Many of us who live in the city are only a couple of pay cheques away from being completely broke which is a scary thought in deed.
A major study by the Social Metrics Commission (SMC) revealed that 8.4 million working-age adults, 4.5 million children and 1.4 million pensioners are living below the breadline in Britain today.
#FoodBankAdvent Campaign
I am a member of the UK Money Bloggers group. Last month I read an article by Money blogger Andy Webb promoting a #FoodBankAdvent campaign..
In his article, Andy reports that The Trussell Trust, who provide foodbanks for those in need, typically see a whopping 45% increase in referrals for emergency food parcels in the fortnight leading up to Christmas. More than 90% of the food The Trussell Trust distributes comes from donations from the public.
I am a firm believer in helping others wherever we can, I hate to think of anyone going hungry especially this time of year.
What is a reverse advent calendar?
With a normal advent calendar, you open a door each day and take out a goody of some sort. With a reverse advent calendar, you put one item each day into a box to donate to a Foodbank at the end of the month. As part of the #FoodBankAdvent campaign, members of the UK Money Blogging group have been creating their own reverse advent calendars and blogging about it to raise awareness.
My #FoodBankAdvent
I have been collecting items of food each day to go into my FoodBankAdvent box. I have been trying to buy food which is easy to cook. Noodles, pasta and rice. Crunchy Nut cornflakes, tomatoes, chill con carne. I have also sneaked in a few Christmas goodies.
Many items I chose cost less than £1 per item. I tend to opt for the supermarket’s own branded food when I shop to keep costs down.
- Batchelors Super Rice – £1 each – Poundland
- Noodles – 39p – Coop
- Noodles – 35p – Coop
- Marmalade – 70p – Sainsburys
- Spaghetti 500G – 65p – Sainsburys
- Garden peas – 45p – Sainsburys
- Sliced carrots – 35p – Sainsburys
- Crunchy Nut Cornflakes – £2 – Sainsburys
The Trussell Trust
The food bank in Camden accepts collections of food on Tuesdays and Fridays. The rather lovely people at The City Church agreed to meet me this Sunday as I was too busy during the week. You can still donate a food parcel. Click on the link below to find a food bank near you.
Message from Broke Girl in the City
On a more serious note. We may talk about being broke. We may think about cutting back and not spending so much on this and that.
When you are struggling to pay your rent and essential bills. Debts that seem to be spiralling out of control. Your sleep is affected. Everything seems hopeless.
It’s not easy asking for help. Yet if we all do a little bit to help others as well as ourselves. The world would be an even better place.