How can you budget when there is nothing left to cut?
Balancing a household budget can be tough, but when you don’t have enough money to cover the essentials we all need, it’s impossible. How can you budget when there is nothing left to cut?
The average income of a family needing to use a food bank is just £57 a week, after housing costs. This is not nearly enough to cover standard outgoings for most us – and the rising cost of living means that this money has to stretch even further than before.
Use our budgeting list to try and calculate a £57 weekly spend below:
Could your household survive on just £57 per week?
No one wants to use a food bank, but when you’re faced with the impossible decision to either pay your bills or put food on the table, a food bank is your only lifeline.
It’s more crucial than ever to stand alongside people who are making impossible decisions each day and we thank you for supporting us as we work towards a future where everyone can afford the essentials.
The Trussell Trust
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Ask your MP to call for a stronger social security system
It’s wrong that, despite living in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, people here in the UK are going without the essentials we all need to get by.
As the price of essentials continues to soar, staff and volunteers at food banks are working tirelessly to support people in their communities facing impossible decisions:
"The cost of living crisis is forcing people into impossible decisions because they simply don’t have enough money. Do they eat or buy other essentials such as school shoes for their kids?"
This simply isn’t right.
Which is why back in May, the government stepped in and provided support that was targeted towards people on the very lowest incomes through our social security system. These urgent measures provided relief to families across the UK, but if we are to end the need for food banks this cannot be a one off. People at food banks need support not just in a national crisis, but every day.
We must build on this moment and keep the issue front of mind for MPs as the cost of living is set to rocket.
Everyone should have enough money to live with dignity, which is why we need strong systems that act as a lifeline for whenever any of us need support, whether that’s because we’ve lost a job, had a relationship breakdown or become ill.
Please join our campaign and ask your MP to call for a stronger security system that supports people in your community every day, not just in times of national crisis. |
Thank you for taking action today.
The Trussell Trust
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Previous Posts:
Why the design of Universal Credit is driving the need for food banks
How would you feel if you had no option but to take on a debt, then had no control over when or how to pay this back?
Our social security system is meant to protect us and yet the very system intended to support people in being able to afford the essentials, is dragging people deeper into debt.
Design flaws within Universal Credit, such as the five-week wait for a first payment, are pushing people into impossible decisions where they are caught between taking on more debt in the form of an Advance Payment, or cutting out essentials such as food and heating.
And like all loans, this must be paid back. But the amount deducted off people’s monthly payments often leaves them with no option but to use a food bank, with their incomes cut by up to a quarter.
Similarly, when the benefit system makes overpayments by mistake, people have to pay this back too, but they are often powerless as to when or how the money is clawed back by the government. This would not be allowed in the private sector.
Nearly half of people referred to food banks in the Trussell Trust network are in debt to the government.
This simply isn’t right.
In pioneering work, co-produced with people on Universal Credit, our latest research project aimed to understand how government debt is driving food bank use. Through the project we heard how people are often pulled deeper into poverty and feel the social security system fails to treat them with basic respect.
We want change. Not only to ensure that our social security system doesn't pull people under, but also so that people are treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve, and can, at the very least afford the essentials.
You can read more on our groundbreaking research here:
Thank you for standing alongside us and taking the time to understand the story that is so common to so many people who need to turn to food banks.
Next month, we’ll be launching an opportunity to use your voice and contact your MP.
We’ll be in touch soon.
The Campaigns Team
Updated: September 2022
Posted: February 2022