Latest news with #singlemum
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
I wake up to an empty fridge wondering how I'll feed my kids, so started a GoFundMe – trolls say get a grip & work more
A SINGLE mum has been left broken as she struggles to put food on the table for her children. After leaving her relationship, the mum from Newcastle in the UK, was now asking strangers to help her pay for the food shop. 2 2 The mum, who hasn't shared her name on social media decided to put up a GoFundMe to help feed her family. While many people have been generous and have offered to help her out, others have told her to go to work to pay her way. In the clip, the mum opened up her practically empty fridge. Inside were a couple of bottles of squash, some butter, potatoes, cabbage and milk. After leaving her husband, she and her kids had been put in temporary accommodation and were struggling to make ends meet. The desperate mum said: "I can't live another day like this waking up every morning thinking how I'm going to feed my kids "I wish I never left, I wish I stayed. "I'm broken, completely broken." The mum's GoFundMe page had been shared to her social media account and she was hoping to raise £300 to pay for essential needs. She also revealed she had recently lost her job, which had put her in even further financial struggle. I'm a mum of two and get a £1.7k Universal Credit payday each month people hate me as they work 40 hours a week for the same The clip was posted to her TikTok account @ and it went viral with over 337k views and 2,700 likes. People were quick to share their thoughts in the comments section. While many empathised with the mum and offered help, some told her to get a job if she needed more cash. One person wrote: "What's wrong with going to food bank like?" How to save money on your food shop Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save hundreds of pounds a year: Odd boxes - plenty of retailers offer slightly misshapen fruit and veg or surplus food at a discounted price. Lidl sells five kilos of fruit and veg for just £1.50 through its Waste Not scheme while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go bags which contain £10 worth of all kinds of products for £3.30. Sainsbury's also sells £2 "Taste Me, Don't Waste Me" fruit and veg boxes to help shoppers reduced food waste and save cash. Food waste apps - food waste apps work by helping shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses shift stock that is due to go out of date and passing it on to members of the public. Some of the most notable ones include Too Good to Go and Olio. Too Good to Go's app is free to sign up to and is used by millions of people across the UK, letting users buy food at a discount. Olio works similarly, except users can collect both food and other household items for free from neighbours and businesses. Yellow sticker bargains - yellow sticker bargains, sometimes orange and red in certain supermarkets, are a great way of getting food on the cheap. But what time to head out to get the best deals varies depending on the retailer. You can see the best times for each supermarket here. Super cheap bargains - sign up to bargain hunter Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK where shoppers regularly post hauls they've found on the cheap, including food finds. "Downshift" - you will almost always save money going for a supermarket's own-brand economy lines rather than premium brands. The move to lower-tier ranges, also known as "downshifting" and hailed by consumer expert Martin Lewis, could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your food shop. Another commented: 'I'm skint too, I have children too! I have 2 days off in 22 days due to picking up extra! Then on annual leave and still picked up bank to survive, half term and spent no time with my children! Can we also get a GoFundMe page! Absolute f**king madness like! We're all struggling!!!! It's life! Work more!!!!" "My fridge is the same, a lot of people in this country are struggling," penned a third. Meanwhile a fourth said: "Life's tough, I get by on a packet of noodles each day, so I can give my kids more, things will get better." "Do what most people do, get a job, anything to put food on the table for your kids,' claimed a fifth. Someone else added: 'Can the food bank help? I can try and help send some essentials."
