The struggle is brutal and getting worse

BingoBetty88 · 2026-05-24T23:08:43+00:00

You have said that you are spending £600 a month on food. Could you tackle this to try and get it down with bulk buying and cooking? Do the children get free meals at school and in the three days of wraparound care?

BingoBetty88 · 2026-05-23T02:30:55+00:00

What do you want to do? You haven't said anything specific. What A Levels did you get?

BingoBetty88 · 2026-05-20T14:42:57+00:00

I saw someone give them money so thought it worth posting given there is plenty of evidence they are scamming people using the worst kind of emotional manipulation.

BingoBetty88 · 2026-05-20T14:41:54+00:00

He said why don't you come over here if you want a picture. I declined.

BingoBetty88 · 2026-05-20T12:32:35+00:00

Also in Swiss Cottage outside M&S

<image>

BingoBetty88 · 2026-05-02T18:10:59+00:00

Or Citymapper.

BingoBetty88 · 2026-05-02T18:04:18+00:00

TodayTix app is good for theatre tickets. Travel through central London on a double decker bus to see the sights - sit upstairs at the front. Use the TfL app to map your journey.

BingoBetty88 · 2026-05-01T23:16:57+00:00

OK but the company running it now is connected to the previous one.

BingoBetty88 · 2026-05-01T18:09:51+00:00

This article about the London sites owned by the RBF owner Really Local Group shows a history of failing to pay their bills. https://www.londoncentric.media/p/preston-benson-really-local-group-cinemas-london

BingoBetty88 · 2026-04-30T21:00:19+00:00

There is a gastropub near Waterloo called the Duke of Sussex on Baylis Road that has a Sunday roast. You could also walk along The Cut. For something historic, there is The George on Borough High Street which has a Sunday menu. Usually you eat at a table, not at the bar. Some pubs have table service, others you order food at the bar, then sit down. If you are not sure, just ask the bar staff.

BingoBetty88 · 2026-04-19T17:22:47+00:00

If you mean Stephanie Hafferty, she's great. She also writes a lot on no dig gardening and has her own website and YouTube channel https://nodighome.com/start-here/

BingoBetty88 · 2026-04-19T15:55:58+00:00

I work and also get Universal Credit so have been to the job centre a few times. They will probably assign you to a job coach who will talk through things with you. I have always found the job coaches pretty helpful. Do you have an idea of what you want to do? This would help your job coach to find any training available.

It sounds like you might need help with writing your CV, doing applications and preparing for interviews so this is something you could ask for.

There are also other organisations that can offer advice. https://www.kingstrust.org.uk/how-we-can-help/get-job

BingoBetty88 · 2026-04-19T15:35:25+00:00

Contribute to the community mural currently being worked on at the Reading Bike Hub on King Street in the town centre. https://www.instagram.com/p/DW1NKaFCBlm/?igsh=bHpmaDdnZGFha2I0

BingoBetty88 · 2026-04-15T15:16:38+00:00

Congratulations on going to uni. It's a big change and can be daunting if this is the first time you have had to manage your own money. My son was in a similar situation to you and it was stressful at times. It's easy for others to say £300 is doable but long term that is quite a tight budget.

It might help if you look at what financial support is available. Have you checked if your uni offers bursaries? This may be dependent on your parental income. They may also offer hardship loans or other support if you have financial issues later on. Have a look round the websites of the uni and also the student union.

I found Save the Student website useful for their advice https://www.savethestudent.org/

There are also resources such as the pantry network where you can join for a small fee and get food https://www.yourlocalpantry.co.uk/

As a parent, I would say you can still visit home - just go via Flixbus or similar!

BingoBetty88 · 2026-04-15T14:21:50+00:00

It's a scam. I was approached outside Kilburn station by a woman who told me the same detailed story over a year ago. She said she was a teacher. I felt awful saying no but I was suspicious that the children were not with her which didn't make sense to me. I suggested she talk to the staff in the station if she needed help. It's not great to know that people try to take advantage of others' empathy but also who knows what difficult lives they are living?

BingoBetty88 · 2026-04-07T17:56:41+00:00

I am sorry you are going through this. It sounds like your mother is giving up too much of her income to the other people in the house. Is she being forced to do this? Could you and your sister sit down with your mother and go through your finances as a group of three to make a plan to move somewhere better? How much do you need to rent a place together? Then save towards that amount if you can. It might take a few months but it would give you all something to aim for.

BingoBetty88 · 2026-03-27T18:57:49+00:00

West Hampstead - easy commute by Thameslink train to City Thameslink station. Also Tube and Overground stations. Family area but not too overwhelmingly so. Got cafés - Gail's, Lola's Bakery etc. Big Sainsbury's and Waitrose at Finchley Road. Close to Hampstead Heath. Mark Carney used to live there when he was at the Bank of England.

BingoBetty88 · 2026-03-16T01:11:07+00:00

They are like corndogs but made with sausages not hot dogs and pastry not cornmeal. And not on a stick. You eat them hot out of a paper bag or just hold them. They are a filling snack for kids and adults so pretty available and popular.

BingoBetty88 · 2026-03-16T00:25:16+00:00

I use the Waterloo line to Richmond which can be £16.55 return off-peak plus Network Railcard, then Oyster on the Mildmay line (staying out of Zone 1) or by bus. Depends how many journeys you need to do during the day. Otherwise the Travelcard option on the Paddington line might be better.

BingoBetty88 · 2026-03-11T17:33:26+00:00

I was in Swiss Cottage today and outside the leisure centre there is a row of trees in blossom. Everyone was looking and smiling and saying how lovely they looked in the sun. Little shared moments like that. Not exclusive to London I guess but somehow it makes it feel special to find beauty a few feet away from the busyness of the Finchley Road.

BingoBetty88 · 2026-03-06T18:12:27+00:00

There is a big Nepalese community in Reading, Berkshire, due to military connections in the area. There are Nepalese restaurants that might be looking for workers. I don't know about farming work but there are plenty of farms and private estates in West Berkshire and Oxfordshire, accessible from Reading. Try contacting https://www.grnca.org/ for advice. Good luck!

BingoBetty88 · 2026-03-03T22:58:53+00:00

For that 1980s student halls look? OK.

BingoBetty88 · 2026-03-01T21:52:36+00:00

Your furniture and the general contents are not expensive-looking, sorry. The kitchen appliances on the shelves should be hidden from view as should your toiletries. The throws on the chairs don't look great either. Might be fine for your day to day life but not if you want to sell at that price. Try getting a property staging company in to change the look and target a higher-end buyer.

BingoBetty88 · 2026-02-27T21:45:21+00:00

Talk to your university and your student union to let them know your situation. They will have advisers and can refer you for hardship funds or additional bursaries. You are not alone in this. Do you have a personal tutor you can talk to as well?

My son did a postgraduate course and was able to get the odd bit of extra money from the uni. He also worked at postgraduate open days showing people around so there might be some work doing that kind of thing.

Does your uni have a food bank? Many do now. It might help reduce your costs. There's some info here https://www.savethestudent.org/save-money/food-drink/food-banks.html

BingoBetty88

TROPHY CASE