'The poor are getting poorer': How cost of living is impacting those at the bottom

There was some relief today for those on the lowest incomes as the government confirmed they would raise benefits in line with inflation.

But there were warnings that people will still suffer the largest fall in living standards since records began - part fuelled by an increase in the energy cap to an average of £3,000 from next April.
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[lunaangeleclipse]

The fact that people can be in full time work and still not have enough to properly live on is a complete failure of the economy

[myrtleesther]

All politicians should complete a 3 year apprenticeship living on minimum wage living in rented property before they qualify to become a public servant.

[phily]

In ancient Rome the citizens had the right to put down tools and refuse to work unless they were treated fairly. They'd literally all leave the cities and leave the rulers with nobody to rule. It was very effective.
We need to make them remember the only power they have is what we allow them to have. Seems even we have forgotten that.

[KingDavid-jjtk]

I'm a Brit living in Germany since 2010 and I run a small business here. Before Brexit I would order materials from the U.K., the prices were competitive and delivery was quick. Since Brexit, it no longer makes sense to order from the U.K. The prices are not as competitive but the most problematic part is that delivery is often delayed considerably, due to customs issues. I can't rely on receiving orders on time. This causes real problems for my business as I order materials for specific projects with tight deadlines. With inflation currently at about 10%, my primary concern is how to maximize my savings/retirement fund of about £600k which has been sitting duck since forever with zero to no gains.

[Sky-ptlc]

When rich politicians say poor people are resilient, Resourceful and inventive. They have no room to speak when they’re rich and they don’t have to worry about food, heating, housing and general necessities.

[Sugarbears]

Every time I hear a politician speak I think, if only their BS could be used to heat our homes the same way their patronizing words heat my blood.

[chriswilliams]

Honestly, it is getting out of hand and problem is our politicians pretend like they don't see it until its time to vote. I for one has been hit very hard and at this point, I am more interested in a solution as I know for sure an end is not near. What is the way forward for the less fortunate ones like me? How do we survive this phase? I am slowly losing my mind.

[Facts_vs_Opinion]

Even before this latest misery, Brexit then covid killed off my successful business. I was forced to sell my home after all my savings disappeared just trying to manage. I moved to Portugal and took every last pound out of the UK. The Tories have destroyed Britain and they've never cared about ordinary people. My electricity bill here has not increased (I don't use gas). I consider myself one of the lucky ones who got out just in time.

[PhilipMurray]

this year will be a year of severe economic pain all over the nation.. what steps can we take to generate more income during quantitative adjustment?I can't afford my hard-earned $180, 000 savings to turn to dust

[pamelax]

Cost of living going up while personal allowance remains the same. This is unbelievable. How are we supposed to live?

[steveparker]

Corporations making bumper profits, the Tories are all wealthy yet the poor get poorer. It's almost as if there is a directly proportional connection between wealth and poverty...

[marblegarden]

Perhaps it's based on the Canadian neighborhood I live in, but as a coupled man with no children, I don't understand how people are still holding on or maintaining their lives. I see all these people driving around in $70, 000 vehicles that cost $40, 000 only 10 years ago. In large homes that cost $350+ a month to heat, $300+ to electrify, $250+ for water, with cellphones companies charging $90 a month per phone plan. At this rate, I can't imagine myself having more than one child. It seems that governments around the world have allowed the economy to be rigged toward the ultra elite or something. I mean, someone explain to me how oil companies get to keep $200 billion in profits from the las quarter alone, meanwhile governments are struggling to pay for the renewable energy shift? I think people are hungry for a reorientation of the terms of civilization/capitalism... Clearly, we are moving into some sort of neo-feudalism. It's getting to the point that average people can't even afford to buy a home, and our governments are simply refusing to solve problems for us. Why are forests being cut down for toilet paper instead of renewable bamboo? Why is it wrapped in plastic once, then again for each roll individually? How can something even that obvious still not be solved?

[debbietodd]

I am a 68 yr old widow in Canada and the feeling of hopelessness is palpable here. Food banks are stop gap at best as you are only allowed to visit once a month. I am currently renting 1 bedroom and a bathroom for $1100 month because a 1 bedroom apt. is almost $2, 000 and my pension isn't even that much. Don't even want to get dressed many days.

[MaterLacrymarum]

You know how bad things are when there are "warm banks" in society. The government is pathetic.

[jeffersonwaters]

What an unhappy, wretched little island we've become

[mohammadayub]

I am 57 yrs old I can't afford to put the heating on I had a stroke 11 years ago I feel colder now we live in hope ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[TheBeast-ubjo]

Imagine working all your life to get a pension just to live comfortably (not luxury) then you find out you can barely live on it let alone comfortably.

[NureniKol]

As an British born Nigerian, its so upsetting to see even English people are struggling too in this climate. They've worked all their life to end up like this close to retirement. Not on at all.

[dyskelia]

I’m sitting here watching from the US and can relate to everything those people are saying at that table. I live in Texas, so it’s not the cost of heating that was dreadful in the past year, it was the cost of cooling during a record summer where we had temperatures of over 100 degrees every single day for almost two months. I also relate to almost all my wages being gone after paying my monthly bills. There has been no extra money for anything. I hope we figure out a way to fix this mess.

[claremammen]

I'm from Australia, we are having the same crisis here at the moment. It's depressing and it's defeating, it's not just people on centrelink that are suffering. Even those on a 9 to 5 just are struggling.