'I am sitting in the evenings wrapped in my duvet'

Corby shoppers tell us where their money worries lie

By Sarah Ward

With household budgets being hit on all fronts amid inflation, rising energy costs and spiking mortgage rates, we asked people shopping in Corby’s town centre what they were most concerned about financially.

Elizabeth Olieczock, 43, mother of six

“It’s the cost of food that has affected me the most. I mostly use Aldi and Farm Foods, as well the Company Shop where I will freeze the food I buy. My weekly shop to feed our family of eight has risen from about £120 to £220 a week.

My husband works so we don’t get any Universal Credit, however we rent from the council so our rent has largely stayed the same.

“School uniforms have been a huge expense for us - my youngest is ten and my eldest is 17. This year they have all had to have new uniform, lunch boxes, and shoes, which has been very expensive. The costs of school trips can also be a concern.

There are a lot of people who are struggling. I can’t see the prices coming down anytime soon, if anything I think it is going to get worse.”