“We don’t want handouts, I just want to pay a reasonable price for my gas”: Salford residents voice their financial struggles on the cost of living crisis

Salford locals have expressed their fears over increasing bills and some are already turning off the heating and using blankets to stay warm.

The cost-of-living crisis has led to one in three people spending at least half of their household income on rent. Even with the bursary granted by the government to help with covering bills, some locals in Salford are still struggling.

Zoe, who is a local carer said: “I’m a carer for my parents, ones got lung cancer and the other can’t walk. With my bills I’m managing terribly, I’m just about getting by. To keep my energy bills down I haven’t been cooking as much and I’ve been keeping the lights off. We haven’t been using the central heating but it’s just something that we’re going to have to put up with.”

Catherine, who is retired and from Salford, hasn’t been using the central heating, instead wrapping up with blankets in the living room to stay warm.

She said: “We’re not asking for handouts; we don’t want handouts. I just want to pay a reasonable price for my gas and electric. We’re not just thinking ‘because we’re old now we want all this money’.

“We want to be able to pay our own bills and not be worried. We’re having to go into loads of different shops now just to save a couple of pence but that little amount is making a big difference for us at the moment.”

Wayne, a local busker, said: “It’s a bit difficult for everyone really isn’t it? I’ve been having baths at 8’oclock at night because the tariff is cheaper and I haven’t been using the heating anywhere near as much. Even the cost of a pint of milk has nearly doubled so I’m having to travel to different shops to get different things instead of doing it all at one place.”

The scheme granted by the government ensures that people who are claiming state benefits such as income-based Job Seekers Allowance or child tax credit, can get a two-instalment payment of £650 to cover the excess in bills payments.

John, a retired engineer, said: “When I go into the supermarkets, I am noticing a difference and it’s not just a couple of pence. It went from twenty pounds, to thirty pounds, forty pounds and now it’s just going mad.”

“The money that the government are giving out can help a lot with this but it depends on what people do with it. If they go and sit in Wetherspoons all day then that’s no good is it? I mean, how many people are putting all of that in their meter? I live off my pension so I’m doing alright but people just have to be more careful with the money.”

Rafsan, a local Doctor, said: “My gas has doubled since all of this and it’s been quite tough to manage the cost of my bills. In my case, I’ve been using busses and other public transport such as trains, and I’ll only use my car a couple times a week.

“This allows me to have more money left over, so my bills don’t cost so much. I have to be more careful now with my food shops. Usually, I’ll do all of my shopping for the month at any shop, but now because of how expensive it all is, I do it once week and I try to prepare and cook all of my meals.”

Households in Salford and across the UK may notice their everyday costs changing soon as a result of the Autumn Statement made by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. Mr Hunt said the measures released on Thursday would create a stronger, fairer United Kingdom.