The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Fat jabs gave me Ozempic face with sagging cheeks and thin lips – but I've found solution WITHOUT fillers
LOOKING at my reflection in the mirror, I felt delighted to see my petite size 8 figure once again. But as I glanced up to my face, the gaunt woman staring back at me came as a shock. 10 After having skin cancer treatment in 2019 and becoming a single mum in lockdown, I'd gone from 7st to 13st in four years. So I recently turned to weight loss jabs to regain my former shape. I didn't regret it, but the side effect – ' Ozempic face' – as seen on celebrities like Sharon Osborne, wasn't something I'd bargained on. I was 38 years old, but my sunken cheeks, gaunt eyes and thin lips had aged me overnight. One relative had helpfully pointed out my new 'jowls' at a family gathering, while strangers on X told me I looked like a drug addict or permanently unwell. I would be lying if I said it didn't hurt. When I first gained weight, it didn't bother me at first. Yes, none of my clothes fitted me my 5ft 4ins frame any more, but I was simply grateful to be alive for my daughter Mabel, now seven. My mind was taken up with getting through my separation from her dad and surviving the pandemic. Baking banana bread was more of a priority than working out. But as the trauma of my illness and break-up eased, I realised I wanted to feel like my old self again and ditch the stretchy leggings I had become so attached to. In December 2023, I headed back to the gym four times a week and tried to eat less – but the weight was slow to drop off. Some weeks I didn't lose anything, despite trying so hard. It didn't help that medication I was taking for OCD [Obsessive Compulsive Disorder] was an appetite stimulant. But stopping that wasn't an option. After speaking to an online pharmacist I decided to try the jabs, which cost £179 a month. Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines. I had a false start with Saxenda, which gave me stomach pains, before settling into using Mounjaro in June 2024. Over a 12-month period, I dropped back down to a size 8, without any of the anticipated stretch marks or loose skin. It felt great to wear my old clothes again. But while I didn't love how my body looked at 13st, I preferred the appearance of my face compared to when I was skinny. DRAMATIC CHANGE It had fullness and shape, my skin glowed and there were barely any wrinkles. I was dismayed by the dramatic change that came with slimming down and knew that no amount of 'miracle' skincare potions would ease the deep lines either side of my mouth, loss of volume in my cheeks, or the dark circles under my eyes. For the first time ever, my skin felt crepey and dull, plus everything below my cheeks had dropped that little bit further south. I considered more jabs to help and spent hours researching cheek fillers, nasolabial fold treatments and those skin rejuvenators that can bring back volume. Some of the before-and-after photos online looked amazing. But realistically, I knew I'd be lucky to walk out of a decent clinic with any change from £1,000. And even then, it would not be a permanent solution. I don't regret the jabs one bit. Now I'm back to a healthy weight, I have more energy and confidence. At the same time, it's not shallow to want to feel good when I look in the mirror. If makeup can help me restore my pride when I see my reflection and make the best of what I've got, it will be a much cheaper fix – and easier for a busy single mum to recreate at home. Follow the six simple steps TOP makeup artist Aimee Adams reveals the tricks she used to transform Rebecca's look – and how others can use them to counter the signs of 'Ozempic face' START WITH THE SKIN Opt for products that contain collagen and hyaluronic acid, to restore brightness and improve the tone. Make-up isn't Botox, but working from as healthy a base as possible will make the best of what you have. Nip+Fab Hyaluronic Fix Extreme4 Jelly Eye Patches are perfect for an instant boost (£19.95 for 20 pairs, Boots). TIME TO SHINE Your base needs to reflect the light away from those grey hollows, so avoid heavy matt foundations and concealers. I like Sculpted by Aimee HydraTint Moisturising Tinted Serum (£20, Boots) and Jane Iredale Smooth Affair Brightening Face Primer (£44, Amazon) to get a dewy feel. KEEP AWAY FROM THE KARDASHIANS It might work for Kim and co, but contouring will only make you look more gaunt. Opt for a classic pink or peach cream blusher that isn't too oily on the apples of your cheeks instead, to add fullness and a flush of youth. Water-based Delilah In Bloom Radiant Liquid Blush in Tiger Lilly (£23, Next) is perfect, set in place with a blush powder. GO FOR GOLD A smokey eye won't make your eyes pop if they are looking sunken. Choose a golden eyeshadow to counteract it and add brightness, with a soft and smudgable brown eyeliner. Finish with a couple of little lash extensions on the outsides to open things up, curl them and add a coat of Avon Exxtravert Extreme Volume Mascara (£9.50, Avon). Fill out those brows too, with Merit Beauty 1990 Ultra Fine Eyebrow Gel Pencil (£21, Sephora). BE NATURAL A bold liner and lipstick is overkill