I'm chuffed that overall (and based on my experience of living in the UK) that hopefully, we will soon be coming towards the end of the cold weather spell, and hopefully this will help to alleviate some of our fears and anxieties about putting the heating on to keep warm.

I'm worried that the cost of living will increase, having worsened health conditions due to the unavailability of the NHS (strikes), my temporary accommodation as I'm waiting for my permanent home.
I hope that the interest rates will decrease, saving more money from energy bills and with the saved money I can organise more day outs with my family and treat my kids.

I have left fear behind in 2022. Too many people are scared and afraid. The population is easily controlled and manipulated when we are afraid and uncertain. I refuse to comply any longer.
I will continue to meet the needs of my family as best I can, living from week to week and focusing on living each day.
I hope to learn new skills and meet new friends to enrich my life.
I hope that I can broaden my success gardening, so that I can grow lots of veggies for us this year and improve my foraging skills.
I hope to find a project to engage with long term that gives me a purpose and helps me feel worthwhile.

My fear for early 2023 is debit, I've run up such a huge credit card debit, just to cover my extra costs at Christmas, I am now worried it's going to take me at lest three months to clear this, but my goal for 2023 is to clear my debits by the end of June, and be more financially stable, and to try to not live off my three credit cards.

I had to set limits on using gas and electricity during school holidays, asking my children to dress warmer in the house and watch TV only for a few hours. I encouraged them to read and do something creative to keep themselves busy. The Church we go to is very practical and understands the struggles of low-income/single parent families: we were donated shopping vouchers and food. We were beyond grateful for their kindness and love.

I hope that the cost of living will not rise any further. My fears that I will be facing fuel poverty with rising costs of gas and electricity and would have to resort to relying on food banks or social supermarkets.

I’m terrified for the new year. I used to feel hopeful on each NYE but now I just feel dread for what is to come. How much more will we lose? It just feels like we will be facing more stress and more bills we can’t afford. When will it end? I don’t think it will be in 2023 sadly.

It's disgusting to hear this morning that the government will spend upto £100.0000 on the Kings coronation and that there are hard working people like teachers and nurses using food banks in order to feed their families. Myself on long term disability benefits with a teenage daughter in full time education, I do not receive more than about 15.000 a year to support the two of us and yet I do not qualify for free school meals for my daughter. I did receive help from a food bank at the begining of the first lockdown thanks to my daughter contacting a young carers assosiation but this was not a long term solution. I struggled even before the cost of living crisis to keep upto date with bills and living expenses. The money I do receive is used for basic living expenses and anything left provides clothes and study materials for my daughter to give her the best possible start in life I can provide. I buy nothing for myself and do not use electricity or heating when my daughter is not at home except to run a fridge and charge my chromebook. This situation is not sustainable there are simply no more cutbacks we can make so the situation is going to spiral out of control at an alarming rate. I suffer with various mental health issues and find communication difficult with people unknown to me which makes finding and asking for help extremely difficult, on top of the fact that I am too proud and ashamed of the situation I find myself in to ask for the help that we so desperately need. Real thoughtful change is needed not only by our own government but right across the world in order to help all that are desperately trying to survive and provide for their families.

I don’t even dare go and look at my meter reading, let alone input it into my account. I don’t have the money to pay. We are heading into 2023 and this is reality.

I'm dreading next year.
2022 had been rough but I've managed as best I can and even squeezed some little luxuries in for my children. But I've a sense that 2023 is going to make 2022 look mild and I'm scared. I know my money will be reduced, but bills will continue to go up. I'll be faced with homelessness by late January, though official eviction hasn't been given yet, my contract is due to be renewed on 15th Jan but I suspect it won't be. I've missed some debt payments over Christmas, so will have to manage the fallout from that (thinking if it's worth going bankrupt but even that takes money to apply for). Too much on my plate as it is, I've no idea how bad 2023 is going to be but I suspect it will be bad. Worse than 2022. This is a Hogmanay I wish I could sleep through.

Considering the concerning times ahead, I have managed to put me worries aside for Christmas and all though the kids didn't get a huge hall like some of there friends they where so happy with the toys and clothes they received. It has been a lovely Christmas spent with family.

I haven't been to a hairdresser in 4 years.
Lately I've been questioning myself on self care. I can't afford self care.

This inequality must stop

One more piece of good news, I've finished paying my eldest son back - I owed him £1200 which he kindly allowed me to pay back when I could. This last year I paid him £25 per week to clear the debt & today I cleared it. One less financial pressure to worry about. This is why I review my finances frequently, so I know where I'm at. Now onto my middle son - I owe him £5000 & am due to clear the debt in February - it's taken me nearly 5 years but I am so close now. This debt in particular has caused a lot of upset in the past & it's ok for the Government to say borrow of friends & family, but they forget that for ordinary folks, financial difficulties can do real harm to family relationships. As a result I will be £200 per month better off. I won't know what to do with myself! Oh yes I will! Tackle the rest of my debts, starting with the highest interest rate credit card I possess & carry on from there. Oh to be debt free... again...

Seasons greetings to one & all. It's Thursday 29th of December and I've spent some quiet time reflecting on my finances over the Christmas period. Two words; Skinto Maxima! (Apologies to Harry Potter fans!) I managed to stick to budget with my boys, more of less. BUT in order to do so, I had to take out a Budgeting Loan with the DWP. I borrowed £812 - the maximum allowable & I've already started paying it back at a rate of £21 per week from my ESA. At least it's interest free. And to help my youngest son realise his dream to update his 10 year old near obsolete PC so it could keep pace with current gaming technology, I had to take out a loan over four years at 14.9% APR - which he will pay me back via his PIP allowance. Those were expected costs. They came as no surprise. Where the costs became less certain was due to spending our Christmas in Scotland. We had the most wonderful time with my eldest son and his partner. We had snow, we had presents & we spotted seals. But my son's girlfriend's family had spent a fortune on me & my son with their beautiful gifts & we couldn't reciprocate in kind - I felt ashamed of being poor & very much a cheapskate. I'm not used to being spoiled like that so I actually cried. In addition, when your family live so far away, the cost of getting there is very expensive - it's a round trip of 800 miles. I was glad that the diesel prices had dropped. The cost to go via train is unimaginable. But then on the way home because of snow, we had to detour 80 miles via Aberdeen - extra fuel we did not budget for. But we made it home safe & sound & overall, I needed the change of scenery so very much. It was worth it for the boost to mine & my youngest son's mental health. I'll get to grips with the finances in January.

Cold snap means we've been using more heating oil... got worried we may run out, so ordered some using £180 payment for a bit of land my husband's family own between them (£180 twice a year) & Boiler Juice tank account fund we pay into each month - was being delivered Fri 30th Dec. Went to visit my parents 24th, came home Boxing Day as son wasn't sleeping as we changed room he stayed in now he's older/bigger (he has ASD & ADHD); got home to freezing house, with no hot water! Yep, heating oil had completely run out. Had to spend afternoon & night moving little heaters round the home to keep warm & filling bath with kettle about 15 times to wash. Put hot water bottle in son's bed for him, he cuddled it to sleep. We have electric blanket this year (given to us by my in-laws) which really helped. Heartbroken. Had to leave for in-laws early on 28th, meant to be going on 30th. Thank God we had somewhere else to go... sat in Spoons having a meal for 2.5 hrs on Tues 27th, so we could keep warm! We would have just bought the oil earlier, but we can never afford it until we have that land money, every Dec & June. Its ridiculous, we're both education professionals with 20 years experience each! We earn around 18k each a year.

So Christmas has been and gone. A bit hectic because my 9 year old son who is on the spectrum was suspended again for the second time in less that a month. I do believe schools aren’t equipped to deal with children who are trauma affected or who don’t fit inside a box. I’m afraid I may get in trouble with UC as I’m supposed to be actively looking for work and I don’t enjoy home schooling as I’m thick at Maths. I did stuff my child is doing now for GCSE so how times have changed. I feel utterly stupid when I’m teaching him as I had to re-educate myself with how to do angles, etc. I didn’t even know about factors etc. and I thought my home schooling days were well gone. I hate it. Yet I have no choice. During the pandemic we were all doing the same thing but this time round it’s a different type of force. We feel singled out as a family and pushed to the side. My son is a bright boy but his behaviour gets in the way and because he has no diagnosis although tested for ASD he doesn’t have a label and can’t gain assistance. It’s all very bizarre and the staff and I are arguing because I’m my sons voice and they aren’t listening. They aren’t listening to the fact that he doesn’t like being shoved inside a tent and told to sit there so other kids can learn. He doesn’t like being told he has a calm corner when no one else has one. He feels excluded rather than included and the suspension is a further exclusion and he is unable to not only each his full potential but to access the curriculum.

