Vicky Whitwell and her husband reside with their two children in Coventry. Vicky explains that they have “good incomes” but must budget according to “what could happen, what might happen, and what is happening.”

Vicky Whitwell opens the refrigerator to retrieve a snack for her children. “We don’t keep much in our refrigerator,” she says, indicating the half-empty shelves. “The issue is waste. We cannot afford to be throwing away food.”

Vicky resides with her husband and two children, Chloe, 11, and Charlie, 9, in Coventry. She owns a business and works in a nursing home to supplement her income. Her husband is employed by John Lewis.

“We have good incomes, but we budget based on what could happen, might happen, and is happening,” she explains.

When the price of gasoline doubles from £70 to £130 per gallon, nobody could have predicted that.

Vicky contemplates how different their summer vacation is this year as she prepares a pasta with her children at home.

“If I’m being completely honest, I’d just like to be able to go on day trips without having to watch the bank balance, what’s coming in, what’s going out, and what might happen in the winter.

“Because the income that enters the home is spent on bills and everything else as the cost of everything continues to rise.”

The family used to take an annual vacation, but not this year.

“We have not scheduled any vacations. In 2018, we traveled to Portugal and Croatia, and in 2019, we vacationed in the United Kingdom. We have not taken any vacations since CIVID due to a lack of funds.

“We spent the weekend on a farm…all that’s we have planned at the moment since we need to make sure we have enough money to get through October and November.”

Her top priority continues to be maintaining payments for the children’s activities. Charlie is a swimmer and a football player, she explains while pointing at him. She continues, pointing to Chloe, “She’s a dancer and a pianist.”

Music lessons are the most expensive, but they are what maintains her mental health and happiness, so you do everything you can for your children.

Her greatest concern is rising energy costs. “You’re just considering your winter supplies because that’s when the storm will strike.

“Currently we have sun, therefore we are not utilizing the heater. However, we are all aware that winters are chilly and that children must be kept warm.”