and will seem fake. Choose a shade similar to your real lip colour if you really want to add volume, like e.l.f Love Triangle Lip Filler Liner in Soft Pink (£4, plus a dewy or glossy finish. If you want more extreme results, try PS Plumping Lip Serum (£3, Primark) – it can sting, but the difference is noticeable. SET AND MATCH Makeup can gather in the lines of your skin unless you set it properly after applying. Sprays are popular, but a powder is longer-lasting and works well with creamier makeup, if used sparingly. You don't want it to become cakey. I'm a fan of English Mineral Makeup Fairy Godmother (£59, I LOVED the way Aimee transformed my face, making me look younger, healthier and less tired. The under eyes were my favourite part – I couldn't believe how she got rid of those dark circles. I've learned that the best approach is not to go heavy, especially with contour, which is a surprise given how obsessed makeup influencers are with this technique. I'm definitely going to ditch it for a peach blusher and also swap my usual matte lipstick for a gloss. This will be so much more affordable than aesthetic treatments – and fun to do.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Driving instructors say rising prices are fair - but learners can't keep up
Paige Williams is desperate to pass her driving test. Her three-year-old son sometimes has "meltdowns" on public transport, where he might scream, cry or throw himself on the floor, she says. She just wants to be able to visit family and go on day trips more easily. But the 28-year-old single mum, from Barnsley, is having to drastically cut back on how much she spends on food, gas and electricity to be able to afford her £35-an-hour lessons, which she's been having since September. "It's literally scrimping and scraping to be able to manage to get one lesson a week," she says. As the cost of driving lessons continues to rise alongside an already high cost of living, experiences like Paige's may be becoming increasingly common. The BBC has spoken to more than a dozen learners and parents of learners who say they're frustrated by how much they have to pay - and also to instructors who argue that the prices are justified. Driving instructors can charge what they like, and the DVSA does not release official statistics on average lesson costs. But a DVSA survey completed by more than 5,000 approved driving instructors (ADIs) in September shows how prices have shot up in recent years. In the survey, the most common price bracket for an hour lesson was £36 to £40 per hour. Just 31.5% of driving instructors said they charged £35 or less per hour - that number had halved since the DVSA's June 2023 survey. While 20.8% said they charged more than £40 an hour - nearly triple as many as in June 2023. For many people, driving is essential for taking their kids to school, going to work or carrying out caring responsibilities. Public transport might be unaffordable, inaccessible or simply not available for some people. Two-thirds of people in Great Britain who commute to work drive in, and 45% of five-to-10 year olds are taken to school by car, Department for Transport figures from 2023 show. Faustina Kamara, a 23-year-old in Birmingham, needs a licence for her dream job - being a runner in the media industry. But the £60 cost of her two-hour driving lessons means she's only having them once a fortnight, which isn't as frequently as she'd like, and means it will delay when she can take her test. She says she'd love to have lessons weekly but it would mean she'd have to cut back on spending money seeing her friends. Other people also say that the high cost of driving lessons means it's taking them longer to learn to drive. Rather than having the two lessons a week she would have liked, Sandra Onuora, a 30-year-old civil servant in Newcastle, had three per month until she passed her test in March. "That was all I could afford," she says. And even then, "I had to take a lot of money from my savings" for her £39-an-hour lessons, she adds. Because she had to space out her lessons more, she had to wait longer until she felt ready to take her test. She'd spend hours every week travelling between her home, her son's childminder's and her office, taking six buses every weekday. "It was a rough year," says Sandra. She would return home "so exhausted". And just as driving lessons become more expensive, some learners are also finding they're having to take more of them. That's because of a huge practical test backlog, which means learners are having to take lessons for longer to keep up their skills. Keith Rose hasn't been able to book a driving test near where he lives in Bridgwater, Somerset, for his 17-year-old son, Brandon. The best option he could find is an hour's drive away in Newport, Wales, and isn't until September. Keith says that his son is ready to take his test, but will need to keep taking lessons at a cost of £76 for a two-hour session to maintain his skills. "We're being forced into spending money that we don't need to," Keith says. