A family with five children said their lives have become a "nightmare" as they struggle through the soaring cost of living crisis.
Leeds couple Kevin, 40, and Nicola Gomersall, 39, said the rising cost of goods has made their lives miserable as they are forced to feed their kids cheap ready-meals. The family also has to stay inside all the time because they cannot afford to go out and spend £50 a week just to take one kid to school, Leeds Live reports.
The rising energy costs are also hampering the family budget as all the children, aged 3, 10, 13, 15, and 17, are off school and are therefore playing on their various computer or games consoles throughout the day. "It’s a bit of a nightmare. We don’t even get to go out anymore. We basically have to sit in because we have no more money to pay," Kevin said.
"When you’re living underneath each other, it causes a lot of arguments. We get angry. We need our space.
Nicola said: “With all the prices going up, it’s going to become a choice of eating or taking your kids to school.” The couple have now resorted to selling their possessions at Wetherby Car Boot Sale. Kevin, a construction worker, and Nicola, a cleaner, said their energy bills now rack up an extra £75 a month.
The stressed mum exclaimed it was a "big jump". Kevin added: "Food, gas, electric, everything has gone up, bus fare is just about the only thing that hasn’t gone up. The government don’t give a damn.
“Our kids don’t eat as healthy anymore because it costs too much for food. We’re giving them ready meals, something quick and simple.” However, the worst hit to their funds is the rise in fuel costs.
They said it now costs £50 a week alone to take their 15-year-old son to school. Nicola said: "Our son goes to Tadcaster Grammar. I’m having to go there and back every day – it costs me about £50 a week now to get my kid to school.”
The lad is currently on the waiting list for a school bus, however, Nicola says this will still cost around £80. Kevin said: “When we rang up for help from the Government, we got told to change our kid’s school to make it easier for us because it’s costing too much."
Nicola said: “I don’t want him to go to schools near us, because they’re not very nice schools.”
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