Going into debt for food – how has the recession affected you?

This recession hasn’t really affected my spending, being on the wrong end of a CSA judgement for the previous 10 years I’ve had to live like a hermit anyway. Just glad the maintenance payments stopped (my ex kicked our daughter out) when I was made redundant 18 months ago. I feel sorry for all those who have to have all mod cons and haven’t managed to save a penny (although having saved, apparently I don’t get benefits, supposedly cos I’m responsible with money, grrr). People look at me funny when they find out I don’t have a mobile, or drink or smoke.

I’ve tried to make more meals with lentils and beans.

It is a shame that so many people are unable to cook anything it would seem – in particular all those students going off to college unable to cook when they leave home! I recently noticed a college which does a week long cookery course specifically for them at a price but what a shame to have not learned this at home or at school! How short-sighted of us to have let this happen. They need to be able to cook something and have an idea of how to be flexible with the ingredients so that the fridge’s leftovers get used up too. (If you do this sober then you have a better chance of remembering the successful experiments!)

Neil from The Young Ones has suddenly become an amazing example of culinary skills.

They need a list of essentials to take off to uni: spaghetti measure, steamer, wooden spoon etc…

The info on packaging has a lot to answer for.

Every student fridge needs a print out explaining what the difference between Best Before and Use By dates is let alone all the others eg Display Until and Sell By.

It is quite ridiculous that eggs are still in the Best Before category yet have to be treated as if in a Use By date category. Also why are they not refrigerated in shops when we are expected to refrigerate them at home? If there is a permanent salmonella problem then why not change their category? What happens in the rest of Europe?

Food waste collections have helped people realise how much they are wasting. I feel that our young students are preyed on predatory drinks companies as soon as they leave the safety of home. When I was a student alcohol wasn’t so cheap, there was no credit and I had to feed and clothe myself for a small monthly amount.

Secondhand shops and freecycle and other specialist shops for books are very important and make a lot of difference as do University collections of things students no longer want at the end of term/end of the year which can be reused – instead of everything being dumped or senselessly trashed.

I’m actually comparably comfortable in retirement; not in any way wealthy but I have enough for my needs. I mostly choose the frugal options in a lot of shopping because the worst aspects of modern consumerism are simply appalling to me. Sometimes I wonder how many people complain of being hard up and hungry when they have a smartphone on contract, Sky TV and probably smoke too. Priorities are often wrong.
That said, there is clearly now an underclass at the very bottom of the heap who have no chance of surviving easily. It’s no good middle class types like me going on about the feckless in these cases as they are genuinely affected. I can choose to shop at a combination of stores and markets, paying by reward credit card and driving to different locations for the bargains. What do you do if you have no car, the bus costs a fortune, and you’re restricted to local convenience stores? Answer-you live as best you can and eat expensive food lacking in good nutrition. It’ll most likely be something that goes in the microwave as that’s the cheapest option compared with the sort of slow cooking on the hob or oven that I favour. The same people also won’t be able to access bank accounts or credit-other than shark lenders. It’s no wonder they are in trouble. The saddest thing is that I just can’t see a solution short of a revolution and that would be a two-edged sword. All suggestions welcomed!

I am in the very fortunate position of being able to pay my “living” bills; gas/electric/food/fuel. I have, however, cut down enormously on eating out [I’m sorry for restaurant owners because it’s difficult for them too]. I am much more aware of food prices now but I do still buy pretty much what I want. Where I am far more conservative is buying fuel; I fill up my car, drive to work and back 5 days per week [round trip of 38 miles] and at the weekends, the car stays in the garage and I walk everywhere. I am desperately sorry for people who are having to go into savings just to survive, this is a sad indictment of our current predicament but I think we all needed a reality check on borrowings. It was just unsustainable.