SARAH-MAY Buchan has worked all her life but due to recent mental health issues she’s been relying on Universal Credit to get by. But the Aberdeen single mother said the safety net hasn’t been enough to stop her family falling into fuel and food stress.
She said at times she was unable to fill up her fridge due to skyrocketing rates of inflation which have seen food prices soar.
Buchan, 38, lives alone with her 10-month child and says she’s already feeling the pinch from the rising cost of living – and that’s before the 54% rise in energy bills begin.
Buchan used to work for Aberdeen City Council as a pupil support assistant but started on Universal Credit during the Covid pandemic as she dealt with mental health issues.
READ MORE: It's not just energy bills – here's everything going up in price from April
She said government policy is failing to reflect the dire circumstances facing families across the UK, including herself. Buchan told The National: “Last time I did my shopping it was around £120 … before it would have been around £80. I buy pretty much the same stuff every time I shop. All these prices are going up.”
“I struggled before. There were some days I couldn’t fill my fridge before my money went in from the government. And it’s really bad that things are just going up and up and up. Even the price a loaf is shooting up.
“It is going to affect everybody. I don’t know how I can budget anymore when I already use reusable nappies so I don’t have to buy nappies or use reusable wipes. I don’t have to buy those.
“It’s all these things I’m already saving money on yet I’m still going to be struggling. So I really don’t know what I’m supposed to do. Am I supposed to live on rice and peas for the rest of my life?”
READ MORE: The National wants to hear from those struggling with the cost of living
Buchan is fortunate enough to be on a fixed-rate tariff for her energy bills but the thought of her bills surging in May when her contract ends is daunting.
She said: “Because I suffer from anxiety anyway I’m trying not to think about that and trying just to tell myself that’s next month issue but I am really dreading it.
“I’m thinking I’m just going to be sitting in the cold, wearing my dressing gown all the time when the winter comes.”
She said while she appreciated the Scottish Government’s £20 per week Scottish Child Payment, and it is helping, it’s “truly not enough” to counteract the massive rise in the cost of living.
Buchan added that even if she was working, it would be unlikely any wage rise would match inflation.
Even the measures she takes to combat rising energy bills costs money she just doesn’t have. And as for the £350 of government support, she said that’s unlikely to cover the substantial increase in bills.
“It’s quite difficult,” she explains. “Even preparing myself for this kind of thing. Everything that you need to do is going to cost something like now you can get thermal curtains, and I do have curtains on most of my windows anyway.
“But even if I had to buy thicker ones, that’s forking out more money. And even if you buy them pre-loved on Facebook marketplace, which is what I do a lot to try and save money across the board, people are still going to ask for £30 – and where am I getting this £30 from when at the end of the month I can’t even fill my fridge up.”
Visit bit.ly/nationalcostcrisis if you want to share your story with us or email Craig.Meighan@newsquest.co.uk
How is the cost of living crisis affecting you?
From soaring energy bills to rising food prices and stagnating wages, it's getting harder and harder for many Scots to make ends meet. We want to tell the stories of how the cost of living crisis is impacting people in Scotland. Are you struggling to choose between heating and eating? Are you finding it increasingly difficult to afford your weekly shop? If so, we want to go beyond the statistics and tell your story.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel