Food banks - what is the real story
Discussion
otolith said:
King 
said:
said:jonah35 said:
Perhaps every benefit for everyone should be online for us to see. That would show us who is getting exactly what. Benefit fraud would soon stop.
I'd go along with that. On condition that everyone's income and the amount of tax they pay were also posted online. All sorts of fraud might be stopped.
Which reminds me of a conversation with a senior BiB who commented that it would be convenient for car registration plates to include a barcode so that fixed penalties could be taken automatically from the RK's account. Nice!
But that's for another thread.
FiF said:
Sweden you can look up anybodies taxable income from employment, shares, bonuses etc.
Easy now it's online but used to be in a massive book like a telephone directory for your county.
There are pluses and minuses to this of course.
That must be great for salespeople, or even your local burglar I suppose. Easy now it's online but used to be in a massive book like a telephone directory for your county.
There are pluses and minuses to this of course.
BlackLabel said:
FiF said:
Sweden you can look up anybodies taxable income from employment, shares, bonuses etc.
Easy now it's online but used to be in a massive book like a telephone directory for your county.
There are pluses and minuses to this of course.
That must be great for salespeople, or even your local burglar I suppose. Easy now it's online but used to be in a massive book like a telephone directory for your county.
There are pluses and minuses to this of course.
King said:
said:jonah35 said:
Perhaps every benefit for everyone should be online for us to see. That would show us who is getting exactly what. Benefit fraud would soon stop.
I'd go along with that. On condition that everyone's income and the amount of tax they pay were also posted online. All sorts of fraud might be stopped.
Personally I feel private income should be private.
But, benefits are given to you from the state and should be available for all to see. If you get child benefit then it should be shown, nothing wrong with that. If you get any benefit it should go on a website so we can all see.
jonah35 said:
But, benefits are given to you from the state and should be available for all to see. If you get child benefit then it should be shown, nothing wrong with that. If you get any benefit it should go on a website so we can all see.
Also a nice list online of all companies, the net and gross income they made and the tax they paid in the UK!?!?Of course, none of this has anything to do with whether or not people are too poor to eat properly or at all. It seems that some benefits are not paid quickly once approved and thus people have no money at all. This is not something we should be proud of.
I think the real story about food banks is that there are genuinely destitute people who need to use them. There are also people who are poor at managing their money who use them. And there are people who use them whilst spending their money on other non essentials.
I think that there are people that take advantage of them and there are some well meaning but gullible types running some of them
I think that there are people that take advantage of them and there are some well meaning but gullible types running some of them
I simply cannot understand how people can go hungry. Food is cheap. You don't have to shop at waitrose, or any of the "finest" range to make solid and tasty meals.
Pasta - 2 bags under £1
Mince - BOGOF £=14
Tinned tomatoes 2/3 for a pound
Black pepper/salt - £1
White potatoes - £1.50
Chicken thighs - £3-4 max
Garlic bread - £1
Bake at home baguettes x2 £1
Baby veg packs - £4
Carrots - £1
Rice - £1.50
Water - free (subject to water rates)
Bags of prepared salad x2
^those can last 5 days or more subject to what food is already in the house
Other things that can be added, obviously.
Compared to:
Pizza x2 £6
burgers - £4
Chips - £1.50 - 2.50
Chicken nuggets £3
^ All of those will last two days
That's a decent meals days for a family of four. I, myself, am a passionate cook and tend to shop well and know how to. But I have seen some people's trolleys filled with complete crap - biscuits, crisps, sweets and nonsense like pepperami. I can usually tell the one's that do not work as their trolleys are filled with this crap.
Sorry if that offends, but people are looking to live out of their means, buying branded pre-prepared products is ALWAYS more expensive that buying ingredients and preparing.
These days and average decent take away is near on £30, trust me, people need to understand how to live.
Annoys me. (Or maybe I should start a "How to cook for your family" advice business)
Edited to say I do not disagree with food banks. I have also given. But I would say a large amount could manage better without having to do that. Large amount of laziness.
There are genuine ones. But even then they could do with guidance when the break even.
Pasta - 2 bags under £1
Mince - BOGOF £=14
Tinned tomatoes 2/3 for a pound
Black pepper/salt - £1
White potatoes - £1.50
Chicken thighs - £3-4 max
Garlic bread - £1
Bake at home baguettes x2 £1
Baby veg packs - £4
Carrots - £1
Rice - £1.50
Water - free (subject to water rates)
Bags of prepared salad x2
^those can last 5 days or more subject to what food is already in the house
Other things that can be added, obviously.
Compared to:
Pizza x2 £6
burgers - £4
Chips - £1.50 - 2.50
Chicken nuggets £3
^ All of those will last two days
That's a decent meals days for a family of four. I, myself, am a passionate cook and tend to shop well and know how to. But I have seen some people's trolleys filled with complete crap - biscuits, crisps, sweets and nonsense like pepperami. I can usually tell the one's that do not work as their trolleys are filled with this crap.
Sorry if that offends, but people are looking to live out of their means, buying branded pre-prepared products is ALWAYS more expensive that buying ingredients and preparing.
These days and average decent take away is near on £30, trust me, people need to understand how to live.
Annoys me. (Or maybe I should start a "How to cook for your family" advice business)
Edited to say I do not disagree with food banks. I have also given. But I would say a large amount could manage better without having to do that. Large amount of laziness.
There are genuine ones. But even then they could do with guidance when the break even.
Edited by Atmospheric on Tuesday 9th December 10:09
Atmospheric said:
I simply cannot understand how people can go hungry. Food is cheap. You don't have to shop at waitrose, or any of the "finest" range to make solid and tasty meals.
Pasta - 2 bags under £1
Mince - BOGOF £=14
Tinned tomatoes 2/3 for a pound
Black pepper/salt - £1
White potatoes - £1.50
Chicken thighs - £3-4 max
Garlic bread - £1
Bake at home baguettes x2 £1
Baby veg packs - £4
Carrots - £1
Rice - £1.50
Water - free (subject to water rates)
Bags of prepared salad x2
^those can last 5 days or more subject to what food is already in the house
Other things that can be added, obviously.
Compared to:
Pizza x2 £6
burgers - £4
Chips - £1.50 - 2.50
Chicken nuggets £3
^ All of those will last two days
That's a decent meals days for a family of four. I, myself, am a passionate cook and tend to shop well and know how to. But I have seen some people's trolleys filled with complete crap - biscuits, crisps, sweets and nonsense like pepperami. I can usually tell the one's that do not work as their trolleys are filled with this crap.
Sorry if that offends, but people are looking to live out of their means, buying branded pre-prepared products is ALWAYS more expensive that buying ingredients and preparing.
These days and average decent take away is near on £30, trust me, people need to understand how to live.
Annoys me. (Or maybe I should start a "How to cook for your family" advice business)
What he said. My average weekly shop for two adults is approx. £30, if I take out the beer and wine. Granted I don't buy a great deal of meat as the OH is veggie, but swapping mince for a generic veggie version (1kg for £3 I think at Morrison's) is probably cheaper, and potentially healthier (high protein, less fat if you believe the pack).Pasta - 2 bags under £1
Mince - BOGOF £=14
Tinned tomatoes 2/3 for a pound
Black pepper/salt - £1
White potatoes - £1.50
Chicken thighs - £3-4 max
Garlic bread - £1
Bake at home baguettes x2 £1
Baby veg packs - £4
Carrots - £1
Rice - £1.50
Water - free (subject to water rates)
Bags of prepared salad x2
^those can last 5 days or more subject to what food is already in the house
Other things that can be added, obviously.
Compared to:
Pizza x2 £6
burgers - £4
Chips - £1.50 - 2.50
Chicken nuggets £3
^ All of those will last two days
That's a decent meals days for a family of four. I, myself, am a passionate cook and tend to shop well and know how to. But I have seen some people's trolleys filled with complete crap - biscuits, crisps, sweets and nonsense like pepperami. I can usually tell the one's that do not work as their trolleys are filled with this crap.
Sorry if that offends, but people are looking to live out of their means, buying branded pre-prepared products is ALWAYS more expensive that buying ingredients and preparing.
These days and average decent take away is near on £30, trust me, people need to understand how to live.
Annoys me. (Or maybe I should start a "How to cook for your family" advice business)
I do find it interesting seeing what people have at the checkouts and trying to work out what the hell they're going to be having for dinner all week!
There there, for all you people getting dizzy on the morale "outraged " high ground here you go...feel good
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JSahEDRjvw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JSahEDRjvw
Lost soul said:
craig r said:
I do find it interesting seeing what people have at the checkouts and trying to work out what the hell they're going to be having for dinner all week!
It seems people live on ready meals , I just can not understand that As has been said before, it's cheaper and healthier to knock up a spag bol from scratch, even using tinned tomatoes, than it is to buy 4+ microwave versions. And generally there are leftovers which you put into foil cartons and reheat in the oven another time, meaning you are sort of getting a meal with no cost to make it.
KTF said:
Lost soul said:
It seems people live on ready meals , I just can not understand that
I suspect its because its convenient/laziness. Just like the people who buy bags of ready grated cheese and ready choppped carrots.rover 623gsi said:
I'm sure there are some people that take the piss, but I also think most people using foodbankds are doing so for perfectly valid (and usually sad) reasons
http://blogs.channel4.com/paul-mason-blog/gas-cook...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Spirit-Burner-Alcohol-Stove-Outdoor-Backpacking-Hiking-Camping-Furnace-Stand-TM-/201171376994http://blogs.channel4.com/paul-mason-blog/gas-cook...
My 2p help, thats the cooker sorted.
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