@TwinsAndTiramisu I’m massively affected.
I let houses to students. The houses were left to me by my late husband, instead of life insurance. Students (understandably) didn’t want houses during the pandemic and my income reduced by 3/4. I used all my savings and cut back the gym memberships and the nails (well, I didn’t have either, but you get the idea. The fripperies went) to get through. I received no government help. But student demand didn’t recover. Still hasn’t, but the expenses are still the same. I am still living on 1/3 income. The increase was just enough so that we could manage this time last year when I got back on my feet a bit (or so I thought), but since January, every increase in energy prices, interest rates and fuel prices has meant further cutbacks. I can’t just pay the extra £40. I had to cut back the usage to save the £40, cut back something else, or sell something. Before this fucking awful mini-budget, I thought I could tough it out. I really did think I could be ok. Now, with my income based on property (which was never my choice) I am not sure how we will. I am almost at the point where I cannot afford to sell a house.
I’ve cut my own budget to the bone, because this is, technically, a choice for me, and there is no help (which is far enough) One tank of fuel has to last six weeks, so I drive only if it’s for my daughter or a health reason. My shopping budget is £20 a week for two people. Lukewarm showers for me, no heating if my daughter isn’t home. I do still fund things for my daughter, because she didn’t make this choice, is a child and deserves to be protected, but realistically I cannot continue to do that. And we are not talking a lot, I just haven’t cut her food and singing clubs and Netflix.
I know you will be thinking I should sell a house and get a job. And, despite the fact the I promised my husband that I wouldn’t, that the houses were to provide for us the way he would have done and to hand onto my daughter, that is what I decided to do. In June. I was far from inundated with offers above the asking price, and had to accept an offer below the asking price. It has still not gone through, and the buyer has just written to me asking for a reduction in price. I could cry. I really could. Everything that has happened in the last few years could have been designed to personally stress test me. The only bright spot has been I have houses to fall back on, if I’m desperate. I appreciate I’m lucky to have it and there are people without that safety net. I got desperate, put a house on the market. And the fucking housing market implodes. I also got a job, back in august. Only they are dicking about with box ticking so badly, I still don’t even have a start date, let alone a payday in sight.
Selling a house is not free, there are thousands of pounds of costs to find. It’s on a variable rate (because of the impending sale) and every interest rate increase is costing me. It also takes time, as does childcare with zero help and not working for an employer for the last few years means I am not exactly fighting off job offers with a stick, either. I am on my absolute knees. I really don’t think I can weather anything else.
I am not expecting any sympathy. But you said you didn’t know anyone who was affected, people were just absorbing costs. Well, I have no more capacity to absorb anything. I don’t want any help or special treatment. I just want to stop being absolutely shafted every which way to Sunday, every time anything happens. There will be other people like me, who were just getting back on their feet after covid affected them, who don’t have the capacity to just groan and pay up the increases. Or who were maxed out of other reasons, good or poor.