A single mum sparked a major debate online after claiming she can't afford Christmas with a £22,500-a-year salary.
Abbie Palmer works full-time as a customer services manager. And despite being left with £600 each month once bills are paid, she fears the festivities are hard to afford.
The 30-year-old said she had to walk out of Aldi as she couldn't afford a food shop. Abbie, from Wolverhampton, is aware she does better than others.
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She usually spends around £300 on each of her kids at Christmas, but this year reduced it to £100 between them. Abbie is a parent to a 12-year-old and six-year-old.
The mum said: "I was in Aldi thinking how normally this time of year my mum would fill the cupboards with Christmas treats. Then I suddenly realised I wouldn't be able to do that this year.
"I don't have Sky or anything like that. Unless I can pay I don't have it. I live completely within my means – but it's still not enough."
Abbie says it's a "disgrace" MPs earn as much as they do and get so many benefits, and energy companies continue to make "billions" while people are "suffering".
The mum is off work due to sickness as thinks she's got anemia, a condition that develops when blood produces a lower-than-normal amount of healthy red blood cells.
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But she's scared to go to the doctors as she believes she won't be able to afford any prescriptions at the moment. Abby said compared to others, she's in a position of privilege.
She added: "I'm not even on minimum wage, but once I've done my food shop and put fuel in my car that's basically it.
"I can literally only go to the pub I used to work at on the off chance I can get a free drink or someone buys one for me."
Abbie says she doesn't know a single person who isn't struggling. Her rent, in social housing, is £450 per month, while her gas and electric comes to £150 and food £400 per month.
She also has to pay £130-a-week for breakfast and after school clubs so she can continue to work.
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Abbie added: "Then within that you still want to allow them to do activities like football and cheerleading. It's completely unsustainable."
The mum is going viral on TikTok for her thoughts on the nation's current situation. Her video has been viewed more than 4million times and sparked thousands of comments.
Some have hit back – saying £600-a-month after bills should be enough to live on.
One person said: "£600 a month after bills would be a God send so I don't understand how your struggling… I'm left with maybe £50 a month."
Another added: "If you're left with £600 per month AFTER bills and still struggling I'd suggest getting help with money managing."
But others say they sympathise with Abbie.
Someone posted: "People are missing the point.. it's not a competition… people just don't have enough to live on!"
Another said: "I'm so sorry you're struggling, and that people are still saying 'I would be well happy with £600' like it's a competition."
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