Residents in Greater Manchester boroughs, including Oldham, are limiting showers, eating salads and cereal, sleeping in tents and lighting candles in order to survive the cost-of-living crisis, a survey has revealed.

Citizens Advice Stockport, Oldham, Rochdale and Trafford (SORT), which has supported people in these areas for more than 80 years, launched a public survey in August to collate the lived experiences of local residents amid the cost-of-living crisis.

The crisis has already pushed many Oldhamers and businesses to the brink with local pubs facing closure, families facing heightened risk of eviction and homelessness while Oldham food bank struggles to keep pace with the increasing demand.

The charity's latest report which looks into how residents are currently coping, based on a survey of 167 responses, reveals people are making severe cutbacks and paints an even more worrying picture for winter when energy bills are due to rise again.

The Oldham Times: A graph by Citizens Advice shows the charity has helped more people this July with energy issues compared to any other year on record. Graph by Flourish.A graph by Citizens Advice shows the charity has helped more people this July with energy issues compared to any other year on record. Graph by Flourish.

One person said they have resorted to eating salads and cereal to reduce their gas cooker usage as well as only showering every other day.

"I can't afford three meals a day", they added.

Another said they were using candles to light their homes while one said they are setting up a tent in their living room to sleep with their dogs to keep warm at night.

Pet food is also being rationed in one household where "only my kids eat at dinner time".

“In the past, I volunteered at my local food bank. Now I go there for food myself”, was the response of another.

The anonymous survey also revealed some residents are considering taking on a second or even third job to help pay the bills while others are selling their homes because they can no longer afford to heat them and pay the mortgage.

The Oldham Times: By July this year, the charity attended to more homelessness related issues than by August 2021 and predicts supporting even more people than last year. Graph by Flourish/Citizens Advice.By July this year, the charity attended to more homelessness related issues than by August 2021 and predicts supporting even more people than last year. Graph by Flourish/Citizens Advice.

Among the experiences shared in the survey are those who live with disabled and vulnerable people.

One parent said they are washing in the sink so that their daughter, who has additional needs, can use the shower while another whose wife has MS and needs to heat the house 24/7 is worried their disability benefits won't stretch to cover the bill which has gone up by 250 per cent.

Many are also giving up items, like the dryer, and are sharing baths and cutting back on food to save money.

 

One resident revealed they are on the verge of homelessness as they are struggling to afford rent and have already cut down on food purchases. 

"Feel stressed, sick and out of control. Our latest fixed price quote is £8,600 a year. I was paying £1,700 last September", another commented.

The survey further revealed just over 25 per cent (44 out of 166) are already in debt and fear their debts will grow during the winter months.

The charity is now urging the Government to take further action by offering more support to those on low incomes and to prevent people from being forcibly switched onto prepayment meters.

The Oldham Times: A graph by Citizens Advice shows more people are unable to afford to top up their prepayment meters. Graph by Flourish.A graph by Citizens Advice shows more people are unable to afford to top up their prepayment meters. Graph by Flourish.

However, its research shows that even people on slightly higher incomes who are not eligible for benefits or support packages are struggling, too.

It predicts one in four people in the country won't be able to afford their energy bills in October which could rise to one in three when the price cap rises again in January.

Steve Hughes, Chief Operating Officer at Citizens Advice SORT said: "The cost of living crisis is real for millions of people across the country, and across Stockport, Oldham, Rochdale and Trafford, we're seeing thousands of people a month who are worried about what they are going to do this winter.

"We know that people are feeling anxious, depressed and, in some cases, hopeless about the immediate future.

"The Citizens Advice service is here to help and we urge people who are struggling to seek support."