I don't believe it's worse than most other places at the moment generally but our government is terrible and our media are stirring the storm. The government aren't very good at financial distribution of wealth and the rich are really very very rich. It's been like this for the last ten years and because we can't throw government out of office anymore people can only make a noise.
All are having to cut back to ride the storm. Some simply can't anymore. The majority are financially struggling and the NHS needs many more staff (Brexit and COVID caused problems for migrating workers) BUT. We still get free healthcare if we need it. It's difficult to get an appointment but no we don't have to pay for any of it and difficulty is not the same as impossible. We need more NHS staff, better pay and better community services for care and MH. Taxes for all need increasing but especially those who have money but an increase on those who can afford it would fund all of this.
Energy costs are huge (everywhere) but could be brought down by the UK producing more of our own energy. The large companies are still making billions in profits which should have addressed months ago. Again this is a government issue, gas boilers are still the primary heating source in new builds and for replacements which is complete madness. Housing stock is short, councils have not had the funds to maintain decent housing stocks. House prices are very high. Car costs are also very high but that's the chip/COVID problem. Prices aren't coming down on cars yet a lot of people are driving new cars on PCP plans.
Triple lock pensions remain and pensions for some are so high that the baby boomers are the richest generation receiving completely free NHS treatment and some having to bankroll their kids. For others they can barely feed themselves.
Food costs have increased but we have enjoyed low cost (poor quality) food for a long time. Wages aren't covering all these rises. Government workers have had little to no pay rises for over a decade. Many are on less than minimum wage! Controversial but NHS and teachers have had pay increases, not a lot, but they have had them. We have CEOs of government organisations on 6 figure salaries and annual bonuses of tens of thousands while their staff have their pay frozen. Heads of union parties are the same, huge salaries and bonuses while subs are being increased yearly for low paid workers. Train drivers on thousands more than teachers, nurses, and emergency and safeguarding services who are demanding huge pay increases. The government needs to tax the rich (but won't because it's the rich who vote for Tories and many have huge businesses, investors who are greedy).
5%tax on all companies with profits over 1billion and the UK would be transformed.
It's the governments inability to recirculate funds that's breaking us.
It's not broken. Expectations need to change, a new car, expensive phones and foreign holiday are far from essentials and our houses are cold and dark because we're cutting back on energy. Some very unpopular decisions need to be made by our rubbish government. They won't survive the next election.