I dont but i bet you your wrong on all the above counts and im nearer the mark . If she was on 60k it was through drug dealing or benefit fraud, her kids probably have all different fathers and if she did have a husband who died he probably never paid any form of insurance in his life. Sad but there it is
Food Banks Whats Going On?
- Thread starter bluebell
- Start date
- Location
- Scotland
- Location
- somerset
unemployment, is running at 4%, a very low figure indeed.
education has a lot to answer for, they don't really prepare kids, for life in the real world, it's not easy, it can be very hard. And the 'drop outs' from school, are largely forgotten.
But wages also come into it, the min wage, doesn't go far in these days. But wages are also based on selling price, they have to be a viable product. Guvs want cheap items, to keep the public happy, which means they have to compete with imports.
With tin hat on, l would say, there are 2 types or poor, in this country, the genuine, and the ones that simply cannot manage their money. The former need, and should be helped, the latter need education, that's not to slag them off, education probably let them down.
food banks, are a really good practical idea, in my mind, it's better to give food, rather than money, to some. A voucher system could work, better than cash perhaps, although no system is perfect, against fraud, or abuse. No system will ever be perfect.
With food banks, charity etc, they are subject to abuse, and the more they are used, the greater the need, and political clout.
While much of this post, sounds condescending, it isn't meant to be. It s not PC to say these things, just as guvs have their hands tied, any attempt to reform, gets a hysterical outburst, and is politically a non starter.
And yet, as the NHS, it really does need remodelling, the systems are from the past, they would work better, if they were brought up to date. Again, it's politically impossible to achieve.
education has a lot to answer for, they don't really prepare kids, for life in the real world, it's not easy, it can be very hard. And the 'drop outs' from school, are largely forgotten.
But wages also come into it, the min wage, doesn't go far in these days. But wages are also based on selling price, they have to be a viable product. Guvs want cheap items, to keep the public happy, which means they have to compete with imports.
With tin hat on, l would say, there are 2 types or poor, in this country, the genuine, and the ones that simply cannot manage their money. The former need, and should be helped, the latter need education, that's not to slag them off, education probably let them down.
food banks, are a really good practical idea, in my mind, it's better to give food, rather than money, to some. A voucher system could work, better than cash perhaps, although no system is perfect, against fraud, or abuse. No system will ever be perfect.
With food banks, charity etc, they are subject to abuse, and the more they are used, the greater the need, and political clout.
While much of this post, sounds condescending, it isn't meant to be. It s not PC to say these things, just as guvs have their hands tied, any attempt to reform, gets a hysterical outburst, and is politically a non starter.
And yet, as the NHS, it really does need remodelling, the systems are from the past, they would work better, if they were brought up to date. Again, it's politically impossible to achieve.
kiwi pom
Member
- Location
- canterbury NZ
Even if everything you say is true, you still have a human with a bunch of kids. If they can't afford to survive, what do you do?
Feed them, i havent said let them starve. Im just pointing out the madness
kiwi pom
Member
- Location
- canterbury NZ
Managing money and living within your means is a struggle for a lot of people not just those that qualify as being poor. Poorly run businesses or bad spending habits are everywhere too, those people aren't any brighter when it comes to money, it's just that they are fortunate to earn enough of it that they can be bad with it and still be ok.
Basic money management, living within your means and how to earn money should be taught at school and be seen as the cool thing to do, instead of all this borrow now, maybe pay it back later nonsense.
Scholsey
Member
- Location
- Herefordshire
the word “entitled” entered everyone’s vocabulary
- Location
- somerset
I am classed as disabled, and am entitled to a payment, l have to really fight to get it, and it's not a lot, all the forms, and assessments, are designed to fail you.
I have dealt with all the RPA claim forms, grants, SFP etc, no problem, l couldn't get those forms right, not a chance, luckily, we have a friend that works in the CAB. And they did help me with them.
But to get anything other than the basic, l really don't know, how its done. Forget free tellies, rent paid, council tax rebate, and anything you can think of, nothing. And yet, on TV, in the papers, it appears you can get 'allsorts'. Some one is either telling untruths, or there is another layer of benefits, we don't know about.
