A SINGLE mum has revealed that she is struggling to feed her kids and heat her home and can barely afford Netflix.
Simone Walton, from Newcastle, is finding it almost impossible to make ends meet and is surviving on one meal a day to make sure there is food on the table for her two sons.
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The 30-year-old lives with her two sons, Enrico, aged nine, and Kendrick, aged four.
She is currently unemployed, but trying to get a part-time job, and has to use food banks twice a month to keep the family fed.
The mum of two earns around £900 per month between income support, child benefit, child tax credit and the disability living allowance she receives for Enrico.
She said that she is in arrears for almost all her bills and is struggling to pay for things like her TV licence, Netflix, food and phone contracts for her and her eldest son.
Simone told Chronicle Live: “I used to be able to go to the shop for some milk with £1 – now it’s nearly £2. A carton of orange juice used to be 55p and now it’s 85p. I used to get two, now we only get one.
“Even hot dogs have gone up in price. They used to be 45p, now they are 75p.”
She added that Enrico has additional needs which means he will only eat certain things.
The youngster will only have plain pasta or a plain ham sandwich, both of which have gone up in price.
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He will also eat turkey dinosaurs but the family haven’t been able to afford them for some time.
Simone added: “I’m missing meals to make sure they eat, I have one meal at night time. The other day I was in pain through hunger and my little boy was trying to give me his baguette. Even if he offered, I couldn’t take it.
“I drink pop and water throughout the day, as long as I have my fluids I am ok. Then between 5pm and 6pm we sit down and have a meal together.”
On top of normal bills, the family now faces some significant financial challenges.
The distraught mum said that she has an energy bill of over £1,000 after she was provided faulty meters, which she has been unable to use.
She added that the family have never been on holiday together and she tries to take the kids to McDonalds once a month as a treat, but that she can’t always afford it.
Simone has been trying desperately to get a part-time job to cover costs. She has created a CV and is learning how to write a cover letter.
She said: “Before I had my first son I was doing agency work such as waitressing. When he turned five, I fell pregnant with my youngest. He’s four now and I know that in a couple of months I need to start getting a job.”
WHAT HELP IS AVAILABLE?
1. The Government’s energy price guarantee- open to everyone
2. £650 direct payment for those on low incomes- check online to see if you qualify
3. £150 direct payment for people with disabilities
4. Food banks and warm banks in your local area
5. Local charity support like the Manchester Youth Zone
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