How will you make savings to pay for energy bills.

Shandy57 I’m a regular library user, I like a ‘proper’ book, they were great during the various stages of Covid rules too. Ours hosts toddler sessions, computer classes and craft meetings. Also access to the internet with printers for those who can’t afford it and need it, job hunters, research etc. A valuable community asset I’ve always supported.

Oh the library- how I love the library. The cost of the books I have borrowed over 65 yeaes must be in the hundreds of thousands. A saving like no other!

years!

Chocolatelovinggran

Dickens, I think that you are right - most donors will carry on, perhaps donating a little less often. Food of every sort is always welcome, but most of our clients are looking for toiletries, too- deodorant, razors, and shower gel are important for self esteem, and for job interviews!

... thanks Chocolatelovinggran... I did wonder about things like toiletries. That's helpful.

Mumsnet seems to have a much nicer version of this.

If you’re comfortably off, what are you doing to help with the cost of living crisis?

I suppose, with fewer retired, they are less likely to be quite so close to not being comfortably off as a forum mainly comprising pensioners.

In answer to the original post, I'm looking at various ways of using less energy and cutting back on other things.

But I'm lucky that I have that option. What will people do who've already pared their spending to the bone? The only way they can economise is by not using energy at all unless in an emergency... they've gone through all the 'tips' and cost-saving exercises.

And the JAMs are going to be hard hit too. When people are being as self-reliant as they can be and doing everything they can to keep their heads above water, but are knocked back again and again - it isn't just energy prices that are increasing is it - will there come a point when we say, enough is enough - can't pay, won't pay?

The government can't control market forces - the global hike in energy costs - but it can control the way they manage it for the electorate... as some European countries have proved...

Chocolateloving gran I donate food but recently I have totally changed what I do donate once I discovered many do not have facilities for cooking anything on a hob so I now donate long-life milk, jams, and marmalades, packs of biscuits for the odd treat. Recently my pack of loo rolls looked decidedly out of place but it is another very necessary item so I was not bothered.

Soap powder is so necessary but I am afraid I cannot afford to donate that. I have popped in tubes of toothpaste and I must add brushes because I doubt if they are ever replaced.

I've never even thought of toothbrushes.
What a good idea.

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MissAdventure

I've never even thought of toothbrushes.
What a good idea.

Yes, children's toothbrushes and toothpaste are needed too.

That's my kind of price range, too.

My local store states the bin is a food bank but I am afraid I ignore that because I am more practical. I also think it is good to leave the odd treat- their lives must be hell.

It works the other way too. Locally two ladies were seen to park a Merc or Limo a street away and then had the gall to go into the food bank to pick up a free parcel.

The roll-on deodorant lasts a lot longer than the spray type but may take longer to apply and dry. There are usually bargains on offer and that is what I do so I get more for my money.

I thought someone had to be referred by their GP or Social Services Charleygirl?

My DN, who volunteers at a large Food Bank, said local firms are always very generous too.
They had a couple of hundred Easter eggs donated - it's not all tins of baked beans thank goodness.

It works the other way too. Locally two ladies were seen to park a Merc or Limo a street away and then had the gall to go into the food bank to pick up a free parcel.

I wonder if they were delivering food parcels to someone unable to go out?

One of my colleagues delivers foodbank bags to the disabled and those unable to get to the foodbank. He has a large car and has said he has to park it away from the foodbank as he has had verbal abuse from people who think he is collecting for himself.

wildswan16

For a lot of people, they are already making all the savings they can. It is impossible to use less. Everyone I know never uses the oven unless they fill it up, uses the washing machine as sparingly as they can, doesn't use a tumble drier, only fills the kettle just enough for what is needed etc etc.

We all wear sensible warm clothing inside as well as out. Further savings are virtually impossible.

I will continue to use my tumble until I can guarantee a line dry....but have often used the oven for 1 random thing....put a wash on for just a pair of jean because I wanted them clean... or boiled a full kettle for a cup 9f tea.... I have now made changes ( including very little heating) and saved 60£ last month...obviously that will be wiped out with fuel increase but at least my cost shouldn't be going up massively....if you are already doing all these things and are aware that there is nothing more you can do but wait for the increases ....then that must be very hard

Charleygirl5

My local store states the bin is a food bank but I am afraid I ignore that because I am more practical. I also think it is good to leave the odd treat- their lives must be hell.

It works the other way too. Locally two ladies were seen to park a Merc or Limo a street away and then had the gall to go into the food bank to pick up a free parcel.

You need a referral to access a food bank...you can't walk in off the street....the pastoral team at schools...health visitors...children's centres...social workers...are all examples of those who have food bank vouchers....I am the designated food bank voucher signer in my team ( NHS community) .... we are quite strict about who is eligible

Louisa, where I live you need the referral of a GP or a social worker. The police can refer people to the social work dept, if they come into contact with someone they believe is in need. No, you cannot just turn up.

I thought so too but who knows what this devious pair said and did to get a free bag.

I also thought that anybody receiving goodies from a foodbank could only do it a few times a year and certainly could not do it weekly.

Blimey Charleygirl, enough people have explained why what you have alleged about abuse of food banks is probably not true, why can't you accept the truth from those of us involved?

I had a student who was 17 and living alone. She had a social worker and some sort of care package in place. She told me that she had very little food at home. I tried to arrange a food package for her, through a contact I had in youth services. The amount of paper work that I had to fill in was crazy. Her social worker had to sign it too. And even then it took 3 weeks.

It certainly isn't a case of turn up and fill a carrier bag!

Tampons and pads are very welcome too, so I hear. Period poverty must be awful, if you're a teenager and self conscious about it.

Callistemon21

^It works the other way too. Locally two ladies were seen to park a Merc or Limo a street away and then had the gall to go into the food bank to pick up a free parcel^.

I wonder if they were delivering food parcels to someone unable to go out?

My thoughts too.

Our local Morrisons do ready-packed bags with the items on the side. They come under different headings and the bags vary in total cost. That means you can choose within your budget. This goes through the checkout quickly and then you put them on the Food Bank shelves (on wheels).

I do wonder if they consult with the local food bank but it certainly looks as if they do.

The person driving the big car may have been a support worker bringing someone to the food bank.