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has acknowledged that waiting times for tests are too long and pledged to reduce the average waiting time for a driving test to no more than seven weeks by summer 2026. Instructors say that they have little choice but to charge these kind of rates if they want to make a profit. "Prices for driving lessons are where they should be, having been probably under-priced for many years," says Stewart Lochrie, the owner of a driving school in Glasgow and chair of the Approved Driving Instructors National Joint Council (ADINJ). "I think the price was overdue a reset." Stewart notes that the UK's more than 41,000 approved driving instructors are having to pay more for the expenses associated with their jobs like buying or leasing a car, fuel, insurance and maintenance. "We have costs to cover as well and if the things that we need to run our business go up, then our prices will have to go up as well," he says. The rising price of lessons "isn't really translating to a pay increase in our pockets," adds Terry Edwards, a driving instructor in Ashford, Kent. His expenses include around £280 a month on fuel, £135 on insurance and £440 on car payments. Other costs include servicing, repairing and cleaning his car. Terry charges £39 an hour, but offers a discount for buying in bulk. While customers "don't generally push back" against his prices, some "try and be a bit cheeky" and ask for discounts, he says. For Amy Burnett, a pharmacy advisor in Glasgow, the prices are so high that she's avoiding learning for the time being. The only instructors she'd found with availability charge between £50 and £60 an hour, she says. "I'm living pay cheque to pay cheque as it is," the 22-year-old says. But she sees being able to drive as an investment in her future - she'd have more freedom and she's had to limit her previous job searches to roles accessible by public transport, she says. Amy hopes to pass her test by the time she's 24 - if she can find a more affordable instructor with availability in her area, she says. Paige, the mum in Barnsley, is sure her frugality will be worth it in the end. Being able to drive would make it much easier for her to return to work, she says. And it would make journeys with her son much less stressful, she says. Most of all, she wants to take her two children to the seaside. "It'd be so good for my son Ronald, with his sensory needs," Paige says. "Getting to go on the little arcade rides and seeing his little face would be lovely." 'I was 11,000th in the queue': Learner drivers struggle with test backlog 'I passed my driving test at 74 - it was now or never' Driving instructor gives car to pupil with new son
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I'm a single mum of 3 & go on holidays multiple times a year with my kids – I work 16 hours a week, here's how I do it
A SINGLE mum of three has revealed how she still manages to go on holiday multiple times a year despite only working 16 hours a week. The woman, who has three boys aged two, four and five, is not on any benefits except Child Benefits of £200 a month. But she believes anyone can do it, and it's simple. Taking to her TikTok page ' 3kids3andunder ', the mum explained that she manages to afford the holidays as she makes it a priority. She explained that she doesn't stay in a 'big fancy house', 'drive a brand new car' or wear designer clothes 'all the time.' The mum acknowledges that eventually, they'll need to move into a bigger house, but right now, 'when the boys are happy and I'm happy there's no point.' This means she can keep their monthly expenses as low as possible and have more disposable income. However, she also explained that this doesn't mean her boys go without. They do swimming lessons, football, gymnastics, scouts and taekwondo. But she tries to save money on materialistic things, like not buying physical items, and instead saves for experiences. She said: 'The boys have caught onto that and they're 100% up for that as well. 'If you ask them if they want to go for a day out or get a new toy, they'll always choose a day out.' Cheapest family holiday destinations for summer 2025 revealed The mum explained that she was 'lucky' and managed to travel a lot before she had the boys, which is why she wants to be able to show them that there's more to the world than just their hometown. The mum understands that some people are struggling and won't be able to do the same but said: 'if you can cut your expenses and go on more holidays, I 100% recommend it.' Her video received 39.3k views and 256 comments after being shared for six days. One asked: 'Do you live with your parents because there is no way you can live on 16 hours a week wage.' 2 To which the mum replied: 'No, I have my own place.' Another said: 'No, if you work 16 hours with children you can still get universal credit, plus if you're in a council property they pay your rent and council tax as well.' But the TikTok mum replied: 'I have my own mortgage and don't qualify for UC.' Someone else said: 'This literally all comes down to how much you earn. To not qualify for any UC, you are earning a certain amount and I assume you have a lowish mortgage. 'Good for you for making it work, working part-time. Interested to know what your job is.' How much is child benefit worth? THERE are two child benefit rates, one for the eldest child and another for younger children. You get £21.15 per week for your eldest or only child (£1099.80 a year) You get £14 for each of your other children (£728 per year, per child) You get the money for each child under 16 (or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training) If families split up, how much you'll get for each child depends on how you claim. If you have 2 children and one stays with you and the other stays with your ex-partner, you'll both get £21.15 a week for each child. If one parent claims for all the children, you get £21.15 for the eldest and £14 for each younger child. Only one household can claim for each child
