Jean-jee red ennagh!

Today we are giving over Gef to you our readers.

Throughout the day, we will be running a series of articles which reflect the challenges people on our island are already facing ahead of a rise in fuel bills and other costs heading into the winter months.

We are doing this because tomorrow sees CoMin meet before all Tynwald members gather for a behind closed doors discussion on what to do to help people on our island.

We hope members read these articles, they are after all the experiences of their constituents and our fellow islanders. You can also email your MHKs and all members of Tynwald with your feelings, thoughts and concerns. All their email addresses and some of their phone numbers can be found here.

This is the experience of a single mother.

I am worried about the cost of living as a single mum who currently doesn’t work.

I am struggling in my own right now as things are going up can’t remember last time I went food shopping and did a full shop.

School holidays is crippling me as my daughter eaten me out house and home and I can’t afford to keep buying things. Bread, milk and cheese is all expensive. I stay in so I don’t spend money because I can’t afford anything when out or if I do it makes me upset. 

I haven’t even bought my daughter school uniform yet as I can’t afford it. I don’t eat much but I make sure my daughter is always fed even if just cereal cause that’s all I can afford. Social benefits are naff everything going up and they aren’t I get we get given winter bonus etc but I have used that to survive. I haven’t paid my rent or bills for last two weeks cause I can’t afford it. I am Proud and hate asking for help as I feel people out there are probably worse off.

I am suffering with mental health and lose of a family member am seeking help but doesn’t help the fact am struggling financially to survive making my mental health worse. I can’t work cause can’t afford childcare or buses. I can’t get a job that suits my hours for school drop off and pick up as my daughter number one priority.

Cost of living crippling me and I am scared for winter and Christmas because I could be homeless. I can’t even afford to buy my daughter birthday presents.

I am failing as a mum cause government are failing us. Cost of living is a struggle for everyone. They care about themselves.