How will you make savings to pay for energy bills.

In some cases fast food is cheaper than cooking.
Being able to store the ingredients, and all the rest of it.

The conversation has been had many, many times.
Yes, a sack of potatoes is wonderful value.

Buy a big sack then eat them when they're green and sprouting as you near the halfway mark.
Or, buy frozen mash and use every bit.

Oooh batch cook and freeze, yes, wonderful if you have a big freezer.

It's bad enough being poor, without the implication of being as thick as two short planks as well.

That sounds like a brilliant resource Chestnut. Thanks for publicising. I will pass it on to a few people I know who would appreciate it.

I know Chestnut. It must get you so worked up. ?

Still finding excuses? This lady didn't make excuses, she went and wrote a book.

Quote:
Lorna Cooper is passionate that a limited budget shouldn't be a barrier to good food. A mother of three and a step-mother of two, she knows how difficult it is to provide a healthy, balanced diet for the whole family without breaking the bank. But when Lorna didn't qualify for sick pay after a medical emergency, she found herself with a budget of only £20 a week to feed the whole family - and her blog was born. Now Fyf20quid.co.uk is one of the UK's most popular destinations for low-cost, family friendly recipes and savvy shopping ideas. Over half a million people have learnt how to meal plan, budget and cook for their families for just £20 a week

volver

I just googled "can't afford children breakfast". There were 132 million hits, some going back to 2013.

And a lot of people saying "stuff and nonsense, its just a box of cereal."

And we wonder why the Tories get in.

There are many people who buy fast food because they believe it's cheaper than home cooking. McDonald's makes a fortune out of these people. I wouldn't mind betting some of them are amongst those who can't afford porridge.

MissAdventure

I've had times of not being able to afford it.
Or, I've not had any milk to stir in, or no sugar.
It happens when you're poor.

I really think some people have no real idea of what poverty can mean.

When you have 'robbed' next week's income to buy shoes for your child's growing feet, or had to pay for someone to fix your spin-dryer (remember those?) because you wash everything by hand through not being able to afford a washing machine and there's nowhere in your flat to hang dripping sheets. White goods break down, children's clothes get beyond repair, a bill arrives that is higher than expected, your child wants to go on a school outing (all his friends are going) that costs money and / or a packed lunch that you hadn't budgeted for.

I have been a single parent and, for a short time, 'on benefits'. I'm frugal, I know food values, how to cook - I can made six different dishes from a tin of pilchards (vitamin B12 and the essential D) in tomato sauce... I could eek out a pound of mince in various dishes to last both me and my son for 3 days. And still, there were days when I literally ran out of money and we lived on bread, eggs and carrot sticks.

It was all bearable though - because it was temporary - I didn't have to face a bleak future whereby no matter how hard I worked I would always be impoverished. I returned to work and we were comfortable.

But here's the thing. Out of my wages as a single parent back in the 70s, I was able to pay for everything, rent, bills, council tax (or whatever it was called then), food - and a childminder to collect my son from school and keep him until I came home from work. I also had money left over for small treats at the weekend - days out, etc. I was a shorthand-typist and my wages were adequate. Can this be said now? Who could afford a child-minder in this day and age out of one salary?

Most people on credits are working. They simple don't earn enough because wages have stagnated over the last 30 years... and the cost of living has increased out of all proportion to them. That's the problem.

www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-03-13/inflation-stings-most-for-those-earning-under-300-000

Here's what we should be doing.

Don't buy a new car, eat lentils and let the dog die. It's your own fault if you earn less than $300k. Slackers.

You can’t make people ( like my daughter, when she was a child) eat breakfast when they don’t want to.

MissAdventure

I've had times of not being able to afford it.
Or, I've not had any milk to stir in, or no sugar.
It happens when you're poor.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who, having never been in that position, just don't 'get' it, and never will.

In fact, it sometimes seems that some of those who have in the past struggled but got by are the most judgemental - they just don't seem to realize that those factors or actions that enabled them to keep their heads above water, such as someone to mind the kids while they do a second job, are simply not available to everyone.

Now if we only all cooked from scratch I think we could beat child poverty.

I just googled "can't afford children breakfast". There were 132 million hits, some going back to 2013.

And a lot of people saying "stuff and nonsense, its just a box of cereal."

And we wonder why the Tories get in.

I've had times of not being able to afford it.
Or, I've not had any milk to stir in, or no sugar.
It happens when you're poor.

