As shoppers battled the wind and rain in Droylsden, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt was delivering his Autumn budget in the House of Commons.
Less than seven weeks on from Kwasi Kwarteng's disastrous 'mini budget', which all but spelled the end for Liz Truss' extremely short reign in Number 10, Mr Hunt announced plans for almost £25 billion in tax increases. He confirmed that Britain is facing a recession and that the target of his Budget is to bring stability and growth to the economy.
It was also announced that state pensions, means-tested benefits and disability benefits would rise by 10.1pc, in line with inflation. Lifelong Labour supporter Denise Ellis admitted that the Budget was slightly better than she expected but she still believes more can be done to help those who need it most.
READ MORE : 11 key announcements from Jeremy Hunt's Autumn statement including new cost of living payments
The 65-year-old told the Manchester Evening News : " I'm glad Universal Credit's gone up but the state pension was always going to go up because it's Brexiteers and pensioners that have voted for this Government. I don't think the Tories have ever supported working classes in my life time so I suppose a little help is better than nothing at all.
"I think it could have been much better but what Truss has done with her ridiculous mini-budget, I don't think we'll recover from that. I'm sure it's reversible but it's just how long it takes to get there and there's going to be a lot of suffering to get to where we were before the pandemic.
"Even before all that we were a country going rapidly down hill. I think now our children and grandchildren are going to have to pay for the mistakes made since... well Thatcher.
"I know across the world people are struggling but where did all that money go from austerity? We're in Droylsden today and look at it. It's so sad compared to how it used to be.
"I go to a food bank every Friday because we just feel like we need to help people any way we can.
Treasury analysis suggests about 55pc of households will be worse off as a result of the tax and spending decisions made in the Autumn statement. But Mr Hunt said his decisions would protect the most vulnerable, and place the highest burden on the highest earners.
Denise did not seem convinced. "They always say they're protecting the vulnerable but look what Johnson did, that.... Quaver on a Wotsit.
"I don't believe that they're actually going to do as much as they say and I think it's vote catching. I hope they do but I don't have any faith. I'm not going to say that all politicians are the same because some are trying to help but I wouldn't say most Tories are trying to help.
"I'm sick of asylum seekers being blamed as well, because before then it was lazy workers, before that it was single mums - there's always a group of people being blamed and it's not that. It's the people running the country, not the hard working people who are trying to keep it afloat."
Energy bills are set to soar even further, with the energy price cap rising from £2,500 to £3,000 from April 2023. Although Mr Hunt promised to spend £55 billion to help households and businesses with their energy bills, which he said will equate to an average of £500 per household.
Shirley Kelly, 61, said: "I don't understand why we pay so much for bills. I live in a studio flat and they were trying to charge me £125 for a quarter. I said 'I don't think so, I've not even got a bedroom'.
"Every time I come shopping everything costs more money. It's terrible.
"I get Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit and it's good that it's rising but it's needed right now. If they're going to cut back on the energy help as well then we're not going to really be any better off."
Mr Hunt also said that people earning more than £125,140 will now pay 45pc in income tax, with the limit being brought down from £150,000. Shirley said that it will negatively impact who two sons who are now above the threshold.
She added: "My two boys are not going to be happy because they're construction workers and they'll pay the top rate now. I don't think it's fair that people who earn more that they take that much tax of them. They'll come out with a lot less than they used to."
Shopper John Quinn seemed perplexed by the constantly rising energy bills. "If energy companies are making billions then you know something is wrong," he commented.
"My energy company sends a bill saying '100pc renewable energy'. If that's the case then why have my bills gone up, because they can't blame oil and gas prices if it's 100pc renewable."
Of the Budget, he added: "I heard a bit of it on the radio and just like everything, it's rubbish innit. It's the same as always, working people get robbed."
Carol and Norma, 75 and 77, had been shopping at the time that the Autumn statement was announced but after being told the main points, they said: "The only thing that would affect us is our pensions. It's all a load of rubbish.
"We're both pensioners so we're both struggling. Loads of people are vulnerable at the moment, especially if you're on your own.
"We're in dire straits. I don't think it'll be straight until even after your life time."
Alan Hayes spoke to the M.E.N after buying a pair of wellies, that he joked he would have to walk home in due to the torrential rain. Despite his jovial mood, the 59-year-old's views on the country's were finances far from positive.
"Everything's going up in price," he said. "Shopping, bills, I just wonder when it's going to end because it can't carry on rising at the rate it is at the moment.
"I think this recession is going to go on longer than the other ones we've had. It seems to be worse than ever.
"I don't get any help but my wife gets pension credit. We've just been cutting back on everything really.
"We've been using the washing machine and dryer at night because apparently it's cheaper. We're only putting lights on when it's really really dark."
The news of state pensions being brought up in line with inflation brought a positive response from Alan, albeit one tinged with a dose of cynicism. He added: "It sounds good but it feels like they give with one hand and take away with the other so you think 'am I actually any better off?' I don't know what the answer is to be honest."
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