I do get a blue badge, and free road tax for 1 vehicle.
- Location
- Scotland
Theres a lot of people on this forum that wont believe you, even when you tell it to their face.
kiwi pom
Member
- Location
- canterbury NZ
Lots of things appear to be the case, the reality, as you point out is different.
Tv and the dying dinosaur that is newspapers are just trying to get views, clicks or sell copies. Turning people against each other is their favourite way of doing that. Even internet forums love it because it generates clicks and attracts advertisers.
- Location
- Radnorshire
Years ago Delia , boiled an egg on her cookery show , the following week a million extra eggs where sold. Was told the highest hit on an egg site was how do you boil an egg. If parents can’t cook the children aren’t going to learn as I don’t think cookery classes happen in school. Isn’t this the reason for the fast food explosion and the financial problems that follow. Perhaps instead of maths till 18 , cookery classes would be more beneficial.
Spudmaster
Member
- Location
- NW Midlands
Some pretty appalling generalisations going on here.
I am Heavily involved with a major project in partnership with FareShare, a major player in the re-distribution of surplus food.
FACT: Food bank demand is up massively YoY, and increasing.
FACT: surplus food availability is not increasing.
FACT: Most of the above growth is coming from working families.
Say you have a tractor-driver and a nurse with 3 kids and no accommodation with his job. Each earning c. £30k; have saved hard for a house deposit, enjoyed good interest rate for first 2 years, come to end of term; re-mortgaging,
Like for like, the following monthly Increase in outgoings could be quite realistic:
mortgage + £390
energy + £200
car fuel + £100 (they live close to farm, wife has a long commute)
Food bill + £120
other costs + £100
12 months ago, they might have felt relatively well off with £500\m (£6kPa) disposable income.
Inflation and interest rates have eaten this up and more….
In the cold light of day, not everybody is a sponging halfwit milking the system.… This crisis is real, and much, much closer to home than you think.
I am Heavily involved with a major project in partnership with FareShare, a major player in the re-distribution of surplus food.
FACT: Food bank demand is up massively YoY, and increasing.
FACT: surplus food availability is not increasing.
FACT: Most of the above growth is coming from working families.
Say you have a tractor-driver and a nurse with 3 kids and no accommodation with his job. Each earning c. £30k; have saved hard for a house deposit, enjoyed good interest rate for first 2 years, come to end of term; re-mortgaging,
Like for like, the following monthly Increase in outgoings could be quite realistic:
mortgage + £390
energy + £200
car fuel + £100 (they live close to farm, wife has a long commute)
Food bill + £120
other costs + £100
12 months ago, they might have felt relatively well off with £500\m (£6kPa) disposable income.
Inflation and interest rates have eaten this up and more….
In the cold light of day, not everybody is a sponging halfwit milking the system.… This crisis is real, and much, much closer to home than you think.
Well said, living ain’t cheap, but most farmers don’t understand this as they don’t pay themselves a realistic wage then live out of it, most cost go through the business and are unnoticed.
i think education has a lot to answer for, in my secondary school days (2000-2005) we didn’t learn life basics. I left having little to no idea about VAT, tax rates, council tax, mortgages, finance, all very important in life but they wasted 5 years trying to teach us all algebra and pie!
food technology was also limited, yes we did learn some stuff but I luckily learnt more from my parents, also it’s the most accessible information on the internet but some people won’t have all the cooking equipment and they are hungry NOW hence takeaways and food banks
DeeGee
Member
- Location
- North East Wales
I was fortunate to grow up knowing that interest rates can vary considerably. My Dad always reminded me that if ever I had to borrow money then I needed to be sure that I could meet the payments if the rate doubled.
Maybe his was an over cautious attitude; over the past twelve years then it was most definitely so.
But through no fault of their own far too many people have never be taught the basics of finance, nor the potential perils of borrowing money at seemingly favourable rates.
