A cash-strapped family were forced to rely on a food bank after school uniform costs swallowed their cash for groceries.
Paul Hemming and his partner, who survive on Universal Credit payments, said the extra £200 outgoings meant the family faced going hungry until benefits day.
Unemployed Mr Hemming, from Shelly Oak in Birmingham, bought his 14-year-old step-daughter a whole new uniform, shoes, and boots before she returned to school last week.
He told BirminghamLive the cost left him with nothing from his £752-a-month benefits forcing the family to resort to the help of the B30 Food Bank in Cotteridge.
Fortunately, they were deemed eligible for a food voucher and a vital parcel from the Trussell Trust charity.
Mr Hemming said: "We had to pay out £200 for her new school uniform - she's grown out of the last one.
"Now we have no money for food. It's gone down quicker than it should have because the littlun just eats what she wants!
"We've got £100 left until the benefit comes in, but we have other bills to come out before then."
The family are no stranger to the food bank and have had to rely on the services three times after falling on hard times.
Paul added: "My skills are in catering, but I was working part time as a cleaner. My contract was terminated so now we're on Universal Credit. We've found it ok, it's a bit of a squeeze, but we make it work.
"We just have to budget and go to Aldi, buy the own brand instead. I've been cooking for 20 years so I can make anything out of the food we have usually."
The B30 Food Bank, run from the Cotteridge Church at 24 Pershore Road, was set up in 2013 and operates every Tuesday and Friday from 2.30pm.
Anyone who has a food voucher, handed out by a range of agencies, including Universal Credit, doctors, probation officers, community psychiatric nurses etc, is eligible for a food parcel.
On arrival at the charity, the struggling guests are also fed with a hot meal, drinks and biscuits. Inside a parcel, visitors will receive long-life milk, canned meat, tinned fruit, rice, pasta, ready-made sauces, soup, cereal, tea/coffee and more.
