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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Rupert Jones , Sarah Marsh, Shane Hickey and Jasper Jolly

‘Struggling to pay the bills’: Britons under pressure react to budget 2025

Brett and Maria McDonald with their children, Edward and Alexander
Brett and Maria McDonald with their children, Edward and Alexander. They were relieved there were no changes to childcare policies in the budget. Photograph: Graeme Robertson/The Guardian

‘You question whether working more means losing more’

For Brett and Maria MacDonald, the cost of living has been biting this year, from rising mortgage payments to childcare fees. Living in London with two young children and no extended family nearby, the pair are juggling work with parenting.

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