Wow am I glad this silly season is over… time for real specials hahaha.
On a more serious note though I am finding it increasingly hard to parent my children, as a single parent I often feel I’m letting them down or that I’m too hard or too soft. Their father is in another country and I literally have no other influences here, I already suffer from severe bipolar depression and they add to my stress and anxiety daily. All I ask is for one day alone where I don’t have to worry about picking them up or dinner or anything like that, a day where I can simply sit on my couch and just enjoy myself again. I don’t drink or dodgy stuff so it’s really just about being with me again in silence and maybe a massage but truly all I want is a break.

Christmas to me, means coming together as a family. Spending that quality time together. It’s not all about giving gifts, spending money. It’s about all of us together. For me this year it’s also remembering my dad who sadly passed this year. So I like to think of all the Christmases I had as a kid.

It's starting to get back to a bit of normality after the stress and financial burden of Christmas. Overall, my daughter and I had a good but quiet time, though this has been the most difficult Christmas we have lived through. My daughter is old enough to understand some of the difficulties we are having and has been very understanding and supportive. Fortunately it did not get too cold, so I did not feel to guilty about not putting the heating on, she has used some of the time to catch up with her school work/ revision which has helped to keep her busy. I am happy that I no longer have to walk around the local shops looking at shelves of treats and sweets that are beyond my budget. There is, however, the thought of what the next year is going to bring with the prospect of rising prices on essential items like food, household bills and clothing for my daughter. I will carry on as best as possible avoiding the use of gas/ electricity while my daughter is at school, avoiding breakfast and lunch which is not always possible as I am diabetic. It also seems like the clothes that I do own will have to survive another year. The most important thing to me is trying as hard as possible to support my daughter through her young life so she can make sure she has the best chance to make a real difference, be strong and happy in her future.

I will be very stressed this holiday. Usually, during this end of the year season with the children, I organise lots of parties at home and visiting friends and families. But this year will have to cancel all of these parties and will try to cope with the small budget & basic food instead. Will cut down on our heating as well. May the almighty help us to pass this critical time together.

Hello. In this time is very difficult because is impossible for us access and afford a break or holidays. I tried to make this time for us enjoying and looking the positive side. We are together, with health and love.

Its been hard this christmas but have got through it

Family time xx

This festive season will be very hard for me to cope with children at home. The reasons are known by everyone. Most of the time I will accommodate all children in one room to save heating bill, will do grocery shopping at Xmas eve and new years eve to save money as well as to buy loads of potatoes, sprouts, carrots etc @19p to feed children. This is the time of the year that we got some vegetables at very cheap prices. Usually do winter clothing shopping this time but this year will not do in order to keep money in hand to meet uncertainty.

Hi, In a way I am lucky as my daughter is 16, so can keep herself occupied during the holidays, catching up with her coursework and catching up with friends etc. However for me I find that I am even more stressed than usual with all the extra costs involved in trying to feed us and keep our home safe and warm. I have always put my daughter's needs before my own, so this is particularly difficult at this time of year as I am unable to let her do some of the things her friends are able to do, meaning she often feels left out and different in so many ways. With no other family or friends of my own to ask for help and support this is tough. My daughter attends the local church on a regular basis and goes to the Christmas service so I will join her there in order to feel warm for a while and spend some time doing something together to help pass the morning and then watch a movie on tv in the afternoon. Apart from that it will be very quiet for a few days before things start to get back to normal which will still be very quiet, but at least have a bit of routine which is more easy for me to cope with.

Valuable time with my children.
Time to play and adventure and make precious memories that'll help build my children's positive self worth and individual sense of value. As much as I love getting gifts for them, and I have cos I took out a loan, for me it's more about activities than items. So seeing a panto, even if it's just the cheapest panto you can find (and we were lucky and got free tickets to an amazing panto this year), watching the town lights get turned on (a so called free event that isn't actually free when factoring in travel, food and drinks - even if you take your own it's not much cheaper than just buying at the event these days when food costs so much), school shows and family games nights and putting up decorations. We always have a xmas party for kids at ours, even managed it this year (mostly cos I brought stuff I needed slowly throughout the year, taking advantage of sales and using or making from last year's left overs - a friend lent me a sewing machine which helped loads with decoration making to make the house look fabulous on very small budget), plus when family sent money for kids I was spent on kids but what was sent for me I spent a little on me but most on groceries which helped free up a little cash.
Christmas is meant to be about quality family time. This year I don't feel the Christmas spirit I usually feel, I'm too busy with cost counting and mental gymnastics to have space left for actually enjoying myself. I know logically we've done amazing, especially for our budget, got everything kids asked for (in fairness cos I only said they could ask for three things each lol) plus our little traditions we managed. And once everything was wrapped and ready I was already doing the mental gymnastics for next year's Christmas, cos if this year's been tough I dread to think how tight things will be next year. There's no resting, to provide a basic lifestyle for ones children then we have to constantly plan an monitor and think, months often years in advance.

Misery, worry, stress and trying to get through. Not a great time of year as it just makes worries worse and there is so much more stress. How can you enjoy not being able to provide food and warmth for the children? That’s without presents.

Well it’s Christmas eve, I have done my best. It’s freezing cold in the house and we are wrapped in blankets. First time ever I have been to the food bank and I’m having the heating on for 4 hours tomorrow. Even without, I’m going to make it a good day. What a horrible situation, never ever did I think I would reach this point.

Trying to work out where there's heat loss & drafts with the use of a thermal imaging camera to help us save on our heating costs.

We have not been to see Santa or go to the Christmas Market. Can't afford to. I went to Asda for a small bag of snacks for Christmas eve but was £35 and I'm honestly so upset that I have to limit so much. I thought it would cheer the kids up, though. We hardly got anything and we won't be getting anything else for a week or two. Such a struggle. I'm looking at the prices and thinking, 'yep, I'd rather stay hungry'. The kids are eating more being at home and have to wait for the kitchen to be full again as I can't afford to keep topping it up. Actually rationing in 2022! Who'd have thought.

Part way through wrapping my presents for the children, I panicked that what I had bought for them wasn't enough. I also had huge anxiety whilst doing the food shop that I was going to run out of money to afford the gas and electric.

What do the Christmas holidays mean for me?
Not a lot. I am glad I don't celebrate Christmas as so many people (mostly Mums) seem to be stressed and overwhelmed for weeks by the expectations placed on them to provide more than they can afford, spend time with people they usually choose to avoid, consume excessively and produce massive amounts of rubbish as a result, to then be in debt in the New Year.
Solstice celebration is very low key and comfortable by comparison. We meet with our chosen loved ones, invite anyone who may be lonely or struggling to share the food and drink we have made. The kids were happy to receive chocolate and books as their present. Around a fire (wrapped in blankets) we contemplate what we are grateful for, what we invite in, what to let go and where we send our blessings. These are written down and burned with dried herbs. We talk, laugh, dance and sing until the fire burns down. Winter holiday done. X

I am Christian, so the Christmas holidays are about worship and rejoicing. I am blessed to have family near, so spending time together with the chaos of loads of kids running about and loud family members are a must! It's a time to appreciate our blessings. I may not have money, but blessed with love. Happy Christmas everyone xx

I’m fortunate that I work in a school and, therefore, I am off work whenever my child is off school. Today is the first day of the holidays and I’m already struggling. Being a single and solo parent is so tough when you are ill! I dragged us to the supermarket at 7am this morning since we were both awake really early. Back in bed now and enjoying the fact that the 5 year old is napping so I get just a few minutes to rest and recuperate.

