'A year ago it wasn’t that bad. I could spend about €100 and it would last two weeks or so. Now, even switching to the own-brands and the special offers it’s €140.' Photograph: Angela Weiss/AFPThe “worst feeling in the world” says ‘Kimberley’ “is feeling you are not doing enough for your kids”.
For herself and her children, she receives just under €300 a week, plus €280 a month in child benefit. Renting with the support of the housing assistance payment , she pays differential rent to her local authority and a €95 “top-up” to her landlord monthly. “A year ago it wasn’t that bad. I could spend about €100 and it would last two weeks or so. Now, even switching to the own-brands and the special offers it’s €140.
She is worried about the winter, especially heating bills. “I have storage heating, that is why my bills are so high.”