to be a challenge to think of someone in this situation in 2022, but it is real. Those in straitened circumstances do not have the fiscal ability to build up a store cupboard, and to make a flippant comment suggesting "accept your lot and that there's nothing you can do to improve your situation" doesn't really help anyone.

Plus the poverty premium kicks in big time when making money stretch from week to week.

I am vert fortunate but feeling the pinch which is why this whole cost of living crisis feels so surreal. Where are those on the national minimum wage going to find an extra £2k pa for fuel??!

ladyholly

Just to add my comment I think that it is difficult for people who have never had to watch every penny find it hard to put themselves in that position. This is the same as me trying to imagine paying £500 or more for an outfit or £100. per head for a meal out.

I have a theory that all MPsshould have to live on minimum wage or Universal credit for 3months before they take their seats in parliament ( to be redone every 5years so they dont forget).  Yes some of them do come from less privileged circumstances but many dont and some of their comments prove their ignorance of living with poverty.

Rosa_Damascena

ladyholly said:

I have a theory that all MPsshould have to live on minimum wage or Universal credit for 3months before they take their seats in parliament ( to be redone every 5years so they dont forget).  Yes some of them do come from less privileged circumstances but many dont and some of their comments prove their ignorance of living with poverty.

There was a TV programme - C4 I think - showing just that, and it was an eye-opener. It wasn't just the lack of money that was the issue, it was the difficult environment on top of it.

ginger

Sorry don't want to inflame the ongoing debate re poverty, but isn't it all a bit subjective? My partner & myself are both recently retired.  Private pensions but no state pension for another 8 years.  We have no mortgage or personal debt now (paid off with pension lump sums) and we have enough every month to live relatively comfortably (day to day), but we are still very worried about the increase in food, fuel and petrol prices.  Yes, we are a lot better off than a lot of people BUT this present situation affects everyone. We have 3 children and 2 grandchildren and we are very much involved in helping them, to the extent that we would rather do without then they go hungry. We habe both worked full time for the last 40 years, this is not how we envisaged retirement. 

Rosa_Damascena

ginger said:

Sorry don't want to inflame the ongoing debate re poverty, but isn't it all a bit subjective? My partner & myself are both recently retired.  Private pensions but no state pension for another 8 years.  We have no mortgage or personal debt now (paid off with pension lump sums) and we have enough every month to live relatively comfortably (day to day), but we are still very worried about the increase in food, fuel and petrol prices.  Yes, we are a lot better off than a lot of people BUT this present situation affects everyone. We have 3 children and 2 grandchildren and we are very much involved in helping them, to the extent that we would rather do without then they go hungry. We habe both worked full time for the last 40 years, this is not how we envisaged retirement. 

That's the whole point, how on earth are those with the least going to manage if the likes of you and I are experiencing anxiety? How can someone on the bare minimum cover even the basics when they are so costly?!

TheAble

EssexHebridean said:

Floss said:

TheAble said:

Fair enough. She's time poor and doesn't have a car. Home delivery then? And no before you say it I don't mean do it every week which would make it uneconomical; rather, save a bit each week and then do a bigger shop once in a while to make it economical. Over time, and it may take a while initially, you will build up a good supply of better priced goods, even if you don't shop around, and that will mean you don't have to keep making the dashed trips to the expensive local. So you end up saving money and time. But I've made this point before.

Or have it your way and just accept your lot and that there's nothing you can do to improve your situation.

The hypothetical single mum is not just time-poor, she is poor. To be able to put some money by each week to enable a larger delivery shop potentially is not possible, as almost all of the income will be needed to cover budgeting for bills & feeding children.

It seems to be a challenge to think of someone in this situation in 2022, but it is real. Those in straitened circumstances do not have the fiscal ability to build up a store cupboard, and to make a flippant comment suggesting "accept your lot and that there's nothing you can do to improve your situation" doesn't really help anyone.

You’ve said it. The food from an online shop isn’t going to be any cheaper, but it WILL cost a delivery charge. That’s something that can’t be bought, because the money that would have been spent on it has been spent getting the shopping delivered. 

Iceland then? Free next day delivery if you spend £40.

But I suppose no Iceland, freezer or £40.

Come on folks, I'm trying here  My point is that there's almost invariably something you can do. It can't necessarily be done overnight but you can make steps towards it.

brila

When very skint about 12 years ago, I shared MrT delivery with three other families. Delivery at 10pm cost 50p and we could meet minimum spend between us. Made a massive difference to us at the time. 

-taff

@TheAbleI really don't know if you're being deliberately obtuse. Some people cannot afford food. It's that simple. There's no stockpiling going on because they can't afford food now, this week, today, this minute.

You've fallen into the trap of thinking pulling yourself up by your bootstraps and budgeting better, managing money are all you need to hoist yourself out of poverty. This is not the case. If your minimum wage job barely covers the rent or, if you were lucky at some point in the past, a mortgage, and there's nothing to spare for bills and food, or it's bills or food.

This is a reality in Britain today and it's not just happening to a few people here or there, it's thousands and thousands.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/feb/10/bruises-back-pain-and-brilliant-volunteers-how-one-woman-fed-100000-londoners

This was one I read recently and donated to. I watched publicity cause the gofundme page for this particular food bank soar from 89k to what it is now. They took advantage of the publicity in the best way they could but there are thousands of food banks all over doing the same thing with no publicity and no funding.