Christmas is a time for family reunions, for family bonding, renewing friendships, etc People worldwide celebrate the season in many different ways, following their beliefs and customs.

The cold, wet weather seems never ending. It's been challenging to do even the simplist things, like dry clothes, when the weather is like this - worst still, it's too expensive to use the tumble dryer to even do so.

It’s impossible to hide it fully, but I don’t want them to feel worried that we can’t afford things. I often say ‘we can’t afford this’ and I know they are sometimes scared to ask me for things.

Hi, guys. How do I or do I shield my children hardship? I don't I say it how it is. I inform them what's going on. There we go. I don't see it helping them for the future, to shield them. I think it maybe helps them to appreciate what we've got and what we've had. What do you think?

I hope and always wonder if it's only me that doesn't enjoy this time of year... It no longer has the same meaning it used to... Now it's about how much money places make and people spend... The time of cheer, family and love got lost somewhere in these ever growing times.

A family member told me that his bedroom temperature recorded only 4 degrees centigrade when he woke up the other day. Outside was -9C. I am relieved he woke up at all.

As a single parent of 5, I feel that it is important for me to teach my family about poverty and other life challenges. I do not try to shield them too much from realities of life. If we cannot afford something, I just let them know or we may discuss together how we are going about resolving the issue. For example, either we have to save for a certain amount of time, or buy an alternative item that is cheaper. I want my children to be prepared to deal with such issues when they grow-up. I do not want them to take things for granted and but to learn how to use things we have wisely and responsibly. I also want my family to develop gratitude for things we do have and to be able to show empathy towards those who may be less fortunate than ourselves.

I believe is going to be a great Christmas even with the little we are able to manage.

My little one is 6 years old so it is very hard for me explain him but I need to do it. He is very upset but I told to him, 'we need to try to keep money for food, for rent, mummy needs to pay the bills to maintain the house'. He is little but it is very important he understands the reality of our situation.

Hi, I'm answering the big question of the week about hiding hardship from our children. And I think it was really touching to hear about how her daughter is adapted and how resilient she is now. Those are words that I would definitely use for my son. When he was younger, it was much easier to hide hardship from him. And at those times, I think those were some of our toughest times. Although right now is really difficult. One of the things that my son really misses out on, and really has missed out on for a long time, is holidays and breaks days away. Definitely, he wishes that he had more freedom to do things that cost money that I just don't have. I try really hard to go without, to sell things so that we can do things. So, for instance, last year I sold some furniture in order that we could go to Alton Towers for his birthday. There has been more than just poverty in our lives. We've had some quite significantly traumatic experiences. And I would say that I'm very, very proud of how my son handles things and how accustomed he is to dealing with hardship. I don't try and hide it from him now because the stress of doing that was really difficult. And I had to balance it with the reality because 'no' is a familiar word in our house, but I will go without a locked to make sure that he doesn't lose out too much. Take care. Thank you.

During the very cold weather my currency has become 'Hours of Heating'. If I walk 2 miles to buy what I need for 50p less than at a closer shop then we can have the heating on for half an hour longer. So I walk.

Hi, like yourself my daughter is now 16 and is aware of some of the financial hardships that are are living with. However, over the past six years since my partner, her mum, left I have tried to shield her as much as possible. This has never been easy but she is also strong and resilient. She has many friends from differnt backgrounds so is fully aware of the differences that families have. If she needs clothes she will often look in local charity shops rather than asking for new items. I have always put my daughters needs and well being before my own as all parents do, but this does mean that I often have to go without basic needs. Apart from a warm coat I bought myself with some of the vouchers I received from Covid Realities I have not purchased any clothes for myself for six years. My daughter finds this difficult and sometimes embarrasing as the ones I do own are now falling to pieces. During lockdown, it was my daughter who talked to a leader at a group she attends about the difficulties we were facing with buying food and they arranged for a food bank to contact us with some help. For this I was extremely proud of my daughter as it was not something I would of done myself, so I am guessing that she was more aware of our financial situation than I was aware of. I do believe that the situation we find ourselves living in is making my daughter a stronger person who will always put others first and go forward to live a happy and fulfilled live in the future.

It is a very difficult time for citizen in UK. Nowadays, we are suffering tremendous hardship due to living cost rises and fuel cost soaring. In this holiday we will cut down on our food and entertainment, as well as not buying festive fashion or getting expensive treats. I will try to cut down on our heating bill where possible as most of the family members will stay home this winter.

Now we have problem in both ways. We can't go out for a day out due to living cost rises. At the same time, we are also facing difficulty to keep children at home due to high energy cost. During this holiday, I will try to get all of my children to stay in one room to keep them warm. I will give them basic food and we can cook food together from scratch to save money. Hope to pass this winter with the god's grace.

I shield as much as possible, but as they are a bit older, I have had to tell them Christmas presents have been massively reduced this year. I try and explain food prices and energy increases, but they know nothing about debt or how difficult it is to pay bills. Or how much I worry!

I genuinely think the government just like to humiliate humanity.

Every man and his dog is unwell right now. The whole staying home for two years has completely ruined people. It's not just Covid but the return of all the old school diseases that were eradicated as well. It's one thing after another. Now strep A is the new covid. Like we didn't have enough to worry about. What's coming for us next?

Christmas is such a difficult time. Every single year is a struggle. It makes me angry, in fact, due to how everything seems to be a competition of some sort. People forget what it's actually about. I really don't agree with our so called 'traditions' and if you don't follow the norm then you're neglecting or abusing your kids. It drives me crazy. Then adverts constantly reminding you of what you can't afford, or how a nice family looks or what the latest fad is. Maybe I'm the grinch living in poorville is all.

I try to shelter my children a lot. Maybe too much because the reality is that life is hard. I just feel guilty and want the best for them, even if that contradicts everything.

I have always tried to shield my daughter from hardship. Been a single parent for 10 years.
When younger, I would go without so she could have school trip or school shoes.
She never demanded or asked for anything. I believe she knew inside although didn't talk about it.
I felt guilt for leaving her father and being thrown into poverty. I am an emotional person and once the flood gates open, I cannot stop. I didn't want this extra stress upon my daughter.
It became more evident at secondary school with the bullying.
She shielded me from the bullying she received.
She is now 16. She has no friends.
She has been diagnosed on the autism spectrum.
She speaks of seeing others from school on holidays and trips to cinema or shopping.
She went through a phase of asking why she wasn't good enough to have a dad that provided a lovely home, car and holidays.
I reassured her it wasn't her fault and I loved her very much and her time will come to enjoy happier times.
My daughter has been out of school for 3 years due to no support staff employed to support her and I sometimes resent her for this as need to keep heating on most of day and night, especially at present with this cold snap. It was minus 5 last night.
She hides away in her room. The guilt never leaves me.
I once worked 60 hours a week, covering annual leave to earn extra to buy her expensive shoes for school to feel more confident.
I was sickened to have tax taken off and I lost housing benefit and came out with £5 more than I did working 16 hours per week.
I cry in the shower or in my bed.
I have been telling myself it will get easier as she grows up. It doesn't.
I walk on egg shells, tired and stressed, balancing bills and groceries. Always looking for a way to earn more.
The thought of sex work has crossed my mind a few times. Although I'm 50+ and not what men would want to pay for. I joke to myself they would want a refund.
My confidence and self belief is on the floor. We just bumble one day to the next as I haven't the mental strength anymore to believe it will get better.

I try not to say anything to my children, I don’t want them worrying. I will go without so my children can have food. I try to disguise the fact the house is cold by making dens in the house. Children shouldn’t have to worry.

Christmas is in 10 days, I have only managed to spend 100 each on both my children I cant do more. I feel so bad because usually I spend 250 each and also get them bits and bobs. I'm working all the hours I can but my money is not lasting long at all my weekly shop used to cost 52 pound, I buy exactly the same things now and it's 79 pound. It's shameful and I am embarrassed that I won't have enough.

My kids do not need to know about my finances, I don't want them worrying that I'm worrying.

I try my absolute best - however when your child asks for the cheapest thing in the shop or requires something new and you need to look around and buy the cheapest option, being 11, she is not daft.
She’s well aware of the current climate we are living in and how drastic our lifestyles changed.

