JUST like millions of single parents, Rachel Allen wonders how she and her son Lewis will get through summer vacation this year.
Britain is in the grip of a cost of living crisis affecting the costs of energy billsgasoline and groceries skyrocket — and some families have to make heavy sacrifices to cope.
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Rachel, 41, who runs a marketing coaching company, said: “I have my own business, so I don’t have a fixed salary, which makes it very difficult to apply for extra help, such as tax credits.
“As a single parent, all the responsibility for running the household and paying the bills is on your shoulders.
“There’s a limit to how creative I can be to improve the money situation and I’m concerned about its effect on my son.”
rising inflation this year is expected to reach 13.3%, bank of England has walked interest rates up to 1.75% and there are serious warnings that the UK heading for a recession.
The latest predictions show that energy bills shall hit a dazzling £5,000 next year – pushing many families to a breaking point.
Rachel, the mother of 9-year-old Lewis, said: “I’m really worried about the impact this will have on Lewis. He knows he doesn’t do all the fun things his friends do.
“I don’t want him to worry about money – he’s too young – but I don’t know how to explain to him that I can’t afford everything we used to do.”
It’s a perfect storm of trouble for family finances and Rachel like many others parentsis not sure how she will cope.
A recent survey by the charity Gingerbread found that more than a quarter of single parents had already gone without food to try to cope with the rising cost of living.
About 95% of single parents are concerned about rising basic necessities prices, and three quarters will struggle to afford heating and electricity
CompareTheMarket research found that 44% of single parents are considering hiring debt just to cover their household bills.
Victoria Benson, Gingerbread chief executive, said: “Single parents are resourceful and resilient, but they have a breaking point and the cost of living crisis is pushing many out there.”
The charity said lone parents are at a disadvantage and more help should be directed to these households.
‘We can’t afford a holiday, so we look after animals’
While some government assistance is available, such as Rachel, not all families will qualify.
There are an estimated 1.7 million single parent families in the UK, and many are cutting back on ‘luxuries’ such as vacationing, eating out or buying new clothes.
Rachel said, “I can’t afford a vacation this year, so we’re going to babysit animals instead.
“We stayed in exactly the same house in Bournemouth last year but we paid £700 for a week – this year we are looking after the owner’s three guinea pigs and getting the accommodation for free.”
Summer vacation activities include bike rides and picnics rather than going somewhere in the car or having a nice lunch.
Rachel said: “There will certainly be fewer treats for Lewis. I have to avoid places like the funfair where you can easily spend £20 in an hour.
“I have to spend £20 and get a whole day of entertainment for it.
“But a nine-year-old can’t understand why we can’t do all the fun things we used to do, like treats, a weekend takeaway, or a vacation abroad.
“When Lewis asks me why we can’t do things, I have to be careful and explain how the money is tight and we have to pay the bills.
“But he’s too young to understand how money really works. It’s hard.”
Meanwhile, Rachel has had to give up her gym membership to save money.
She joined David Lloyd gym group because she could give Lewis access to activities and use the cafes as a workplace, but at £150 a month it was too expensive.
Rachel, from Milton Keynes, has stopped topping up during the week at the co-op.
Doing a large grocery store at aldic or Lidl each week saves her about £50 a month instead.
And she’s also cutting back on car trips, as it now costs nearly £100 to fill her tank.
“Now I’m thinking, can we walk or cycle instead? It’s good for the environment, but it’s not always convenient,” she said.
Rachel has stopped buying herself new clothes and treats. For a friend’s wedding, she bought a dress on Ebay for £20 and borrowed shoes, a handbag and a necklace from a friend. It saved her about €250.
Rachel said: “Brace yourself – I think this is what life will be like for at least the next few years. It’s really worrying.”
What to do if you are struggling with bills?
Check what help is available to you – use a benefits calculator to find out what you are entitled to.
Gingerbread’s Victoria said about 75% of single parents are now entitled to Universal Credit.
She said: “We are experiencing the biggest shock to the cost of living since the 1970s. It’s already tough for single-parent families and with more price hikes coming, it could only get worse.”
There is no specific help for single parents, but you should check if you are eligible for child benefits, child tax creditor help with rent and municipal taxes.
More than 380,000 families used tax-free childcare in March 2022, according to Compare The Market.
It is the highest number of families taking advantage of the scheme since its launch in April 2017, but thousands could still be missed.
See if your child qualifies for free school meals or if you could get a grant of up to £200 to help with the cost of school uniform.
You may also be entitled to: child support payments.
Organizations like StepChange and Citizens Advice can offer free guidance if you’re struggling.
If you’re having a hard time dealing with bills, talk to your provider — whether it’s utility bills, a mortgage, or credit card, they should help you come up with an affordable payment plan.
The Breathing space scheme can also help – under this, you will not be charged any interest or late payment fees on your debt for up to 60 days and you cannot be harassed by bailiffs.