“I don’t know how people do it”

Posted on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 at 11:37 a.m.

Par Sudinfo

The rise in prices is not without consequences for household budgets, and people who were already in an unstable situation can easily fall into precariousness. In Scotland, this nurse mother of two explains that she must get by on less than €30 a week when her bills are paid…

Heather Johnston, 30, is a single mother from Glasgow, who has been struggling to cope since her bill costs have skyrocketed, leaving her with little money each week.

Extra work

With her children Dominic, 12, and Olivia, 3, the mother must therefore find solutions to make ends meet. But despite her best efforts, she must choose between working overtime to put butter in the spinach and spending more time with her children.

“I know everyone is struggling. You would think that as a nurse, I earn a decent living, but that is not the case. I am a single mother, I do not receive any public assistance, I work full time five days a week for eight hours and I pay childcare costs. My bills are atrociously expensive and I don’t know how people manage,” she laments.

Insufficient effort

She explains that she only has €27 per week once she has paid all her bills. Then she has to work overtime. However, she has made other efforts such as re-mortgaging her house, changing her car or buying products on sale, even second-hand, but this is not enough. For all these reasons, the young woman is not surprised to see all the nurses leave the public health service.

How far will the price increase impact the daily life of Heather and her children? This one does not know anything regarding it, but wants to continue to fight: “I know that it is very hard for my children, but I will always put them first. I hope to get help soon. »