Skipping bills to buy food

When the cost of living rises faster than your income, everyday choices can quickly turn into painful decisions, and few feel harder than deciding between choosing food over bills. Many people in the UK are now in this position, or waking up to the reality that they can’t afford food or pay bills. This is more than just a budget issue –  it’s a crisis of dignity, of security, of survival.

If you’re facing this dilemma, know this – you are not alone, and there are steps you can take right now to help protect yourself and those you care about.

Why this happens

We often talk about ‘cost of living’ in abstract numbers – price rises in energy, fuel, food – but for individuals it becomes deeply personal. As household budgets shrink, many find that unavoidable expenses like mortgage or rent, energy, water, council tax and insurance leave very little room for food.

Debt repayments, especially on credit cards or loans, can compound the issue: when your priority payments are almost entirely consumed by debt, there’s often nothing left for essentials. That’s exactly how people end up feeling forced into choosing food over bills.

You might also face irregular or reduced income, delays in benefits, or unexpected costs, such as a broken boiler, a medical bill, or car repairs. Together, these pressures can leave you in a position where you simply can’t afford both food and bills.

Steps you can take to protect yourself and your household

When you’re at the point of a real crisis, taking action early is vital. Here’s what you can do immediately:

1. Secure emergency food first

• Visit your local food bank. You may need a referral from a GP, housing office, Citizens Advice or a debt advice service.
• Check for community kitchens, food clubs or pantries in your area. Many operate on a ‘no questions asked’ basis.
• Contact your local council to ask about welfare assistance or household support funds (some councils offer supermarket vouchers or food parcel schemes). If you have children, look into free school meal or holiday meal programmes the council or charities may run.

2. Contact your utility and service providers 

Explain your situation and ask for hardship support, payment plans or temporary relief. Some energy, water or broadband providers have funds or schemes to help customers in crisis.

3. Check your benefit entitlement

You might be missing income that could make a difference. Look into Universal Credit, legacy benefits, Housing Benefit, or support schemes like Healthy Start (for families with young children).

4. Prioritise essentials including food, housing and utilities

While it feels impossible, list all your income and essential costs (rent, energy, council tax, food). See what (if anything) is left to allocate to other payments. 

Ways to stretch what you have

Once immediate needs are addressed, you can take steps to reduce costs and manage your budget more sustainably:

• Plan meals in advance and batch cook

This helps avoid waste, reduces last‑minute expensive purchases, and ensures you always have something on hand.

• Buy low‐cost, filling staples

Think dried pasta, rice, pulses, frozen vegetables, tinned goods. These often cost less per meal.

• Shop at discount or ‘reduced price’ sections
  Many supermarkets mark down items nearing their ‘use by’ date.
• Switch or review utility providers
  Contact your utility providers to negotiate or switch your energy, water or broadband tariff. 
• Cut non‑essentials

This may be challenging, but subscriptions, takeaways, premium TV packages and non‑urgent travel are areas to review first.

• Adopt a simple budgeting framework

For instance, the 50‑30‑20 rule (50 % essentials, 30 % wants, 20 % saving/debt) can give structure to your spending. 

When debt is the root issue, don’t wait to get help

If the reason you can’t afford both food and bills is that debt repayments swallow your income, then you need to protect essentials first and seek professional help.

At MoneyPlus, our advisers can review your full financial picture and help you explore solutions like:

• Debt Management Plans (DMPs) – Consolidate unsecured repayments into a manageable monthly amount. 
• Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs) – A structured arrangement allowing you to pay what you can, often with some debt written off after a fixed period.

It’s never too late to act. Even if you’ve already fallen behind, speaking to a regulated debt adviser can halt fees, interest or creditor escalation. You can also visit MoneyHelper for free, impartial debt advice. 

Your next steps

At MoneyPlus, our aim is to help you move forward. When you first speak to us, we’ll:

• Listen without judgment
• Ask about your income, outgoings and debts
• Prioritise essentials (food, housing, utilities)
• Suggest realistic, sustainable options.

Making a choice between food and bills can be emotionally draining. Many feel shame or embarrassment to seek help. But the truth is, you’re not alone. Feeling ashamed to ask for money advice is a common feeling. Talking through your situation with someone you trust, a helpline or a debt adviser can lighten the burden. Contact Moneyplus today.