Food banks

It's bad enough being poor.
I don't need flat, thin greasy hair as well.

Nobody is saying not to do anything.

In a throwaway comment I said that an example of inconsistency in JM's tweets was one when she said that she had boiled up soap fragments to make shampoo to save money, and suggested this as a 'hack' for her followers. Given that a 500ml bottle of 'everyday' shampoo is 75p in Tesco or Boots (I've just checked), it would cost nearly as much to boil up the soap, but more importantly, the relevant tweet showed a photo of numerous 'high end' cosmetic products on the dressing table, so the idea that JM was doing it from necessity is 'open to question'.

Using washing up liquid when you've run out of shampoo is not the same thing at all - I'm sure we've all done it from time to time.

If anyone wants to save soap, you can make little bags out of old tights/stockings/popsocks and gather the leftovers into that, hang it over the tap and use it as a soapy scrub that is free, given that you are using your own leftovers and no boiling is involved. You are also using soap for the purpose for which it is intended.

Or don't . It's entirely up to you (generic). Oh, and you don't need to bung me a quid for the tip. Unlike JM, I don't attach a Just Giving link to every post.

I think you've covered all angles there, doodledog

MissAdventure

I think you've covered all angles there, doodledog

Good idea about the soapy scrub on the tap.

Forsythia

Good idea about the soapy scrub on the tap.

Someone I know unravels the scrunchie shower scrub things (what are they called?) and makes lots of them out of one 'thingy'. She sells them for charity at £1.50 each and makes a decent amount.

Really? Mine unravel without much prompting to be honest! 😂

The OP is right to raise the question, and questions are not judgements. You should debunk the suggestion without intimidating the questioner.

You can make your own by putting your pop sock full of soap into one of those string bags that veg (sprouts?) come in.
Exfoliate away to your hearts content.

My foodbank gives out shampoo and other toiletries as well as food. We like our clients to be sweet smelling......

MissAdventure

You can make your own by putting your pop sock full of soap into one of those string bags that veg (sprouts?) come in.
Exfoliate away to your hearts content.

We are nothing if not resourceful on here

Doodledog

Nobody is saying not to do anything.

In a throwaway comment I said that an example of inconsistency in JM's tweets was one when she said that she had boiled up soap fragments to make shampoo to save money, and suggested this as a 'hack' for her followers. Given that a 500ml bottle of 'everyday' shampoo is 75p in Tesco or Boots (I've just checked), it would cost nearly as much to boil up the soap, but more importantly, the relevant tweet showed a photo of numerous 'high end' cosmetic products on the dressing table, so the idea that JM was doing it from necessity is 'open to question'.

Using washing up liquid when you've run out of shampoo is not the same thing at all - I'm sure we've all done it from time to time.

If anyone wants to save soap, you can make little bags out of old tights/stockings/popsocks and gather the leftovers into that, hang it over the tap and use it as a soapy scrub that is free, given that you are using your own leftovers and no boiling is involved. You are also using soap for the purpose for which it is intended.

Or don't . It's entirely up to you (generic). Oh, and you don't need to bung me a quid for the tip. Unlike JM, I don't attach a Just Giving link to every post.

I like the "soapy scrub" made from old tights and left-over soap, and am going to use that hack. My old tights, though... they've got more ladders than a builders'-yard...

As for Monroe and the high-end toiletries. This is just a thought, but she was, at one time, living with someone as a couple. I don't know the details because I haven't read enough about it, but according to her, they went their separate ways ultimately. Is it possible that the toiletries belonged to her partner?

I only suggest this because of something that happened to me many years ago now but is an experience that I have never forgotten because it so clearly illustrated that things are not always what they seem. And what this could lead to.

Really, really briefly. My teenage son was arrested and accused of robbing his school's 'safe' which was kept in the school dining-room / kitchen.

The evidence: Playing rugby late evening he found the school gates locked so climbed over the wall with his sports bag which he dropped - and then himself - straight into the arms of a new police recruit who had been informed of the robbery.
More evidence: His student card was found on the roof of the dining-room / kitchen.
Even more evidence: The kitchen stored out-of-date crisps ready for disposal. My son's bedroom had a box of out-of-date crisps on the floor.

Guilty? Obviously! The reality which the police investigation confirmed was this. My son's best friend during a scuffle threw his student card up in the air as a 'joke'... it landed on the dining-room roof. My husband ran a business - boat parties with catering. He also had out-of-date crisps behind the bar which he gave to our son instead of throwing them away. The school confirmed my son had been playing rugby, dawdled and was seen by a teacher trying to get out of the gate... teacher came to let him out but he'd disappeared over the wall by then.
I remember the police inspector laughing about the co-incidence after my son was released from the 'enquiries' and vaguely remember him saying something along the lines of things aren't always what they seem so we have to investigate.

We all still have a chuckle about this at my son's expense, but, it does prove that things are not always what they seem.

However, the toiletries may have belonged to Monroe. Who knows for sure? There's no jovial 'bobby' to investigate.

No, but it was one small thing amongst many where JM is concerned. I think FC posted a link to an article about the inconsistencies in her persona. Or, as FC says, a quick google will show what we mean.

It really was a throwaway remark, and not intended to cause the indignation it clearly has . I'm not on a mission to put JM down, and I haven't made a study of her tweets.

My DD contributes sanitary products to her food bank always very well come. We don't live near one but can contribute when doing the Sainsburys online shop.

Yes our foodbank keep things like sanitary towels and tampons etc in a basket at the side of the counter. Women are always informed there are supplies available if they should need them, and to help themselves. Shower gels, shampoo, toothpaste and brushes, toilet rolls etc also kept separately from the food bags so that those that need them can take what they need. Very rarely is that abused by someone grabbing loads.

Just read a disturbing news item from NI. It appears paramilitary loan sharks are stalking food banks looking for customers. Some poor devil is lent £500 only to find he has to pack back £1,300, This is dreadful.

That really is despicable.

Bloody hell
Although it was bound to happen.
I don’t want to sound like a merchant of doom, but we are going to see some very nasty business.
It’s beyond depressing what has happened to this country

People who use food banks are normally referred to them as they really do need this support. I find it incomprehensible in this day and age that people should find themselves in the unimaginable position of not having enough money for food, unfortunately there are due to no fault of their own and most are embarrassed at having to live in this way. We are lucky and will never have this worry which is why we donate regularly.

I can see people turning to crime. I feel sure there are ways of "lifting stuff" through self-checkouts. Only to-day, a Till missed a £4 pack of mince. If I was struggling I would have turned a blind eye but not being in need, I re-put it through. Walking out I thought what a privilege it is to be able to be honest and feel sorry for people who will have to turn to petty crime to exist. There for the gift of God.............

It would be very tempting if that happened when your shopping was going to take every penny, particularly if you've trudged on for months eating just the basics.

Boz, how well you put that.

I thought what a privilege it is to be able to be honest and feel sorry for people who will have to turn to petty crime to exist.

I think many of those who scapegoat the poor have no idea, to be honest.

Last night Martin Lewis was saying that over 50% of those going to Citizen's Advice were "deficit budgeting". Which means that after advice and with all the things Citizen's Advice can help them with -reducing outgoings, reorganising direct debit dates, etc., they still have more going out each month than they have going in.

For many working people this is the first time they have been in this position.

I was in our food bank today to see what was top of their priority list and noticed a sign saying that some gifted items were being sold on for profit
I don't know how I feel about that. In one way it feels uncomfortable but in another, if the recipient really can't use the donation perhaps it's enterprising and empowering to sell it on?

I think it would be morally better to donate it back, or give it away, rather than selling it.