A family of five have told of the extreme lengths they go to so that they can financially survive - despite working as many hours as they can and only spending money on essentials. DevonLive reports their measures include skipping meals so that their children can eat, only heating rooms where their children sleep and having to walk around the supermarket with a calculator.
Kate Worby, 29, has three jobs - as a children's entertainer for her own business Magical Guests, as a carer and a cleaner. Her partner, Charles Skudder, 29, is a full-time university student who also runs a valet business and worked nights as a carer at a local care home until it shut down.
He also helps out with Kate's business which covers Devon and Cornwall and mostly has bookings at weekends. Together they help look after their three children - aged eight, four and nearly one.
Kate said: "We are always on the go and hardly ever at home. On the rare days we do find ourselves both at home together we are busy getting on with things that need to be done.
"We are forever trying to keep our heads above water, like I'm sure it is for a lot of families. Everything is going up but wages are not matching it."
One of the biggest battles the couple face is the rising cost of food. Often it means she and Charles don't eat.
Kate said: "The children will always come first. They get free school dinners but if they come home from school really hungry I will cook them a meal, even if it was for me and Charles.
"When Charles and I are not eating enough it takes its toll. I am so tired as I have not eaten really in three days.
"It just means when you are going out shopping you can't think 'that looks nice' and just pick it up. I go with a list and get what's on it; I walk around with a calculator on my phone."
Kate admits it can be embarrassing when her calculations aren't quite right and she has to leave some food behind at the checkout. She said: "Having to put things back is always embarrassing.
"I have heard the phrase 'heat or eat' said a lot but for us it's not actually the case. It's heat less, eat less.
"We limit heating to just the rooms that are essential to be heated. Luckily we are coming into summer again but in the winter it will be a massive problem."
Kate added: "Our rent has gone up which has impacted us a lot. At the same time, everything else has gone up, like council tax and energy bills.
"We don't drink or smoke or go out, and we have no hobbies. All we literally do is go to work and look after the kids
"We just have to keep going and hope that one day things will get better. Once Charles finishes university he will hopefully start bringing in a good wage, but until then we just have to take it week by week."
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.
