Over a million Scots struggling to make ends meet
The cost of living crisis means almost 30% of people cannot get by
More than a million people in Scotland are struggling to get by on their current income.
Analysis from Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) after research by YouGov found almost 30% of people were unable to make ends meet.
The rate of UK food inflation is sitting at 17.4%, and many people have had to turn to foodbanks for assistance.
One of Edinburgh North East Foodbank’s volunteers, Lilly, said: “We have always had people who have been in full time employment but on low wages attending the foodbank.
“Now there are more people who are coming who’ve never been before, they’re very embarrassed about being there.”
"Startling to see"
CAS Financial Health spokesperson Myles Fitt said it was “startling” to see so many people struggling.”
He continued: “Bills and prices have raced ahead of wages and benefits in the past year and show no signs of slowing down significantly. It’s a worrying time for many people.
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about when well over a million of us are worried about money, it is affecting so many of us.”
"...it's just sort of relief"
Lilly added that having so little takes joy away from people, saying: “When you’ve got very little resources, and you’ve got absolutely not enough for a pint of milk in your pocket, and you get given something to eat, that doesn’t actually give joy to the person’s life, there’s nothing fun in there, it’s just sort of relief.”
She finished: “You’re working all the jobs you can, all the hours you can, and you still don’t have enough after you’ve paid your rent and paid your bills, and in Edinburgh rent is such an enormous part of your income, then there’s bills, gas and electricity, they have to be paid next, and what’s left is for food.”
CAS are urging anyone who needs extra support to contact them for financial advice.