I look forward to the future and the possibilities. Lots of things have happened unexpectedly these few years. Things we could never consider or contemplate. It is sad when anything ends. I know where there’s a beginning, there will always be an end. I hope for a better future for my children. That life improves for us all. I will be sad to leave the past behind, but we must continue to move forward and to grow.

I feel really bad about the summer holidays just because we can't afford to do anything. We can't afford to go anywhere. It's just going to be a really difficult summer holidays and there's nothing else to say about it. I don't know how me and my child will make it through the summer holidays and that's it, really just scared.

Well here it is, officially summer and the rain hasn't stopped. Mum what’s to eat? Mum I’m bored? Mum can we have ice cream?

I dread the summer holidays, where do we go? What do we do? What do we eat? All money and extra expenses. Yes there are things to do for free but what about food and extra electric and heating. The worries are unreal.

On Wednesday my brother is getting married, unfortunately I am not able to go due the cost of traveling, smart clothes and other expenses. Last night as I sat thinking about this I found myself writing my thoughts. So below I share this writing which is something I rarely talk about. But please enjoy.

I sit here in near darkness,

In the comfortof my home,

But standing in the room, dressed in high victorian clothes,

Standing, chatting, drinking,

are people I don't know,

I try to be respectful,

In the corner where I sit,

with the ticking of my clocks disstracting me a bit,

Then I catch my thoughts a bit,

I'm really here alone,

My mind plays odd tricks on me,

It has done all my life,

That's why I sit here all alone,

No friends, no company, no wife.

We have just broken up this weekend...and its raining!

In a way that is a relief because you do not need to go out anywhere and spend money. An ice-cream from the supermarket is much cheaper than from the kiosk at the coast. Not as much fun but at least I made good on my promise for an ice-cream.

Rainy days are not so bad - they are cheaper as I have things to keep the girls occupied.

Its when its sunny that I know this cost me more. They are of an age where they will go out with their mates and how can I refuse them the money to do this, especially as their friend's parents are not on benefits and money is less of a concern for them. I suppose they may also be being hit by the mortgage increases but I don't think that hits as hard if you are earning enough not to be on benefits.

I have tried planning all year for this break - we are not going away - but to save to buy treats. However, the cost of living crisis just eats away at a lot of what I intended to save. So there is less to go around.

Due to living cost rises people spend more money on their food as well as heating and able to save less for their family. So am I. This summer, I will not spend more on family holiday or activities rather than stay home with children and play indoor games.

I am not hopeful in this summer whether I can afford a short break in UK or not. Usually, take a short break within the UK with my children for few days. My children like to go to the countryside next to seaside and stay nearby for few days to enjoy the surroundings and local community. But this time due to lack of saving I will not be afford to go for this type of break but can pass time with them to local events which mostly are free to participate.

As I am a single parent on a low income I feel stressed because I wont be able to afford a holiday or day trips out with my children.

I will be working and trying to make ends meet. Added food costs in the holidays are also a worry because kids at home eat more frequently and I hear " I'm hungry " most of the time.

Summer holidays are not something I have looked forward to for many years. It causes me a lot of stress and anxiety. My daughter has just finished for the summer and will not return for nearly seven weeks. She would love to go away for a short holiday but this is not something I have been able to give her since becoming a single parent. As it stands during this summer I will not even have the money to take her out for the day. The cost of extra food, electricity and other day to day expenses are crippling at a time like this. Luckily my daughter is old enough to go out alone so will probably spend some time with her friends somewhere local and free. As for myself I shall spend most of my time at home as usual worrying about the cost of running our home and desperately trying to think of ways to cut back even further even though I live a very basic lifestyle already, trying my hardest not to use gas, electricity and water due to the cost. This is definately going to be a long difficlt summer for the two of us.

It's been announced that King Charles is to receive an extra £40 millions pounds next year, how can this be justified when there are families unable to afford healthy food and school uniforms. We are struggling to keep ourselves safe and warm, but the government still will not increase child benefit or raise the level of benefits for the most vulnerable people in society. Things need to change so we can all have a decent standard of living.

The break is too long for the children and should be shared out between seasons more time off at Christmas would be easier.

The pressure to take days out and the more food needed adds to the stress of financial poverty because there is on top the issue of new school uniform. People think that new school uniform has to be bought this is in your face in the shops and supermarkets which again adds to financial struggles. Schools and media should be encouraging parents to only buy if needed if uniform still fits don’t buy new, if you have uniform that’s in good condition that doesn’t fit pass it on.

I personally feel the summer break for some families is way too much, they are struggling with money already and 6 weeks of bored children nagging for sweets, days out, snacks, is not good on mental health when they simply cannot afford the demands the break brings. Then schools are sat empty when could be utilised for fun activities for families and lunches served to those struggling.

It would be interesting to know if foodbank use is higher in school holidays!