I have finally had to give in and put the heating on, my daughter has now finished school for the Christmas holiday. She was sitting at home unable to stop shivering saying that her feet hurt, which actually felt like ice. I have set the boiler to 10 degrees to take the chill off for an hour.

Because we love them, and want to let them live their lives unhindered by the kinds of problems we had when we were young. However, once in a while I hear someone (usually a guy, for some reason) say, "I had it hard when I was a kid, why shouldn't they?" I find this rather disturbing. Why wish hardship on your children? There is the idea that hardship brings out the best in people, that they learn to be tough and independent, to solve problems for themselves, and come out of it more confident and stronger. I don't know if that's true, maybe so, but still, to deliberately want to saddle your children with the problems you had growing up seems unnatural to me.

I've kind of been lucky, I guess, on the hardship side. Although, yes, we are struggling financially. My gas bill has gone economically stupidly high recently because of the snow and is about 25 pound a week approximately. I prepay gas, but I've been very lucky. My daughter's not really said much about not having certain things and has learning difficulties, so she's not really, lucky enough for me, grasping the concept. The only thing she does say is her bedroom is a bit cold at night, but she's happy to wear a jumper. I've offered to put an electric heater in just on a low level heat (automatic ones that come on and off at night) so she can be warm, but I think because she's autistic, the noise doesn't suit her. Now we just wrap up a bit warmer, but for us, it's the heating. But I've been quite lucky that the only thing is we are going on holiday, but I'm bringing along my other two elder daughters who have left home and are at university, and we split the bill for UK Holiday Freeways in the caravan, so it's not costing me as much much as it would normally. Well, I wouldn't be able to afford a holiday otherwise. Compromise this year is having to go away. Have them help pay.

One time we'd had an eviction notice, just before Christmas(!), and really weren't sure we could find another suitable size property in the town we were living. We were desperately trying to avoid options like having to move in with family, or having to put our stuff in storage and take whatever/wherever temporary placing the council might offer (might have risked losing the kids' school and nursery places). I was really mortified when my son, who was 8, said he'd been talking to friends and teachers at school about not knowing where he might end up living. It was so upsetting that he was having to try and deal with that fear at such a young age.

It’s so cold!
Part of me is glad - my postcode is now eligible for two cold weather payments, that’s £50.
But it’s getting harder and harder to keep warm.
The insulation in our rented house is so bad. It’s only a tiny two bed, but yesterday we put the heating on for 6 hours and the lounge still only reached 15 degrees!
I worry about our health. My youngest has asthma, and my husband has high blood pressure, so the cold isn’t good for them.
We do the Octopus Saving sessions but our usage was so low before it doesn’t make much impact. We’ve saved over 90% of normal usage each time but have only earned £6 over 5 sessions!
It’s only December. It’s not even the coldest months yet.
The school holidays start tomorrow. My husband and I struggle through the day with no heat usually as we both work from home, but I’m going to have to put it on more with the children home.

The snow has caused chaos to commuters overnight.
Wind blowing snow off fields onto roads and many accidents including a bus.
Some schools have opened but children waited on the school bus that never arrived.
Farmers have brought their tractors out to clear roads as the council failed to provide enough grit.

Spending most of the day in bed this week. Temperatures haven't got much above freezing. Extra blankets for the dogs, and an electric blanket for me. Only heating my son's room at the moment. Can't wait for this cold spell to end. The £25 a week cold weather payment doesn't even touch the sides - government might as well just give the money straight to the energy company and bypass me, it's an insult.

Another day another infection in my foot. Joined by a gum infection making eating difficult that I can't seem to get shut of either. Postponed taking the antibiotics for 2 days. Caved in last night. Along with lower temperatures and a cold house, couldn't keep going as I was.

Concerned about the rising energy costs and enjoying the festive season. Being on a low income can make it very challenging to keep my 3 bedroom house warm.

Oh my it’s so cold, how horrible to come back home from work and not be able to do anything as it’s so cold. All you want is a warm meal for the children but a sandwich is all you can manage to afford to make. Beans on toast if you're lucky! Life is pretty rubbish right now.

We're a few days into this excessive cold snap and I don't think I can remember ever feeling as cold for such a prolonged period of time. I'm turning the heating on when the kids are here, but even then it's just for shorter periods of time. We're all really feeling the effects of long-term cold - we're tired and fed up. My 7 year old son keeps saying how tired he is. He also has a heart condition so I'm aware of the extra work it (his heart) will be doing to maintain his body temperature. We're using lots of extra blankets and spending more time in bed watching TV. My mum transferred me some money to help towards the gas and electric which I was grateful for. I'm currently job hunting (for many reasons) but a main one being to change from being part-time (in my current role) to full-time and hoping the increase in salary (possibly at the detriment of my mental health and the stress it will bring) will help ease some financial worries. I know so many people have it so much worse, but I feel sad for ALL of us suffering at the inexplicable shoddy governing of this country.

Christmas looks a little different this year, although I feel we’re continuing on a similar thread from previous “covid Christmases”. We have gotten out of the habit of lots of traditional Christmas activities (panto, parties, etc) and this year they are less for financial reasons rather than government restrictions. We haven’t made plans to visit lots of people as visits cost with presents and fuel. Similarly, we haven’t made plans to host anything due to the cost of food and energy. I don’t want to invite people to a cold home and not be able to feed them. Generally the magic is missing. The continuing doom and gloom of life seeps into everything and doesn’t let up just because it’s Christmas. I am continuing with my job hunt to find something better paid - a direct link to the cost of living. Christmas doesn’t seem to provide any light relief from the realities of the world, as I’m only too aware things will probably get worse as we enter the New Year.

It will affect my Christmas because I'm unable to buy everything I like for myself and my kid.

This cost of living crisis has well and truly highlighted how much more expensive problematic inefficient housing can be. No wonder I'm still cold even after 3 hours of heating. Hopeless situation to be in.

Desperate to warm ourselves up. Had 3 hours of heating on this evening. Still feels like a cold breeze blowing through the house. Sat huddled up underneath blankets right up to our noses. Don't know what else I can do to block the drafts. Beyond my control and feeling hopeless about continuing to live here.

Now vomiting. Mostly dry retching as no appetite.
I'm fed up with my body. Constant illnesses.

...and so this is Christmas! For many it is probably the most anticipated time of the year, but for me it has become one of the most depressing. Fortunately, my daughter was able to have Christmas lunch at school on Friday, which is the only one she will be able to have this year. Living on legacy benefits is getting harder year after year, with the cost of living increases there are no more savings I can make to our lives to help. As I write this I am sitting in a cold dark room with no heating, wrapped in a blanket with a torch for light, my daughter sitting in bed also wrapped in a blanket. On Christmas jumper day she did not feel comfortable going to school without one, but I could not afford to buy her a new one to replace the one that she had outgrown, which is hard to explain, but I did not tell her that I do not own a jumper of any sort. Apart from a few basic gifts I have managed to get her this year Christmas will be much like any other day. Her friends will obviously be at home. I have no other family and few friends, none of who know about the situation we are living in. I have managed to keep up to date with the TV licence so we will probably watch a couple of movies and wait for the new year to arrive without fuss. I know there are millions of families around the world in similar or even worse situations, but for me this is a depressing and lonely time of year.

Took my 16 year old to GP to have her ears checked as she has issues hearing in crowded areas.
Nice and clean, fluid in one ear and scar tissue from previous burst ear drum.
GP asked if I remember her having such a bad ear infection.
I do.
She was 5 years old. Had chickenpox and I had to take two weeks off work to look after her. Childcare after school still needed to be paid as per contract. Then she developed a high temperature and ear infection. Another two weeks off school and another two weeks off work for me.
I didn't think about it until pay day came and no wages. Only had tax credits to live on and to paid childcare from it.
I couldn't afford to put money in the electric meter. I couldn't afford food. I couldn't afford the bus to get to work.
There is more understanding of these situations now but the Government still insist a single parent is better off in work.

