Almost a third of people across Lincolnshire and Newark are struggling to pay bills
We've been speaking to a Newark man about his experience
Last updated 10th Apr 2024
New research has revealed the full impact of the cost of living squeeze on people across Lincolnshire and Newark with many struggling to keep up with bills and credit commitments.
Almost 30% of adults in the East Midlands reported not coping or finding it difficult to cope financially in January this year.
We've been speaking to Thomas Dunning from Newark who told us how stress forced him to take time off work.
"My mental health took a massive toll - to the point where I was eventually signed off work."
I felt like I'd completely ruined my life and my wife's
"I had a major breakdown and I was off work for about a month."
"I felt like I'd completely ruined not my life - but my wife's as well."
"Then came the embarrassment of - I've messed up here, let's get it sorted."
"When I had to start paying some money back - that burn out came along when I had this thing lingering over me - and it really was lingering."
"It was almost like - whatever I was doing there was - I need to pay this off - I need to do this - I need to do that."
It got to the point where it just felt like a chokehold
"How are you going to do this?"
"Just to even eat or get to work I had to borrow money off friends and family - just trying to earn the money I had to pay back."
"It got to the point where it just felt like a chokehold."
"I've still got the debts - they're still there - it's going to take a while to pay them off."
"But I've got money and have managed to put a budget together."
"I can talk about it - I'm in a much better place."