For many, the UK government's latest budget has been met with frustration and disappointment. The cost of living continues to rise, and those struggling to make ends meet are feeling the pinch.
Brett and Maria MacDonald, a couple from London, are among them. They own a hair salon and have two young children, but despite their hard work, they're finding it impossible to save money. The business rates and VAT are taking a huge toll on their finances. Brett is earning just £12,000 a year, while Maria takes home £70,000 but will lose her free childcare funding if she earns over £100,000.
The couple's experience is not unique. Many young people are struggling to find jobs in the UK, with Alex from Calderdale, Yorkshire, saying he's been rejected multiple times despite having a first-class degree in politics and Chinese. He can't afford to move out of his parents' house and is feeling frustrated about the government's lack of support for public transport and student loan issues.
Meanwhile, Dean Harwood, an accountant, is worried that changes to salary-sacrificed pension schemes will affect him when he retires. The new rules will mean that some workers won't be able to deduct their contributions from their income tax, which could leave them with a smaller pension pot.
Older people, such as Trevor Adams, are also feeling the impact of the budget. He had been concerned about cuts to cash ISAs but was surprised to discover that those over 65 will still be able to save up to £20,000 each year.
For some, like Kate Coyle from Gloucestershire, the budget has been a tipping point. The introduction of a 3p a mile charge on electric vehicle drivers is set to make owning an EV much more expensive. Her rental house doesn't have parking beside the building, so she relies on public chargers, which are costly and will increase her electricity bill.
As the UK government continues to grapple with the cost of living crisis, it's clear that many people are struggling to make ends meet. While some may be encouraged by the promise of lower taxes for certain groups, others are feeling penalized by the lack of support for everyday expenses.
Brett and Maria MacDonald, a couple from London, are among them. They own a hair salon and have two young children, but despite their hard work, they're finding it impossible to save money. The business rates and VAT are taking a huge toll on their finances. Brett is earning just £12,000 a year, while Maria takes home £70,000 but will lose her free childcare funding if she earns over £100,000.
The couple's experience is not unique. Many young people are struggling to find jobs in the UK, with Alex from Calderdale, Yorkshire, saying he's been rejected multiple times despite having a first-class degree in politics and Chinese. He can't afford to move out of his parents' house and is feeling frustrated about the government's lack of support for public transport and student loan issues.
Meanwhile, Dean Harwood, an accountant, is worried that changes to salary-sacrificed pension schemes will affect him when he retires. The new rules will mean that some workers won't be able to deduct their contributions from their income tax, which could leave them with a smaller pension pot.
Older people, such as Trevor Adams, are also feeling the impact of the budget. He had been concerned about cuts to cash ISAs but was surprised to discover that those over 65 will still be able to save up to £20,000 each year.
For some, like Kate Coyle from Gloucestershire, the budget has been a tipping point. The introduction of a 3p a mile charge on electric vehicle drivers is set to make owning an EV much more expensive. Her rental house doesn't have parking beside the building, so she relies on public chargers, which are costly and will increase her electricity bill.
As the UK government continues to grapple with the cost of living crisis, it's clear that many people are struggling to make ends meet. While some may be encouraged by the promise of lower taxes for certain groups, others are feeling penalized by the lack of support for everyday expenses.
. The cost of living just keeps going up and up, and it's getting harder and harder to make ends meet. I mean, I've got friends who are working hard, but they're barely scraping by. It's not just about saving money, it's about affording the basics – a place to live, food on the table, stuff like that. 
. I know someone who owns a business and is struggling to stay afloat because of those rates. It's not just a matter of increasing taxes, it's about making it harder for people to run their own businesses.
. They're already facing so many challenges when it comes to getting jobs and finding homes that are affordable. This doesn't help at all. We need some real support here, not just a few token gestures 
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. I mean, sure, it's not ideal and there are definitely some people who'll be affected badly... like Alex from Yorkshire, poor guy's been rejected multiple times and can't afford to move out of his parents' house 
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. I mean, how are they supposed to save money with prices like that? 
. That's not exactly being penalized, right? 
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. I've got a mate who's a freelancer and she's been struggling to make ends meet too 
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. They might be giving some people a tax break, but others are getting hit with increased bills and expenses 
. And what really gets me is that they're not doing enough to address the root causes of the cost of living crisis – like affordable housing and decent public transport 
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. That's some good news! But overall, I think this budget is just going to make things worse for a lot of people 
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I'm really concerned about this budget and how it's going to affect so many people, especially young families like Brett and Maria. The business rates and VAT hikes are massive, and it's no wonder they're struggling to save money. It feels like the government is piling more and more pressure on people who are already barely scraping by.
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. Trevor, though, at least gets to save up on cash ISAs, that's something, right? But for Kate, with her electric vehicle charge... it's like they're charging her with having a heart condition or something 
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dean's pension worries r another thing i dont get, can't they see how hard ppl r struggling?! and kate coyle's electric vehicle thing is just crazy 
. It's not just about having a degree, it's about having job prospects that aren't totally dependent on your skills 
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. And those student loan issues? Forget about it 
It's just not fair. And those cash ISA cuts? Yeah, that's just great for seniors 
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. We need some real support here, not just tokenistic gestures 
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. Who benefits from these new rules? Definitely not seniors who are already living paycheck to paycheck 
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I'm literally so confused about these new budget changes... £12,000 a year is like, super low, how does Brett and Maria expect to survive on that? 
It's just not fair. And I feel for Alex, being rejected multiple times despite having a degree, that's so frustrating. What kind of jobs are even available anymore? 
. The cost of living crisis is serious, and we need urgent action from the gov to help ppl make ends meet 
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. I mean, come on, if you're earning £70k a year, how hard can it be to save some cash? Maria's got a decent job, she shouldn't have to worry about losing her childcare funding because of her husband's income 
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It just feels like the government is not listening to people's concerns and is only looking out for special interest groups 
... I mean, it's all about helping people with rising costs, but at the same time, some of these changes could really hurt small businesses and individuals who can't afford to absorb the extra costs 