The cost of living crisis has already begun to have a negative impact on my Christmas.
Usually I would have all the family over (about 15 of us) for Christmas dinner and a party, buffet and drinks at the night.
Sadly, this year I cannot afford to do that, which is really sad because that is the one time of year we all look forward too. It will just be me my husband and the kids.
I've already racked up catalog debt to pay for gifts. Just another thing for me to worry about after Christmas.
I will try my best to make it a good one but I already feel like I've failed.

The cold snap continues. Feel sick with the cold in my home.

It's so cold and I just can't afford to have the heating on enough to get warm. It goes on for a short amount of time while the kids get dressed in the morning and then again later on when they get ready for bed. Other than that it has to be layers and blankets.
Working from home in these conditions is awful but I have no choice. I'm wearing fingerless gloves at my desk and I have a duvet across my knees. It's -5 degrees outside. The government just does not care!

As I sit freezing this morning because heating is too expensive, even without the heating it’s still £6 a day as I used oven too cook tea last night, I’m dreading and wondering what I am going to do over the Christmas break. My son breaks up on Friday, what can I do so he doesn’t get cold or notice me not being able to put the heating on? There’s only so long, 'let’s get blankets out and watch a film', holds out for.

The cost of living crisis will affect me so much at Christmas I'm having to rely on food banks again with this situation in Northern Ireland in particular. The gas is just through the roof. Unfortunately, my son, because he's on the spectrum, has actually been suspended from school. Now, it has been unlawful and I am trying to sort that out but the way that they went about it wasn't the right way. They had to consider socioeconomic and financial situation of the child as well as the mental health of the child and unfortunately none of these were considered. I've had to spend over £70 in gas in the two weeks that he's been off and there's still another week to go. It's really concerning me because I had no idea that this was happening. I did not budget for this to happen and now I am in a position where I was a little bit terrified there for Christmas, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel because I do have a lot of good people around me. The local food bank has agreed to help with food and then I have a friend who rallied around and tried to make Christmas a little bit more manageable. Although it did really depress me, everything that's happened. And I don't put the heat on normally during the day and I had to put it on and I don't even have my Christmas tree up. But now that I got word today that there are some people out there to help, then I feel a little bit better. But, I do feel like a failure as a parent because the cost of living crisis is crushing families. They just feel like they can't provide for their children. In actual reality, it's the government that's doing this to people, it's not the parent. We're just trying to get by and live and we can't. We're just existing, we're not living and that's that.

No train services due to signal fault and bus cancellations again due to lack of staff and sickness.

Well today I’ve had a cry and made the decision to turn the heating off completely as there’s just no way I’m going to be able to afford the bill that’s going to be over £300 a month. Today I had the heating on at 16, cooked one meal and did 2 loads of washing early morning as well. The cost was £14.79 at 9pm, we went out for 4 hours too, I just can’t see a way through this.

We are cutting back on gifts this year. I have 4 brothers and 1 sister and we have all agreed not to buy anything for each other this year - it will just be too expensive. I also hope we won’t have any unexpected guests over on the day as it will cost a lot more to feed more people. My children will get a present each but I’m relying on family to hopefully buy the bigger items so it doesn’t break the bank. Aside from this, the weather will be probably below freezing and the heating will stay off for as long as possible as we cannot afford energy prices, either.

I have 3 sons - all will be over 18 by the time Christmas arrives. But first my current 17 year old will turn 18, 2 weeks before Christmas Day arrives. I've always had a budget of £100 per son for Xmas and £100 each for their birthdays. That has never changed in the years I've been reliant on legacy benefit. And even though the 2 older ones are adults in homes of their own, I will still spend the same amount on them. Just now it won't buy as much due to inflation. I've tended to rely on credit cards in the past - not the ideal option but the guilt of all the trauma they've been through as a consequence of some of the poor decisions I've made in the past has weighed heavily on me - I know money won't wash away the harm they were subjected to, or absolve me from my mistakes, but I wanted to give them some wonderful memories, mainly through camping trips and experiences rather than blow the budget at Christmas, hence my decent into debt, alongside the institutional and structural constraints that have been my constant companions since becoming reliant on Social Security. I'm not in a position of being able to buy for anyone else, but I will have to. I feel obliged to - especially like last year - I hadn't factored in a wonderful gift from my eldest son's girlfriend's family - I ended up rushing out buying a generic pot plant and chocolates in return, which felt being a cheapskate to me, considering the money spent on me for my gift. As decorations - I've had the same tree since 2005 and decorations I've collected from charity shops in the sales in January, plus some leftover from my former life. The best part of being a lone parent at Christmas - your spouse isn't there to upend the fully decorated Christmas tree to bully and intimidate you and your children into submission. As for Xmas dinner - that's just a Sunday roast with extra courses and trimmings that I usually make myself, but this year, it's Christmas in Scotland at my eldest's home on the proviso I make trifle for dessert lol. I think I can manage that.

Still feeling unwell. Head and every muscle hurts. Unable to feel warm.
Sitting with hat on and dressing gown on top of clothes.
The snow has cleared but temperature is to drop below 0.
No appetite, need to eat for my medication.
Loneliness is hard to deal with. I don't want to burden anyone. Previous experience a few months ago taught me nobody wants to know and that I'm an inconvenience to my own family.

Yesterday was a stressful wake up call. I'm luckier than most in that, as I pay utilities direct to landlord, I don't have to turn my heating off to save money. So I have heating on 24/7 at the moment, if my landlord complains or tries to charge me extra I'll remind them of our contract.
Anyway, I live in a wooden cabin, similar to a static caravan in size but not much risen of the floor. The window frames are wood (so they warp at different temperatures and get VERY drafty and mouldy), the floors are wood, the roof has metal on top (holds heat in the summer like radiator but holds cold in the winter making cabin boiling in the summer and freezing in the winter). Inside we've one small hot water radiator in the bathroom, basically a towel rack; one electric radiator, a space heater type that plugs in but is attached to the wall, in the living room (it's tiny compared to the room and doesn't give out much heat); plus one other electric space heater type radiator on wheels that I move between the bedrooms to try to keep us warm. Those are provided by landlord. I've also got thermals, hot water bottles, snoodies and loads of blankets for kids along with thick duvets. For me, I've just duvet and thick socks, lol. This last week, even with all three radiators on it's never been warm enough in the cabin. But we manage. Having the electric oven on helps warm the open plan living area better than any of the radiators do, keeping curtains closed helps a little with drafts. Lots of hot drinks and spicy foods to keep us warm. Then yesterday we suffered a power cut. My landlords for their part where concerned, they came over asked if we had torches, provisions to keep warm until electric came back (because our heating and cooking is reliant on electricity, couldn't even make hot water bottles), said they were impressed at my preparedness, I told them I learnt from last winter when we had storms and power cuts. This winter feels much colder. The power was off for about 4 hours and the home was freezing, cold enough I didn't need to worry about fridge freezer defrosting for sure. It's left me worried. It's only going to get colder into January, and I know we'll get more power cuts. I'm worried for my kids, they're getting colds and coughs after cold and cough this year. This cold and drafty home isn't helping them. Even with all our radiators on were cold, more power cuts will freeze us. I never wanted my kids to experience this type of cold n poverty, I wanted better for them that I got as a child. I look at the country around me, the cost of living, the cold and the supposed help that isn't help enough (a plaster on a broken and bleeding sore), and I feel devastated because I'm not able to provide better for my children than I had, it makes me feel like a failure.

The cost of living has effected most people I know. I still cannot afford many gifts for my children. Thankfully they do not go without as some of my family are very generous. My children ask for little. This year my eldest has requested a new duvet set and my youngest a dictionary. In a previous life we would have gone to the Panto or watched a show. This year we can go to the cinema instead. Christmas dinner will be shared out between family, whilst I host (and fret about the energy bill). In that sense we are fortunate. This year at least the food is not provided by a charitable organisation and after all the children and I do not need expensive things.

The cost of living crisis will affect my Christmas because I won't be as relaxed as I normally am because I will be constantly worried about the amount of energy I'll be using over the holidays and the cost of it.