The Sun
14-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
I'm a single mum-of-4 & only do the ‘big shop' once a year to save THOUSANDS – here's 31 bargains I stock up on
A SINGLE mum has shared how she saves thousands of pounds by stockpiling. The mum-of-four took to social media sharing her yearly shop that saves her cash and the 31 budget buys she swears by. 2 2 In the clip she said: "Doing a one-year household stockpile as a single mum-of-four on a budget." Her preferred shop seemed to be Sainsbury's. "I buy things mainly on offer," the mum revealed adding that the total cost of her haul was £300. The first thing she bought was their own-beand toilet roll for just £1.44 a pack with her Nectar card. To keep the kids fed in the morning she bought several boxes of the Multigrain Hoops cereal for 85p each. Next was a shelf of their 40p baked beans for easy sides to dinners and lunches. The mum bought the own-brand washing-up liquid for 85p, which she also used as antibacterial spray. The savvy shopper stocked up on toiletries including Nature Source shower gel as it was on offer for 2 for £2 as well as Colgate toothpaste for £1, panty liners for £1.60, shampoo for 79p, conditioner and hand soap for 59p. But she wasn't done there, she also made sure her pantry was fully stocked up too. She bulk-bought black beans, rice, salt, ketchup, BBQ sauce, spaghetti, chopped tomatoes, olive oil, sugar, biscuits, mayonnaise, coconut oil, and long-life milk. I'm an Irish mum & I feed my family of six for three days with €26 shop Black bags, washing up sponges, cotton wool, dishwasher tablets and some bottled water were also stocked up on. She also purchased baby wipes and nappy pants which the mum said were better than branded ones for just £3.59. Finishing the video, the mum said: "Everything will last 3 to 12 months. It saves me thousands by shopping like this and brings down my weekly shop to about £50 a week." The clip has gone viral on her TikTok account @ mummybudgets with over 253k views and people were quick to praise the mum for her budgeting skills. How to save money on your food shop Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save hundreds of pounds a year: Odd boxes - plenty of retailers offer slightly misshapen fruit and veg or surplus food at a discounted price. Lidl sells five kilos of fruit and veg for just £1.50 through its Waste Not scheme while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go bags which contain £10 worth of all kinds of products for £3.30. Sainsbury's also sells £2 "Taste Me, Don't Waste Me" fruit and veg boxes to help shoppers reduced food waste and save cash. Food waste apps - food waste apps work by helping shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses shift stock that is due to go out of date and passing it on to members of the public. Some of the most notable ones include Too Good to Go and Olio. Too Good to Go's app is free to sign up to and is used by millions of people across the UK, letting users buy food at a discount. Olio works similarly, except users can collect both food and other household items for free from neighbours and businesses. Yellow sticker bargains - yellow sticker bargains, sometimes orange and red in certain supermarkets, are a great way of getting food on the cheap. But what time to head out to get the best deals varies depending on the retailer. You can see the best times for each supermarket here. Super cheap bargains - sign up to bargain hunter Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK where shoppers regularly post hauls they've found on the cheap, including food finds. "Downshift" - you will almost always save money going for a supermarket's own-brand economy lines rather than premium brands. The move to lower-tier ranges, also known as "downshifting" and hailed by consumer expert Martin Lewis, could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your food shop. One person wrote: "This is amazing if you have the space to do it!" Another commented: 'Covid taught me that I should have had a stockpile. Well done for planning ahead." "I second the Sainsbury's nappies. Tried all the supermarket ones & pampers, none compare to them," penned a third. Meanwhile, a fourth said: "I did my first ever stockpile just on cleaning products back in October as Tesco had 3 for 2 cross cleaning. Still stocked on washing up liquid and laundry. Makes my food shop feel cheaper." "I do similar to this a month and it honestly saves so much. I should try and do like you for the year,' claimed a fifth.
