It is four decades since the days when my family would often eat by candlelight, unable to afford our crippling electricity bill.
Back at the council flats where I grew up, on the Kingsmead Estate in Hackney, East London, I’m reminded of those dark days as the cost of living crisis continues to wreak havoc on homes everywhere.
A survey for the Mirror in April laid bare the extent of the hardship that has forced families to ditch non-essentials and change their lifestyles drastically.
While the Tories delude themselves that Brexit is not to blame, ordinary people in the real world are suffering. Deborah Johnson, 35, grew up here and now owns her property.
She said: “The price rises were quite subtle initially. I pay for my electricity and gas on the meter. I’ve been running out more often quite quickly. My last shop for groceries was £54. I normally spend £45 and I buy the same things.
“I’m quite fortunate in that I have no dependents. But the flip side is there’s no-one to share rising costs for certain things like broadband, phone bills with.”
Dad-of-two Barrington Dehaney, 58, added: “I’ve just received a letter to say my monthly electric bill will go up from £55 to £122. These are the times we face. I’m going to the petrol station today even though my tank is 70% full. I need to save money. If it goes too low you’re looking at big money to fill it up again.”
Jenny Kelly, 67, and husband William are part of the Kingsmead Estate Residents Association. Their 31-year-old son William jnr has had to move back in with them because of the crisis.
He said: “I work full time for eBay. If I wanted to be close to my parents I’m looking at least £1,500 a month.
“But since Covid, people have been getting into bidding wars for properties. So something could be going for £1,300 but you get people offering £1,400 or £1,500.”
In the area outside my old primary school, St Dominics in Hackney Wick, it is a similar story. Mum-of-two Jermaine Darcy, 37, said: “Being on benefits you budget every month for what you have to spend.
“Your electricity has gone up. You have to make sure you turn everything off but then it’s still high. The kids come first. I’m last. They like fresh fruit and veg. And that’s expensive. Then it’s the bills.
“I’m in a one bedroom place with two kids. The council offers properties outside the borough. If you don’t take it they don’t help you because they claim you are making yourself intentionally homeless.” Jermaine is struggling with mental health. She added: “A lot of parents suffer from depression. I do.”
Refuse collector Sean Mackintosh, 53, said: “This crisis has left me in a bad way. With petrol at nearly £2 a litre, I’ve had to downsize my vehicle. I’ve also had to minimise my shopping.”
The dad-of-four added: “I grew up in Hackney. I work for the borough. A lot of people are struggling.
“A lot of people are going to food banks now and a lot of schools are providing free school meals for kids.
“Whereas people felt a bit ashamed, now they are open about it.”
Hackney is already facing a revolt from bin collectors who, for several months, have maintained the council’s 1.75% pay offer is nowhere near the 10% they need to meet the cost of living.
At Homerton University Hospital, the theme continues for NHS worker Sarah Jane Smith, 46.
She said: “The lower paid staff in Band two and three are paid a really low wage, around £10 an hour, which means a lot of people are claiming working tax credits just to pay their rent.
“As for this plan for people in our position to buy houses, it’s ridiculous. How could someone on Universal Credit or Tax Credits do that? It’s nonsense.”