The cost of living crisis has affected our Christmas this year in the way of affording presents, but for our son and other family members. The unfortunate thing is that my husband's family has 3 people to buy for... his parents and brother, whereas mine includes my parents, two sisters, two brother in laws and my sisters' five children between them, so eleven presents to buy. These gifts are not divided equally though we have known each other over 20 years and we also now have our son to buy for. I do the lion's share of stocking and misc extras for son too and always buy things like wrapping, etc. Husband occasionally will buy some Christmas lights if they need a pep up for example. This approach was fine years ago when I was the breadwinner on 28k, him on 12k and I had way less relatives, but my income has reduced drastically over the years (austerity, redundancy notices, motherhood meaning p/t work) and is now at 17.5k, him 18k, yet I'm still expected to fund majority. He had a pay rise this year (and is waiting for his current pension refund - as neither of us can afford to pay into a pension) so will probably fund son's big present, thank goodness, but its been really hard to manage it all the last few years and the expectations of my family (who unfortunately are all quite wealthy with homes of their own, etc., e.g. one sister has a range rover, personalised licence plate and six bed house... She was buying our sister and mum perfume the other week on first girls day out in years for afternoon tea to celebrate mums 71st... I just can't compete, but it is so depressing thinking I couldn't even try if wanted to, we'd be destitute, yet I'm a really generous person, but have to £10 or £15 tops per person). It's such a struggle even thinking about Christmas the last few years, Covid made things worse as we couldn't even stay with our families and save on food - our holidays are all taken at our parents homes. Combine this with son LOVES Christmas and has ASD and ADHD, so really struggles to understand we can't always afford treats or days out as income goes on food, rent, bills, travelling to work and it would be heart-breaking to tell him we couldn't afford a big present.

Most of my gifts for my 5 year old are second hand via Facebook marketplace, charity shops or car boot sales. I buy all year round so I don’t feel panicked when it gets to December. Fortunately he hasn’t asked for anything expensive! There are no trips to see Santa, no panto trips, no works night out or secret Santa participation. All these little extra’s add up. I’ll cook Christmas dinner from scratch and make the leftovers stretch out for a week or more by freezing some bits. My biggest expense is going to be heating the house during the day while we are home. That is our new ‘luxury’ I’m looking forward to the simple things - watching TV, walking the dog, reading books together, playing games and doing crafts.

I had a stress related seizure this week. It's horrifying that this can happen due to levels of stress. I was so distressed about making my 12 and 13 year old's birthday good for them this year and I was so worried about health I ended up in the emergency department.

We won't be doing anything festive such as ice skating or the Christmas market, etc. this year. The presents for the kids are very, very limited this year, too. And that is even with me starting the Christmas shopping in summer and buying during sales only. It's going to be hard to keep up with all the snacks and meals for the kids as well since everything's costing so much.

Cost of living has really affected our Christmas, to the point that I couldn't get a Christmas tree.

Reading social media... An old friend from my hometown has passed away from cancer at 52.
I now have four old friends who have passed away in their late 40s and early 50s from cancer.
I won't be able to attend the funeral, as with other times, as I fled my hometown from domestic violence.
The impact of domestic violence never leaves.

I keep thinking of how to try and keep with my energy payments 😮‍💨

I used to look forward to Christmas but not this year. I used to do a dinner and invite anyone in family who could make it, this year me and my son will spend it alone and won’t be having a Christmas dinner as it’s just a massive expense, not only the food but to cook it. Christmas presents have been bought on credit I don’t know how I’ll pay back but I can’t let my son open nothing on Christmas for him to go back to school with everybody talking about what they got. I’m dreading the school holidays when I used to look forward to them, just purely because I don’t know how I’m going to heat my home. Today we left the house at 8am for school and work came in at 7pm. There was no milk this morning, so I’ve not even boiled a kettle, the heating was off, no washing was done, no cooking and the smart meter said we had used £9.66. That’s for nothing. For being out of house. How am I going to cope when we are home for 2 weeks? It does not feel like Christmas. But it’s also not just heating the home it’s food, everything has gone up apart from wages and benefits. Yes, don’t come at me. I’m a single parent. I do work, I try my best but it’s a low wage so I do get topped up by Universal Credit but it’s not enough to run a house alone and look after a child. I constantly have more going out than I have going in and I am getting into debt because of it. It is no way to live.

Honestly it’s very hard. I want to give the kids a lovely Christmas, and I don’t want them to worry or miss out. But at the moment I’m skipping meals to save money - grocery bills are massive - and it isn’t possible to figure out gifts and Christmas treats. I’ve only been able to get my kids one proper present each this year. I’m hoping wider family will be able to give them things too but it’s painful to know that I can’t. It’s meant to be such a happy time and I’m just hungry, and worried.

We weren't eligible for the one-off payments, as we only started receiving UC beginning of October. Was a shame to have missed out as applied much earlier in the year, but were refused UC on grounds I'd not attended a Job Centre meeting which was arranged for the following day on the Sunday night I was finishing my application, so I hadn't even applied before I was rejected. I would love to make case to ask for it (the second payment at least), but given the hoops I jump through to claim childcare costs, despite having a professional job to worry about 30 hrs a week and a child who has received dual diagnosis of ASD and ADHD I'm not sure its worth the effort. Luckily I'm on it with the DLA application, so fingers crossed will get the disability element of UC for tyke.

It's affecting my mental health in bad way as of funds for Christmas. For grandkids x x

Not able to afford food for Christmas and not many gifts for my grandkids.

Struggling. My mother in law feels very down too. We was supposed to take her for a meal out at weekend for her birthday then take my children to a play to celebrate their birthday. Had to cancel both. The small amount of money we have left is having to go on food. That money came from an advance on Universal Credit and lending from my brother.
Wish I would stop feeling like a failure, just can’t see a light at the end of the tunnel.

I've for sure cut back, and it doesn't feel so bad cause everyone has? Like everyone is feeling the pinch this year so I understand. I've opted to making home made baking and candles for people I normally buy for, this is much cheaper, I just hope they like their gifts. My son gave me a Christmas list worth £800 and I don't know how to go about teaching him how unrealistic that is. The mum guilt I feel cause he's not going to get what he wants, but it's not worth going in more debt for...

A week to pay day: it's minus 5 and honestly so scared to turn the heating on because of the cost associated. We're out at swimming lessons and I know we're going home to a cold house 🥶

It won’t be the best Christmas but I’ll do what I can to make it memorable. It will be cold and we will have something simple for dinner. There certainly won’t be any extras. It will be blankets, dressing gowns and spent on the sofa. Can’t afford anything for presents.

I generally stand with strikers, it's their right and it's meant to be disruptive to get maximum effect. But I always thought some things had policies in place to protect the public when strikes happen, such as if police or nurses strike. Totally respect their right too and support them in their strike, their management knows the strikes are coming so should pull in extra willing staff at overtime rates to cover the loss of workers during the strike. Right, that's what I thought anyway. Only I've got a poorly kid, and he's not needing to be rushed to hospital but I was watching him moan in pain in his sleep last night and thinking about ambulance strikes and worried, if he needs hospital during one of those strikes he'd be screwed. See he did need an ambulance a few weeks back, he was struggling to breath and it was still a 3 hour wait for an ambulance to arrive. So a little child couldn't breathe but because I don't have a car or someone who could take me and had no money for a taxi my little boy had to wait three hours in fear while struggling to breathe. It was horrid. And that wasn't on a strike day.
It occurred to me, strikes affect the poorest unfairly. Those with a little money could get a taxi, those with lots of money can pay their own ambulances and medical care so are not subject to NHS issues. But those without those resources are left hanging, unimportant even to their supposed societal peers. I hope my little lad doesn't have strep that we suspect he has, I hope he won't need a hospital trip if he does, I hope I'm worrying about nothing.
But we talk about strikes as a disruption to services and economies, but not that danger their often pose to the most vunerable in society. Strikes effect the poorest, which most often includes those with disabilities, worst than other classes of people.

I am proud to be a part of this project and would like to say how grateful I am. After speaking to a journalist about a story for this project they kindly looked into a technicality that means I am unable to qualify for free school meals due to being on legacy benefits despite having an income below the threshold for receiving them. After speaking to them I contacted my daughters school to see if they could offer any help, they awarded my daughter a discretionary bursary to help with the cost of school meals, text books etc. My daughter is now able to eat in the school canteen without having the worry about if I have the money to put on her school lunch account and has also been able to order some revision guides to help her in a subject that she feels is a bit of a struggle. This is having a positive effect on my daughters learning and confidence after feeling left out and different for so long.

