A woman has admitted stealing tampons from Poundland amid the UK's crippling cost of living crisis.
Izabella Malik, who works in a Starbucks coffee shop, admitted having to steal tampons because she can’t afford the city's high living costs and took to social media to express her anger after being left with no savings despite being happy with her wages as she earns £1500 a month.
The video, posted on izabellamalik ’s account with the caption “living in the UK is a scam”, has since gone viral with more than 80,000 likes and almost 20,000 comments, reports MyLondon.
In the video, Izabella said: “I’ve had enough. I’m angry and I hope someone from the UK government is going to watch this video and tell me what to do with my life because I don’t know.
"I work in Starbucks in Central London, and I work 35 hours a week, 140 hours a month, and I get paid £11 an hour - which is cool, some people get paid less so I’m happy with that.
“That gives us £1540 and the UK government is taking 20 percent taxes, which is £308, which leaves us with £1232. Now, when it comes to my bills, I pay £750 a month for rent and that’s it - I don’t pay any council tax or electricity bills.
"I don’t have to worry about that because I share my house with five other people so everything is included. So I don’t need to worry about that but at the same time I have to share my kitchen and bathroom with five other people."
Izabella went on to say that she also pays £180 a month for her Oyster card as well as £65 for her phone bill. ”It used to be £55 last year,” she said. “But it just kept going up each month and now it’s £65, it’ll probably be £75 next year. I also have Spotify which is £10 because I need my music. And that’s it when it comes to my bills.”
She continued: “So now I’m being left with £227 a month which gives us £56 a week. Now this is £56 a week that I have to feed myself with, get any necessary stuff like cleaning products or toilet paper, or shampoo, or whatever. I want to know: how am I supposed to survive? And I want to ask people with kids - how do you feed your kids? Because I’m barely able to feed myself because food is expensive.
“I don’t have any other expenses. I don’t have a car, I don’t have kids, I’m single, I don’t go to the gym, I don’t do my nails. I dye my own hair, I don’t go on holiday. I literally don’t do anything. And I still don’t have money. Like what is happening? I’m being left with £0 each month - I don’t save any money. I even had to steal tampons from Poundland the other day because I was on my period and I didn’t even have £1 on me! I had to steal tampons!”
The video was met with a flood of comments from people echoing Izabella’s experience.
One person wrote: “People saying cut this, move here etc. The point is if she leaves London someone else will take her job and be in the exact same situation.”
Another wrote: “Everyone [is] concerned about your lashes and ignoring the fact we are in a cost of living crisis… She’s not lying!”
“It’s really hard with kids,” a third person said.
“My daughters are constantly asking me why there’s barely any food in our house, we got up today to nothing to eat.”
A fourth added: “Family of five here - three kids. I haven’t had my hair cut in over three years. The food prices are shocking and my kids come first.”
Some, however, claimed the issue could be explained by Izabella living in London.
One wrote: “It’s not a UK problem, it’s a London problem.”
Another added: “Move out of London!”
Others, however, disagreed saying: “I think most of the UK are in the same situation. It’s really difficult for everyone. The government has no clue.”
