British austerity

I would wager that this means that some freeze to death

Brassic monkeys

Six out of ten families turn off the heating to save cash

the Sun,

15 March, 2013

MORE than 60 per cent of Britain’s families are rationing heating at home as the cost of living soars, a report has revealed.

And half the nation’s mums are being forced to remove items from shopping baskets to save cash.

Mothers now believe the cost of living is four times more pressing an issue than violent crime, says the Mumdex report by supermarket giant Asda. And nearly 40 per cent believe their quality of life and spending power will NEVER return to pre-recession levels.

Six in ten cannot afford to keep the heating on as long as they need. Asda chief Andy Clarke said: “I was speaking to one mum this morning who’s putting her kids to bed at 7pm as they’ll be warmer there. The Chancellor has to show in next week’s Budget that he’s listening — and that he’s listening to people outside of London.”

The report — which quizzed 5,500 mums — found confidence is down across Britain compared with last year as we teeter on the brink of a triple-dip recession.

Half of Brits have a lower standard of living than in January 2012. Seven in ten are spending less on family activities and two-thirds want the Chancellor to drop plans for a September fuel duty hike. And one in two urged the Government to “prioritise” moves to increase personal tax allowances.

More than 84 per cent of mums reported higher outgoings than a year ago. One told Asda: “Everything’s increasing — bills, insurance and fuel. But my husband’s wage hasn’t increased, it’s been capped.”

Latest figures showed bills up 25 per cent since 2008, four times higher than pay.