Winter has definitely arrived! I woke up this morning freezing in my home, but am still not able to put the heating on due to the cost of rising fuel bills and the thought of receiving a bill I am unable to pay. However I have, after about two months of drinking nothing but water, finally switched the kettle on to warm my self up with a cup of coffee. This is no way that people in the modern world should have to live, or should be living. This is having a real impact on the lives of my daughter and myself both physically and mentally, as well as millions of other families. When is something going to change? This can't go on for any longer. Real change to help with families cost's should be a priority that is not put off any longer.

With the cost of living going up I have had to do cut back on family gifts due to only one income coming in and the rise in prices have caused costs to increase too much. I am making sure my son has presents from Santa this year.

Sitting with blankets wondering where I am getting money to put oil in. Lay crying last couple nights while my child says he’s cold.

Because of the rising cost of living, Christmas will not be the same in terms of expenditure. I will need to ensure that I budget well for my priority bills like gas and electric.

It's a big struggle for us this year because of the crisis, plus my sons birthday who will be 8 on Christmas eve. I also have a 4 year old girl and a 9 month old girl and food is a big struggle too, I had to get a loan. I wish I was able to take my kids to see their nan as she's in Wales and we are in England.

Been a while since I've added to my diary but life is just a snowball at this time. Some bigger than others... Stress levels over Xmas are high and scary... Everything I saved had to be used to fix my car 😭
I had just cleared my debt only to go back into it. Hopefully one soon I'll be back there but for now all I can sing is 'let it rain'.

A still shot from a TikTok video of prime minister Rishi Sukan, making it clear who he thinks is worthy of funding.

Big struggle today as had to take my child youngest to the doctors and have get bus. It's gone up in price which wasn't expected.

Definitely a big struggle this year and food is a nightmare. I have to buy monthly and weekly where didn't have to before.

No change. We have always had to spend very little compared to many families I know and we still can not or will not spend the silly money to do any Christmas activities. For example, ice skating here is over £50 for the three of us for 30mins maximum of fun. We don't do Father Christmas but for us it would be £20 each for a tiny kids and £1 box of sweets.
We have got use to this but I feel sorry for the families where this was seen as normal and now have to make cut backs. Sometimes it's easer to have not any expectation than to have to lower them.

To be fair I haven't heard or received a letter saying anything about this.
All this help from the government is extremely helpful and I do not expect all my bills to equal to the price they once were. But where will this money be pulled back from?
What vital cuts will be effected and will out benefits but cut in this process?
This all maybe very helpful now but what are the consequences to this down the line?

Social media at its best/ worst.
Photos and videos of local nurses on a Christmas night out drunk and lost of lovely dresses and heels.
Photos and videos of school teachers on a night out drunk sitting at a table having a meal out.
I don't grudge them a night out but they are on strike last week, claiming of being poorly paid.
I stayed in with my mug of tea last tonight as usual.

It's International Day of Disabilities.
I don't like to think as my daughter as disabled. She is of high intelligence. She is physically fit. She is different. Lacking in social skills, does not understand friendships and relationships. She takes everything at face value. At 16 she has never had a boyfriend or girlfriend. Never sneaked out with friends to drink alcohol or smoke. She needs reminded to brush her teeth. She hides in her room most days and nights. She hasn't been in school for 3 years as no alternative educational support and no social work support due to lack of council budgets. Slipped through the net. Forgotten.
I'm grateful she is not in need of medical treatment on a daily basis. But she too deserves more than how she has been treated.
My soul is broken at the discrimination and poverty. The judgemental, the greedy. I don't want to think too far ahead into the future. Struggling to keep faith and stay positive.

I have just tried to draught proof our lounge with a roll of bubble wrap. Filled in holes in the gas meter cupboard that had a breeze blowing through and covered the letterbox. I hope it will be a bit less cold in there now. The forecast is below freezing day and night several times next week which I am dreading.

This Christmas is going to be the toughest that I remember having to live through. Since becoming a single parent after my partner left home I have struggled living on Legacy benefits and Child benefit, with no other family or help Christmas has been quiet for some years now. This year, however, could not get any further away from what I remember from previous years due to the cost of living. We're already living in a cold, dark home due to rising fuel cost. We have a small tree with no lights. Christmas dinner will unfortunately consist of what I can afford a few days before, but will have to be something quick and easy to cook. I have been able to buy my daughter a few gifts thank's to my participation in Changing realities, but this has been kept to the minimum, clothes, toiletries etc. that are needed on a day to day basis. There will be no treats or visits from anyone else, so this is going to be another very quiet Christmas. My daughter would love to go to a theatre to see a Christmas pantomime but this has never been possible, as I simply can't afford the cost of travel or tickets etc. Fortunately my daughter does attend the local Church on a regular basis and enjoys helping out there so is engaged with activities of some sort, but like myself keeps home life at home, so others do not know what a struggle life can be for the pair of us. Christmas for me will be sitting at home in the cold and dark when my daughter is at school or Church worrying about how I am going to pay the bills and whether the cost of food items that I need to buy will of increased again next time I vist the local shops. As far as I can, I try to shield my daughter from the worries of life in the hope that she will be able to live a far better one once she is making her own way in the world, which I truly believe she will achieve. But for now, we will make the most of what we do have and maybe even put on a Christmas movie which will be the first time I have turned on the television since the cost of electricity started going up. Happy Christmas all!

Social media is full of Xmas nails.
It's quickly becoming a trend.
I personally think it's tacky.
How can dishes and housework be done with nails like those?
Can see who isn't struggling financially when they displaying their Xmas nails at £30 to £40 for an appointment.

'Take care of yourself'. I have heard it a few times when I've spoke about our situation. I have no choice. Nobody else takes care of me.
I'm the unpaid carer. The support services are not there anymore.
What would happen if I didn't take care of myself?
Would anyone care? Would anyone step up to take care of me?

My daughter coughed most of the night.
We have had about 3 hours sleep.
She is crying, I am crying
The house is cold.

Actually we don't celebrate Christmas but do lots of our yearly shopping this time due to sales. This year we don't have much money left in our hands after paying all the bills. The cost of living and rising fuel costs are making us mentally sick. Our children are depressed as well due to us cutting down our annual trip to friends and family.

In more than 2 decades of raising children while in receipt of benefits, I've never had such a tight budget for Xmas. Feel really stressed that I can't afford anything the kids would really want, or use, but it's likely to just be a pair of pyjamas, socks, and a selection box each. Very aware their school friends are likely to get much much more.

Cost of living will definitely affect this year's x-mas shopping. Will cutdown expensive shopping that we do usually. Will go for the basic one and cut down visiting family and friends. Maybe this winter we will have to live without heating as bills soar to record high.

For me this year, Christmas is slightly different. It's the first one where two of my daughters now at university and one of them is coming home in the new year, ending a month or three weeks. So that's going to be nice to see her. But on the flip side, that's an extra mouth to feed and the stresses and strains of that, but it will be nice to have her back. It's also been a bit of a costly Christmas, but I think my credit card is going to have to help bail me out this year, due to my parents moving up to the Midlands and I'm in London, and the cost of train fare up there and hotel for three nights is a lot more expensive now than what it was when I lived just outside London in Sussex. So, for me, this year is a lot more cost wise financially in just my traveling costs and expenditure there, which I'm really struggling with, really sort of panicking about, and have already had a loan taken out to get me through Christmas last year, which I'm still paying back. It was for my credit union and it was two year loan, so I'm a little bit struggling at the moment.

