How do you live on £64 a week??

By Redundantista | Wednesday, August 05, 2009, 14:16

So, it's 3 months now since I was made redundant and I'm just wondering how anyone else is coping on the JSA (Job Seekers Allowance)?

I'm not complaining, we're lucky to have this option when things get bad (I've been working for over 15 years since college so this is a new experience for me (and one which I don't want to repeat...) ) but I just wondered if there's anything else out there I'm missing??

Just my bills, gas, elec, water, insurance, phone etc... (fortunately, I've no credit cards etc..) come to £130 a month which leaves me with the same to live on for food and travel... I'm obviously using some of my savings to live on but with my 102nd job application just sent out and only 1 interview, so far, to my name, I'm just wondering how anyone else in the same position is coping??

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If I am on my own, paying rent £560 a month for a 2 rooms, I would be starved to death by now. Thanx god for husbands!!!! I moved here from London and did not have a job for 4 months. Never was on JSA before and took me about 10 weeks to gather the courage and apply. I found job few weeks later so was on JSA for 6weeks only. I was cooking from scratch, skipping breakfast and drinking lot of tea!!! One of my favourite recipes is pasta with boiled potatoes, chopped onion fried with oil and butter and LOT of paprika, mixed together, seasoned and served with gherkins. Sounds probably strange, but is tasty, cheap and quick. Worth a try, now it's my husband favourite meal!!!
And I do think there should be change in legislation, surely working people in need deserve more than lazy chavs on benefits, who never worked, don't want and never will work!!!

By user77 at 16:21 on 24/09/09
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I think that's the problem isn't it, essentially. Too many people down here with 'City' experience. When we relocated originally, there were very few jobs to choose from anyway - and now it's even worse. I read an article in a National, saying that lots of people who relocated to the West Country are having to move back to London because there just isn't the work any more, and freelance doesn't work either. We need more networking events.

By blackandblue1 at 23:07 on 12/08/09
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Maybe all of us on the 'JSA Nutrition Plan' should collaborate on a recipe book??? I have a mean chilli recipe that will last for 3 days in one guise or another!

Rockwell, I'm an Executive Assistant - unfortunately there are too few jobs down here and too many of us chasing them... Do you have any good, value recipes??

By Redundantista at 21:04 on 10/08/09
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I spoke to a local friend who's on job seekers allowance and she said she's getting by just by eating toast for dinner in the evening. She made a valid point, if you've got pets, you have extra financial burdens and so you sometimes have to just cut down on what you're spending on food in a week. If anyone has ideas for healthy, cheap ways to eat, share them here!

By ALGrace at 13:57 on 08/08/09
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most old folk have to manage on less - not sure how
that will be me one day!!!
maybe a lot of us - if bills go on rising
maybe we should all rise up and protest

By redgingeranne at 19:09 on 07/08/09
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