Static wages and soaring taxes, food and energy bills are causing a cost of living crisis across the country.

Gas and electricity bills are expected to rise by more than 50% from April, when Ofgem, the energy regulator, lifts its price cap to reflect rising market costs.

Meanwhile, the Institute of Fiscal Studies has claimed that benefits must be twice as high as planned in 2022 in order to support the poorest in society during the crisis.

But it’s not just the poor who are caught between how much money is coming in and how much has to go out.

For first-time buyers, with soaring property prices, buying a home becomes a distant dream, while rents rise gobble up wages, with little left over.

Journalist Louisa Gregson asked retirees, young professionals, families and single parents in Manchester how they were coping with the growing cost of living crisis.

Kat Myers, 25, works in marketing and e-commerce and lives with her partner in a ground-floor apartment in Murray’s Mills in trendy New Islington.

The couple bought their ground-floor apartment 18 months ago and the converted red-brick old mill overlooks the picturesque marina in the area, which has been rated one of the coolest neighborhoods in the world.

Such accolades come at a price and Kat says she’s relieved they’re not trying to buy in the area now as property prices continue to soar.

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But while she and her partner may be relieved to have a mortgage already in place, she says a rise in the cost of bills and living expenses in the area are dominating Whatsapp group chats in the building.

“People say the prices in London weren’t that bad.

“Everyone is hurting,” Kat says.

Kat says she and her partner couldn’t have bought their apartment if they hadn’t bought it 18 months ago.

“Since then prices have gone up by £40,000,” she says.

Matty Dickens, 22, a videographer from Burnage works in the area.

He says he would like to live in the city center and not have to commute to work from South Manchester “but it’s just too expensive”.

Reducing, for him, means a reduced social life.

“I have to go out less, I know it’s not a big deal,” he laughs, “but I’ve noticed the increase.”

His friend, Sam Rostron, 27, from Bury is in the process of buying a house in Whitefield with his girlfriend.

Despite shopping in the suburbs, he recounts mass viewing and difficulty getting an offer accepted.

Sam says it took six months to find somewhere because the demand for properties was huge and they were constantly outbidding.

Now that they’re moving, he says the cost of living is a concern.

“We follow Martin Lewis,” he says, “We read his advice every day.”

Young professionals Lauren Meirkle, 25, and her partner Will Paget, 26, both rent at Smiths Yard in New Islington and say soaring property prices are preventing them from owning their own home in the area of ​​their choice.

“If we could buy here we’d do it in a heartbeat,” says Lauren, “But a friend of ours just bought a two-bedroom flat and it cost £400,000.

“Even if we could afford it, that’s a lot of money for an apartment – paying that much seems crazy.”

Will says their rent is fixed, “which is a relief” but “their council tax is a killer”.

The couple say that, similar to Kat’s experiences, a Facebook group in their building revealed that many people share the same concerns.

“It’s where we want to be,” Will says, “but it’s so expensive.”

Six-minute drive from Miles Platting, climbing the housing ladder or paying sky-high rent might not be a concern for those living in council-owned properties – but food and energy bills most certainly are .

Beatrice Vangu, 44, a mother of three, works as a nurse’s aide for Manchester Royal Infirmary and lives with her partner in council-owned property.

When I ask her if she feels the twinge, the answer is a resounding “yes.”

Food, gasoline, household bills… Beatrice says she struggles with it all.

“My council tax was £85 a month,” she says, “now it’s £120.”

“I do my shopping at Aldi but I find Lidl too expensive now and I don’t speak to me about Asda,” she said with an infectious laugh.

“I used to top up my petrol with £20 a week, but now after two days it’s over – and my car insurance has also increased.

“I have two children at university and for my child at school it’s £35 a month for the bus fare and £15 a week for school meals.

“It all adds up so expensive and what I get doesn’t cover the essentials.”

An 80-year-old Nelson Court resident waits for a taxi.

“I use them on a Tuesday because they’re free,” he tells us.

Giving his name only as Michael and saying “he’s closer to 80 than 70”, he says: “When you’re really in trouble is April.

“But there’s no point worrying about it – it’s going to happen.

“I haven’t felt it yet – let’s see then.”

Also ambivalent is single mother-of-two Megan Shaw, 24, who lives in Collyhurst and says she pays no interest on rising costs as long as she can afford nappies, clothes and whatever his children need.

“I don’t pay any interest and I don’t worry,” she says.

“I don’t buy things we don’t need and I haven’t noticed any difference in my performance,

“I can always get what they need, I only buy the essentials – and they have plenty of toys.”

But pensioner Ian Platt, 73, who lives in Miles Platting, says as far as he is concerned everyone is worried.

“I’m waiting to see how much my gas and electric go up,” he says, “I just gave a meter reading on Sunday, and when I find out… well, that’s when you will hit.

“Grocery shopping is also more expensive – you seem to be getting less and less for your money.

“I really feel the pinch.

“It’s every time you turn on the TV…everything increases.

“If people get a raise but everything goes up, well, that’s not even a raise.”

Ian says he has empathy for the striking bus drivers, ‘You can’t blame them’, and says he knows taxi drivers have to work longer hours to cope with the surge cost, adding: “And the clean air zone will only make matters worse.”

“But then you watch the news,” he says with a shrug, “and Boris Johnson throws parties.”

“It’s really disgusting what’s going on.”

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