Sorry anyone can afford a bowl of porridge or cereal to start the day. Different matter with the heating. I used to have to choose food before anything else. I would rather economise on heating than basic foods, especially children how can they sit in class hungry. This is the wrong time for low income families to have so many price increases with food and energy, they exist not live. I really feel for them, just hope their friends and families help out if they can. The government needs to act now.

With our Bulb account, I can see online, day by day, what we have spent on gas and electric. It shows the cost of each, for the day, including standing charge and vat, and then every few days it gives a meter reading of KwH usage. Had a look this morning; yesterday we spent just under £4 on electricity and £6 on gas. £10 per day. No boosting the heating, just normal timing, no tumble drier, no vacuuming, oven on for 2 bursts of 20 mins ( DH cooking). I don't know how we can cut that down anymore. We can pay it, but other nice treats will have to be sacrificed. I know this is a little irritation compared to people who can't pay, but the extra £150 is a month is money that won't be going to the local pub for Sunday lunch once a month, or a coffee, or a plant or two from the garden centre.

I'm going to not put my 92 inch screen tv on so much.
Only have my lashes and brows done once every 6 weeks, and not have so many takeaways.
I might even not have an upgrade to this all singing, all dancing phone that I have.

I'm a single parent - did anyone guess?

Seriously, I'm already frugal to the point of embarrassment, so I won't change anything really.

If I can't pay, then I can't pay.
I don't know what else I can be expected to do, and I'm not going to worry about it.

I'm sure they'll find some way to claw it from me.

JenniferEccles

There is no excuse whatsoever for parents to send a child to school without having had breakfast. None whatsoever.

Ok, so assuming your view is correct, assuming these feckless parents have spent their money on drink, or on having their nails done (mental note, don't flash my new manicure around in Aldi, I may get judged), so far so predictable. So, would you have their children go hungry and fail to learn at school thus perpetuating the lack of educational success, or would you like the children to be singled out for breakfast at school so that every other child can judge them for having feckless parent? There are a few on here who were that child, the one having to stand up in class to claim the free school meal ticket, and it stays with you.

What if there's no food in the house?

Maybe they should sell a kidney.

There is no excuse whatsoever for parents to send a child to school without having had breakfast. None whatsoever.

Maybe it's for existing customers though?

Yes, OVO. I just checked to make sure I wasn't imagining it!

Which supplier is that volver? I know OVO used to do that many years ago but I couldn’t find one last year when I fixed ours.

I get 5% interest on any overpayments to the supplier via DD which result in me being in credit. That's significantly more than I would get in any bank account.

bubbly1960

Hello, I rarely comment, but felt prompted by Gagajo at 10.13.
I pay by Direct Debit. I have set my DD at £100.00 per month, certainly not the amount asked for (£230) but my reasoning and decision is based on these thoughts. I have previous overpaid my DD. It led to a seemingly comforting credit amount collecting in my electricity account. The company still requested higher DD amounts.
I have decided to pay this regular DD amount, and weekly putting a sensible amount in my own savings account. My feeling is it is better in my account!! I keep the DD for its discounts, and when the quarterly bill appears, I will then top up my electricity account to clear the bill. The increases are noticeable on the smart meter, and I cannot cut down any further.
In short, yes, pay our bills, if we can, we have no choice. But....I would not wish to give extra money to companies who stockpile our money on the basis of their estimation of our use for the next year. Too much greed on their part I feel.

That makes so much sense. I will review what my new DD is and apply your thinking.

If the money is in your account and you know exactly what is coming and going, you may be able to make further savings while still ensuring there is enough to pay the bill. You can't do it if it is in their account.

I cant get DH to cut back. He leaves lights on everywhere, says as we use LED bulbs they cost next to nothing. We have lots of things on standby too. The heating is on much later than I would have it as he stays up late watching TV. I know he feels the cold more than I do but I think he is being unreasonable. We are not on the breadline but the increased bills will be huge. Apart from energy and other essentials we don’t spend much else though.

Maudi

Parents who send their kids to school hungry should be ashamed of themselves in my opinion. Bowl of overnight oats, cornflakes with milk, bread and jam, no cooking required.

So how do you suggest they find the money to buy the oats, cornflakes, milk or bread and jam. The very poor do not have enough. As we know, poverty often means you cannot make the decisions that make savings.

It's only in the right-wing papers that the poorest waste what they have. Those who believe these sensationalist papers are like the Russians who believe the propaganda their government relies on. Those in a position to buy these things who then blame those in poverty are scapegoating the government. They always seem to blame on those who are in no position to fight back.

It's probably going to be okay for you; no need to put the knife into others. The Conservatives fully intend to protect the haves and let have nots suffer.