“I’m missing out on the social contact which makes me feel like a normal person.”

The cost of living crisis has affected all areas of my life, so I’ve had to make some changes to manage my bills. It makes me feel very depressed as I’ve not been able to do the things that make me feel good about myself.

“I haven’t had a haircut since before Christmas so it’s looking quite wild and scruffy. It’s getting me down.”

To save money I’ve limited my showers to once a week and I strip-wash the other days. I used to get my hair shaved every three weeks, but I haven’t had a cut since before Christmas so it’s looking quite wild and scruffy. It’s really getting me down as I used to be very smart and proud of my appearance.

I turned 60 recently and my eldest brother came to see me and he told me how scruffy I looked. I said I was okay with it, but I was hiding my shame. It’s prompted me to book a taxi to go to the hairdresser. I have to get a taxi because I have mobility problems so it costs me even more, which affects my mental health as well as my money. It’s not just depressing, it’s demoralising.

“I don’t see myself as a liar, I do it to protect my pride. But lying makes me feel more depressed and not respect myself.”

I would like to have travelled to see my best friend for his 60th birthday, but I just couldn’t afford it. Often when I want to go and do something, I have to ring up and make a medical excuse so I have an excuse not to go as I can’t afford it. I don’t see myself as a liar, I do it to protect my pride. But lying makes me feel more depressed and not respect myself.

Many people don’t realise that the cost of living also affects things outside the home. I used to love going out for a coffee with friends or going to see a jazz concert, but I just can’t afford it anymore. I can’t afford the small pleasures in life anymore.

“The main impact being poor has had on me is my self esteem is even lower – it makes me feel that the state doesn’t care.”

I used to like feeling that I was part of the community, but now I’m missing out on the social contact which makes me feel like a normal person.

The main impact being poor has had on me is my self esteem is even lower – it makes me feel that the state doesn’t care. And if it doesn’t care about me then it doesn’t care about people worse off than me. It really frustrates me.