Hence the all too tempting decision to borrow now for anything you want at low interest rates, and pay it back later. Easy finance for everything you want.
Whereas many may have built successful businesses on borrowed finance, and good luck to them, I am just glad that if ever I have borrowed money it was small amounts that could always be paid off if need be.
Too many young people have wasted their time in school being taught such subjects as Algebra and ancient history, instead of being schooled in matters of common sense and everyday real world financial management.
Maybe his was an over cautious attitude; over the past twelve years then it was most definitely so.
But through no fault of their own far too many people have never be taught the basics of finance, nor the potential perils of borrowing money at seemingly favourable rates.
Hence the all too tempting decision to borrow now for anything you want at low interest rates, and pay it back later. Easy finance for everything you want.
Whereas many may have built successful businesses on borrowed finance, and good luck to them, I am just glad that if ever I have borrowed money it was small amounts that could always be paid off if need be.
Too many young people have wasted their time in school being taught such subjects as Algebra and ancient history, instead of being schooled in matters of common sense and everyday real world financial management.
matthew
Member
- Location
- Cornwall, SW England
I wrote about this many years ago, when domestic science (aka Cookery) was dropped by the national curriculum. We then had two generations who thought making a meal meant ‘open this end and microwave for three minutes’ .
And today I was told of a farmers wife who delivered a sack of fresh potatoes a two trays of eggs to a local food bank. They couldn’t accept them. Not only were canned or dried food more suitable to store, but it was remarked to her that most recipients wouldn’t know what to do with them!
grainboy
Member
- Location
- Bedfordshire
Am I out of touch
But. Are you suggesting a family on £60 k a year, requires, financial assistance, ?
But. Are you suggesting a family on £60 k a year, requires, financial assistance, ?
DeeGee
Member
- Location
- North East Wales
A very sad state of affairs.
I have always thought that a sack of spuds and a tray of eggs could be the basis of a week’s nutrition for many families.
Not wishing to sound like some sort of Lord Bountiful recommending these staples as a balanced diet for the great unwashed, but if finances are tight then reverting to basics needn’t be expensive.
Many of us have been there when money was tight, but if some people haven’t had the benefit of experiencing the ethos of ‘making do and mend’ then naturally they will have no recourse to the manifold basics of living reasonably well on reduced means.
- Location
- Moreton-in-Marsh, Glos
On Christmas Eve, I went to our local town to grab a few last things, including a tin of chocolates:
Celebrations/Heroes/Roses/Quality Street.
Everywhere was sold out. But every supermarket had its Food bank bins stuffed full to overflowing with them!
On the whole and Christmas aside, I’ve certainly noticed that those supermarket Food bank bins are becoming less full as weekly shopping bills themselves have increased.
Celebrations/Heroes/Roses/Quality Street.
Everywhere was sold out. But every supermarket had its Food bank bins stuffed full to overflowing with them!
On the whole and Christmas aside, I’ve certainly noticed that those supermarket Food bank bins are becoming less full as weekly shopping bills themselves have increased.
Limcrazy
Member
As I mentioned before my wife coordinates a local foodbank.
A well known potato grower supplies them with fresh dirty spuds which are given out in food packages along with long life canned/dried food. The logistics of donations, storage and supply means that longer shelf life foods are more practical but they are trying to increase the range of fresh stuffs. If any clients say they don't want or wouldn't use them it's fine.
A well known potato grower supplies them with fresh dirty spuds which are given out in food packages along with long life canned/dried food. The logistics of donations, storage and supply means that longer shelf life foods are more practical but they are trying to increase the range of fresh stuffs. If any clients say they don't want or wouldn't use them it's fine.
snipe
Member
- Location
- west yorkshire
Helped out at a food bank before Christmas. Some people were very great full, some were less so. Some peoples bins were full of take away boxes. Non of the people offered to help carry the bags from the car. All the people were at home that day, non of them offered to help at the food bank which offered free food and drink to the helpers. If nothing is done the country will be bankrupt. Only humane way out of this is chemical sterilisation