A 20-year-old struggling amid the cost of living crisis has opened up about his daily battle to keep a roof over his head and food on the table. Ashley Goudou lives in a one-bedroom flat with his four dogs and four rescue cats in Bristol.
He works 10-hour shifts, seven days a week for £6.81 an hour - but is constantly worried about being able to pay the bills. The factory worker walks an hour in the dark to get to his nightshift, as he can't afford a bike, and is forced to live off Pot Noodles as it's the only meal he can afford.
Speaking to the Mirror, Ashley said: "I shower at the gym because I can't afford the gas to wash at home. I always worry at the end of the month if I have enough money to feed the dogs - but I'd rather feed them than myself."
Ashley, who grew up in care before moving out aged 16, earns nearly £2,000 a month - but says his salary isn't enough since the cost of bills and food has tripled in the last year.
More than £1,000 of his wage goes on rent, gas, water and WiFi each month. The money left over goes towards his pets' food and care, leaving him very little to spend on himself.
He said: "I never know at the end of the month if I've got enough to look after myself and the dogs. That really worries me. I have lots of debts and my WiFi and gas has been cut off. I can't pay for it all.
"When I'm low on food, I worry about when I'm going to get more and I pray to God."
Ashley relies on donations from Bristol Animal Rescue Centre to keep his beloved eight pets fed and vaccinated.
He also visits Ambition Lawrence Weston community centre every Wednesday, where his animals receive free vet check-ups and he can pick up dog beds, cat litter and bags of food.
"Without their donations and food, it wouldn't be possible. But I don't want to take too much because some people are worse off than me," Ashley said.
"If the centre wasn't here, I'd have to work two jobs. I would choose to do that and put the pets first.
"Now the price of electrictricity and gas has gone through the roof, I'm struggling. Even pet food has tripled in price.
"I used to spend just under £1,000 on my pets a month and now it's about £3,000. I only earn £2,000.
"I used to feed them four times a day, now I feed them twice and buy supermarket-own brands.
"Handing them into a rescue isn't an option for me, I wouldn't have the heart. I'd rather not feed myself.
"I know I can look after them and I don't know if someone else can give them as much care."
During lockdown, Ashley took in 12 rescue cats after a friend could no-longer care for them when a friend could no-longer care for them, and four stayed with him, Tinkerbell, Messy, Red and Ruby.
He also has four dogs, five-year-old Frenchies Blue and Willow, seven-year-old bulldog Dolche and two-year-old bulldog Bruno.
The animal lover has ambitions of becoming a vet ones day and says his pets are crucial for his mental health and wellbeing.
"I suffer with bad mental health. Earlier in the year, I separated from my partner and I felt suicidal. The dogs kept me going and gave me purpose," he said.
"The Government don't see the effects the cost of living has on people. I used to eat two healthy meals a day and now I'm just eating Pot Noodles because it's all I can really afford.
"I walk to the gym to shower because I can't afford gas at home to have a bath. It's ridiculous."
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