Christmas is my least favourite time of year. I would happily ignore it completely (as I did for many years) but our daughter likes to celebrate it in whatever way we are able. Our Christmas is more about things we do than presents. We all mark programmes we plan to watch together in the TV guide. We try to make a gingerbread house and decorate it with sweets with varying success each year. I buy small gifts and treats for our daughter, a chocolate orange, warm socks, a book and a game. She opens it on our bed on Christmas morning. We take turns cooking the dinner, this year it's me! Nut roast and veg and gravy and potatoes probably.
We play monopoly and do a jigsaw at home together over the holidays. We watch kids films and TV programmes after long dog walkies. We go to the beach one day with friends and walk and fly kites and take flasks of hot chocolate. That is my favourite part.
I hope these things are enough to create happy memories for our daughter, as just this stretches our budget to the limit.
This year the extra expense will come from heating the house more whilst our daughter is off school, not getting cheap food from the Pantry whilst it is closed over the holiday period, extra food to replace free school dinners and paying for her to attend school trips and events.
If we had more money available we could attend parties or fayres or eat special foods or travel to visit friends and family or buy people presents but I am really not bothered. Christmas is just another day to me.

We are pooling resources with a neighbour and sharing drinks, cooking and heating on Xmas day. Secret Santa so the kids all get something. Not what we might have chose, but we are two single mums with 7 kids between us.

Christmas is nearly here. I’ve got my tree up but I’m not feeling my usual joy. Every penny I spend I’m conscious of it. My granddaughter went into my fridge last night looking for a smoothie and it made me think about how long it is since I’ve done an actual shop. Must be months. Why is life so hard at the moment? When is it going to change? How is it going to change? I grew up in the 80s when times were hard but I was shielded from it. Things are so different now to then. It’s all about showing off on social media. Showing what you have. Showing what the kids have. Sad hard times.

I’m very lucky that I have been able to save. I worked during lockdown so anything I had, I saved. Lucky that I’m able to heat my home at the moment. I went to count my savings during the week and realised I’ve spent more than half of them. Over £1000. I feel sick about this. Feel like I can’t wait until Christmas is over to start trying to save again. Heartbroken that the only time in my life where if my washing machine broke I could buy a new one and I’ve spent it. Not even the thoughts of seeing the joy on the kids faces is taking it away. We still haven’t had our payment in Northern Ireland for the electric and it’s not going to happen until January now, something I had been relying on. BUT I know I’m lucky and there is people out there far worse off than me.

Feels like one is completely shot out in the dark with no hope of surviving. The surge in cost of living is heart breaking, especially for some of us who receive 'no recourse to public fund support' of just £33 per week. It is confusing and frustrating at the same time as there is no where to turn to for help since we cannot get access to public funds. This is unfair right now.

I don't think I would even celebrate Christmas that much. Normally during Christmas we buy gifts for family and friends and most importantly for our children - we buy them a Christmas present, new Christmas clothing and so on and so forth. But for someone like me, I don't even have have recourse to public funds so all those increased cost of living expenses support that most people are getting, we are not getting. What we get for a month is unbelievable. We barely survive, so we don't have any means of celebrating Christmas at all. So that's how we see about Christmas is what we're supposed to celebrate because it's part of our tradition but we don't have any means of celebrating.

It's affecting our Christmas a lot because we don't have much to afford food, presents and the level of bills. I feel very sad for my little one because is very difficult for me keep the money for his presents and give him a little breath from our situation.
The cost of the food is extremely high, transport has increased, everything is increasing a lot.

I was waiting desperately for the second one-off payment, after it was silently pushed back from being in October to November. I partly used it to pay bills and partly for getting ready for my baby arriving in January - the car seat and cot mattress, things I can’t get second hand. The cost of living payments make a big difference to me but I feel guilty when I speak to my aunt, who is disabled, about the fact that she only got the £150 payment because she’s on contribution-based ESA. She struggles as much as me and it makes so sense at all that she, and many other people with disabilities, gets less than a quarter of what I received. As helpful as the money has been, I am cynical about the cost of living payment scheme. We shouldn’t have to wait for random payments as if the government is being charitable - it is not; Universal Credit should be enough to live on with a dignified quality of life.

Awake and cold at 2.45am

Christmas is fast approaching! It was tough during the pandemic but this year with the rising cost of living it is going to be the toughest yet. As a single parent living on legacy benefits alone I can hardly afford to feed the two of us basic everyday food and essentials. So this year there is no option but to go without a traditional Christmas meal and stick to something quick and easy to cook to avoid using too much electricity. As for presents, there will be a few basic items of clothing and toiletries for my daughter as there is no money for anything more. Then there is a Christmas tree that will no longer twinkle with lights, so this year will be very plain and simple for us but we will try to make the most of what we do have. I know there are millions of families that will be living like this or even worse but until there is real change in society and the governments help for people in these situations, not due to their own fault but due to unforseen circumstances or ill health this is all we can do. To all families living in these unaceptable conditions we will be thinking of you all and wish you a happy christmas. Make the most of what you do have as change and fairness are surley not too far away.

Hmm it's not easy to live with this high cost of living especially for some if us who do not have recourse to public funds. We cannot receive support like others. It is very serious. May God help us.

It's definitely getting colder, I'm struggling to keep the house warm. I'm fortunate I was entitled to the warm home payment. It doesn't matter how long I have the heating on, as soon as its off within an hour or so I can feel the cold again. Extra layers and hot water bottles are a god send at the moment. I really hope they manage to bring energy costs soon.

I appreciate the money but right now, it's not making a massive difference. All my bills are increasing so it basically lets me get some Christmas presents but that's about it. The rise in benefit amounts should have come sooner. I hate to think of the debt people will be in come April.

I've checked, carefully because I don't want to piss my landlord off and get kicked out, but my landlord is on a domestic account for the property me and my neighbours rent. Which means they're 100% getting the £400 money back for each of us, me and my neighbours, but they've verbally told us they aren't AND have upped our utilities by £40 a month. It's been hinted to one of my neighbours (by the landlord) that if we push for the £400 back they'll either kick us out or put up our bills more. I'm too scared to even try to discuss it with them. And I've checked online and with local council but there is no legal protection for us, we're denied support aimed at us from the government because our landlords can threaten us with eviction at anytime. It's so unfair.

It hit my account quite early last month, and was gone within a day. I used it to pay off my budgeting advance for UC and some groceries. I was then able to get another advance out to pay for Christmas items for my children and pay towards some bills I've been falling behind on lately. It helped but on its own, if I hadn't used it to get an advance, it wouldn't have been enough to do much of anything. If they gave us that much extra every month then that would actually be helpful, but every now and then it just gives a five minute breather.
They talk about this £900 next year but it feels too late by then. We need help now, in this winter, not next spring when benefits will raise anyway. Well no, honestly we need more now and will likely need more next year too unless they get this ridiculous food and energy inflation under control. No number of handouts will be enough until our bills and groceries are settled and safe again. None of us want to survive off handouts.

Got paid yesterday, UC money, paid essential bills, skipped ones I could skip, did a small grocery shop, not my usual but what will get us through. It cost £70 because I needed pricey items like loo roll, cleaning products, etc. It's mind blowing how little money will stretch these days. Each month we buy less but spend more. Milk is now £1.65! Brought a long life milk for in case of emergency and now in the habit of collecting milk, ketchup, sugar packets from local café I visit once a week for a £1.30 pot of tea at our local warm bank, my me treat. I'd stop going except £1.30 for all the little packets they let me take home is cheaper than buying those products that my kids won't eat meals without. Plus I need a little treat each week.
It's weird the lengths we go to for penny saving these days. It's embarrassing. I feel like such a shit parent for something I can't avoid or be blamed for. I'm not the one inflating the prices of food to such extremes. I'm not the one not rising incomes to support families at the bottom of the food chain. It's unfair. I used to cook a variety of meals but these days we're sticking to the same meals every couple of days, cos it's cheaper. Also, buying more frozen ready meals for about 90p+ cos works out cheaper than home made meal most days but I worry about the healthy aspect of things for my kids, ready meals are cheap and don't have the best ingredients, lots of salt and fats. It worries me. But I'll feed my kids anyway I have too.

Just, meh! There is too much month left after the money runs out.

It won’t touch the sides to be honest it’s just not enough I’m going through £60 of electricity a week. It used to be £50 a fortnight, I honestly can’t keep up, I’m at a point of living in the bedroom so I don’t have to use my stairlift or rise and recline chain because we can’t afford to have them being used too. The stairlift has to actually be turned on at all times otherwise it can break, so that’s a little frustrating. I feel like my disabilities and need for specialist equipment is putting pressure on my family.