People living in one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Britain have explained how they struggle to afford food and are terrified of retiring due to their bills.
Poverty rates in Harpurhey South and Monsall are high and the average annual household income in the area is just £26,500, according to research.
Around 36.3 per cent of people living in the suburb are deprived in one or more areas - including employment, housing, education and health.
Jean Holbrough, 64, said she loved her dogs more than anything else and felt guilty when, after their recent deaths, in some way she thought it was a good thing as she would now be able to save on pet care, reports the Manchester Evening News.
The woman, who lives in Harpurhey with her son Michael and his partner, said: "It's horrible because I feel guilty.
"I never thought I’d say, ‘You know what, I’m so glad they died,’ but that's the way you start feeling."
Michael, 45, was forced to move out of his Whitefield flat two years ago due to rent increases and now the family are struggling to cope with rising costs, being forced to cut back on as much as they can.
Ms Holbrough said: "It’s crippling. Every time you go to the supermarket, [items] don’t just go up by a penny or two pence, it’s going up by 20p or 30p.
"The water rates have gone up, council tax has gone up, rents have gone up and gas and electric bills have gone up – but your pay doesn’t go up.
"We don’t go out so there’s nothing else to give up. You feel like you’re being pushed into debt because there’s nothing else to give up."
She said the family's financial situation has become so dire that she has been skipping meals.
She explained: "It’s depressing. You find yourself trying to account for every penny that you spend and think, ‘Do I really need this? Do I really need that? Could I manage without that this week?’
"Then you’re skipping things. You’ll do it until you find yourself skipping the odd meal now and again to try and save money, and I don’t think that does your mental health any good.
"Something has to give. I don’t understand how the power companies are still allowed to get away with making such huge profits.
"You’re always worried thinking the water rates are due, and this is due, it’s a constant worry in the back of your mind. Even if you buy the basic and cheapest of everything, that’s gone up too. What are you supposed to do?"
Resident Lilian Birtles, 66, works part-time as a cleaner at the University of Salford. She was supposed to retire last September but cannot afford to do so.
Ms Birtles, who lives in Lower Broughton, said: "Me and my husband should be retired now but we’re still working.
"You’re scared to retire because of your bills. I’m not too bad because I only work part-time, but my husband works full-time and he could do with finishing. It’s just going to get worse and worse, isn’t it?"
Her friend Donna Karney, 53, said: "You see old people on telly with blankets wrapped around them, it’s all wrong.
"They should be able to sit and watch telly and not have a blanket on. They can’t put the heating on; it’s ridiculous. They’ve worked all their lives.
"You should be able to retire because you don’t know how long you’ve got, that’s the way I look at it. You shouldn’t have to worry when you’ve worked all your life."
A 38-year-old mum-of-five who wanted to remain anonymous said her gas and electricity bills have more than doubled – leaving her terrified for the future.
She said: "It’s hard. Especially when you have five kids in tow as well. My youngest is eight months old and I have no help or anything towards him.
"My electricity bill has gone from £20 to £60 a week and my gas has gone from £30 to £80. How do you justify that? How can these companies justify that?"
The 38-year-old had to give up her job in a supermarket in order to care for her children. Though her bills are rocketing, she says her Universal Credit allowance helps.
"My kids just eat one thing, they’re awkward eaters. I have to buy different things all the time. I have to cook three different meals a day.
"I’m okay, just about. I know if we really need help there are food banks about. I’ve just spent £100 on shopping and another £100 on my gas and electric this morning. That’s all my money nearly gone.
"It makes me anxious and it does get you down. It makes me feel depressed but you just have to get on with it. You just don’t know what’s going to happen."
Another family, who also did not wish to be named, fear they are falling behind on paying their bills as costs continue to rise.
"We’re struggling with everything," one mum said. "When you go shopping, you used to come home with about eight or nine bags. Now, you have about two or three bags.
"You fall behind with one bill to pay another. I struggle with really bad depression anyway so it can impact [my mental health].
"We’re managing to eat, but you’re living on chips, aren’t you? You’re not living on luxury food. When is it going to get better?"
Michael Bryne lives alone in Miles Platting. The 75-year-old has noticed an increase in his shopping bills every time he goes to the supermarket.
"It’s bad," he said. "I got a bit of help from the government, that was a big help. Every time you go to the supermarket, it’s gone up. And it’s not a penny or a two pence, it’s 20 or 30p.
"Everything is going up. It’s a worry because I don’t know when it’s going to stop."
