A COUPLE have told how they can only afford to feed their five kids ready-made meals as they struggle through the cost of living crisis.
Kevin and Nicola Gomersall, 40 and 39 respectively, stay in all the time as they can’t afford to go out and they’re spending £50 a week just to take one child to school.
Parents Kevin and Nicola Gomersall have been struggling with the cost of living crisis
Energy costs have also been through the roof for the large family with the children, aged 3, 10, 13, 15 and 17, all on their various computers or games consoles throughout the day as they’re off school.
Kevin said: “It’s a bit of a nightmare. We don’t even get to go out anymore. We basically have to sit in because we have no more money to pay.
“When you’re living underneath each other, it causes a lot of arguments. We get angry. We need our space.”
Nicola said: “With all the prices going up, it’s going to become a choice of eating or taking your kids to school.”
The couple were selling their possessions at Wetherby Car Boot Sale. Kevin, a construction worker, and Nicola, a cleaner, say energy bills are now an extra £75 a month – “a big jump,” exclaims the concerned mum.
Kevin said: “Food, gas, electric, everything has gone up, bus fare is just about the only thing that hasn’t gone up. The government don’t give a damn.
“Our kids don’t eat as healthy anymore because it costs too much for food. We’re giving them ready meals, something quick and simple.”
The pair say the real kicker is the rise in fuel costs, it costs £50 a week just to take their 15-year-old son to school. Nicola said: “Our son goes to Tadcaster Grammar. I’m having to go there and back every day – it costs me about £50 a week now to get my kid to school.”
He’s on the waiting list for the school bus, which she fumes is still about £80 a month.
Kevin said: “When we rang up for help from the Government, we got told to change our kid’s school to make it easier for us because it’s costing too much.
Nicola said: “I don’t want him to go to schools near us, because they’re not very nice schools.”
It comes as Downing Street is considering slashing VAT in a bid to help struggling families battle the cost of living crisis, it is reported.
The proposals to cut VAT from the headline figure of 20 per cent could reduce the tax bill for millions of Brits.
The move would help ease the pressures faced by households as the cost of living crisis continues.
The Prime Minister’s chief of staff Steve Barclay has suggested reducing the rate on a temporary basis, The Times reports.
However, there are fears the Treasury has warned the move could end up fuelling inflation by overstimulating the economy.
Inflation, which reached 9.1 per cent last month, is at its highest in four decades.