How people in Leicester are making ends meet
Figures from the Office for National Statistic (ONS) show the cost of living is at its highest rate in 10 years, which is largely down to rising fuel and energy costs.
Inflation is now at 5.1%, the highest level since September 2011, which according to the ONS is above forecasts.
Its chief economist Grant Fitzner said more expensive fuel, energy, clothing and second hand cars were big factors.
As part of a new series looking how people are Making Ends Meet - 5 Live has been speaking to people in Leicester about whether they're seeing an impact on their bills.
The Government said they’re helping people with the cost of living by raising the National Living Wage, supporting with childcare costs and fuel bills as well as helping those on benefits access free broadband and cheaper travel.
It has said that from this month, nearly two million families will also get an extra £1,000 a year on average through Universal Credit taper changes.
For the most vulnerable who need further support, we also launched a £500m Household Support Fund to help with the cost of everyday essentials.
‘Our accounts were empty’
Donna lost her cleaning business during the pandemic and her husband lost his job. She said it was a difficult time for them financially.
“In the pandemic we sold cars, we sold our motorbikes, we sold jewellery until we had nothing left and our accounts were empty,” she said.
“Then the government helped us and we got £750 a month to pay our mortgage our council tax and everything else.”
Donna and her family turned to a food bank for help, which inspired her to set one up in her local area.
“I started with eight people a week four months ago and now help 30 people a week,” she said.
Her husband now has a full-time job, but the couple are still seeing costs going up, especially around Christmas.
“We’ve still got some debt we owe. Obviously, debt, heating electric energy bills have gone up… my heating is massive so with me and my son being at home, it’s really a lot of money at the moment.
“This year is all about preloved toys. My son is one year old, I don't need to go and spend a fortune for him to have a nice Christmas so that’s what we’re doing. All about preloved and getting the most from our money that we can.”
‘We’re afraid of customer’s reactions’
Yagmur runs a kebab restaurant and said they’ve seen prices go up.
“At the minute it's hard and I think it's going to get harder,” she said. “Since the start of covid, we have seen a change of prices throughout all our wholesales - butchers, packaging, everything.
“We got a call today, they told us that there’s going to be a price increase of 45%. That was packaging alone.”
She says they’ve had to put up prices before and are worried they’ll have to do it again.
“We’re afraid of the customers reactions here. Not all customers are happy with the price increase but there’s only so much we can do.” She said. “We’ve already increased prices once but the feedback wasn’t good, so we’ve had to pay supplies out of our own pockets.
“We’re always out there trying to look for cheaper prices, but it’s the same everywhere.”
‘My electricity has run out’
Ola spoke to 5 Live at St Peters Church in Leicester about the difficult financial decisions she’s having to make.
“When I go shopping I put it in my basket and when I get to the till I debate whether I'm going to get it,” she said. “I’ll see the price rise up and ask if I really want it or if I need it.
“Today I have to go and buy extra electric because my electric has run out. It used to last longer but not now.
“Once your electric goes, your fridge freezer is going to go off, you can’t do washing, no lights, no television, and I’m at that point now. It’s not gone completely off but we’re running on emergency and I have to buy some today.”
She says she doesn’t have any spare capacity to deal with any other costs.
“Nothing else can come up now. I have to just get what I need. Electric I need that. But if anything, food would go by the wayside.”
‘Christmas is expensive’
Paula was at the New Parks Community Centre and said her family is cutting back to deal with rising costs.
“It’s hard. I’ve got seven children and they’re all at home. Christmas is expensive. My partner works full time, I work part time but it’s still a struggle. It really, really is,” she said.
“I need at least £150-200 a week for my household - that’s without gas, without electric, without anything like that. Just to feed my household.”
She said she’s had to speak to her children about getting rid of any luxuries to pay the bills.
“They’re now on pay as you go, [they] get it when I can afford to pay for it, but I can’t do [their] contracts anymore. Netflix, we can’t pay it this month so that’s got to go, it’s just things like that.”
‘I don’t go out much anymore’
20-year-old Calvin is a police trainee and said he’s stopped going out as much to save money to leave home.
"The plan was [to leave home] by the time I was 20, it's quite ambitious, but I’ve been working since I was 15.”
He said he’s had to adjust his expectations for when he can move out of his parents’ house.
“I don’t go out much anymore, partly due to my shifts, but partly due to being a little bit tight with money,” he said.
I think from moving out at 20, it’s changed to 25 and then obviously I’ve got hopes of getting married, but Punjabi weddings are expensive so maybe by the time I’m 30 I’ll be able to do that.”
