Priced out, losing hope, patronised by Kirstie: Manchester's millennials on life in a cost of living crisis

The number of self-employed people has steadily increased over the last two decades, climbing from 3.2 million in December 2000 to over 5 million at the start of 2020, settling at 4.2 million this year.

The cost of living crisis is happening all across the UK with energy bills, food and fuel prices soaring as well as national insurance rising. But according to research there are certain areas of the country where people are much better, or worse off, than others when it comes to the cost of living.

A strange conspiracy theory has been making its rounds on social media, leading to Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis to publicly debunk it.

Thousands of people are expected to join nationwide protests against the rising cost of living today - with a demonstration planned in Manchester city centre. The People's Assembly has organised a march and protest in Piccadilly Gardens from 1pm this afternoon (Saturday).

The UK has been experiencing the most turbulent weather over the last couple of weeks. Just last weekend we had the most beautiful sunshine with clear blue skies and temperatures soaring to 19C, making us all feel excited for the summer months ahead.

The cost of living squeeze is going to get tighter this month as millions of households face soaring bills on top of a 1.25 percentage point National Insurance Contributions hike to help pay for health and social care across the UK.

Rishi Sunak should come back with an emergency budget to get families through the cost of living crisis, trade unionists have demanded.

The cost of living is going to soar even higher on Friday (April 1), with the energy price cap rising, new council tax rates and increasing National Insurance. The average household energy bill will rise by 54 percent, costing an extra £693 a year.

With families struggling amid the cost of living crisis there are calls for more parents to be able to access free school meals.

Boris Johnson has admitted the government needs "to do more" to tackle the growing cost of living crisis plaguing the UK.

People on benefits, the disabled and those who cannot afford a car have been forgotten in Rishi Sunak 's Spring Statement, Mayor Andy Burnham has said. The Greater Manchester mayor welcomed the measures announced by the Chancellor today (March 23), saying they will 'clearly benefit many people'.

Shoppers at Bury’s Mill Gate centre have welcomed the news the council could be about to revamp the 15-acre site.

Rising prices across the board sent UK inflation soaring higher in February as the cost of living crisis intensified, according to official figures.

Manchester’s night time economy tsar Sasha Lord has voiced concerns over the state of the hospitality industry ahead of the chancellor’s Rishi Sunak’s Spring Statement. Many in the restaurant and bar business have expressed fears that when VAT increases back to pre-pandemic levels next month it could spell disaster for their businesses.

Martin Lewis has warned the cost-of-living crisis will be "the worst" that Brits have faced in 22 years including covid and the financial crash.

Rishi Sunak has been mocked for an “insulting” two minute, sixteen second speech to the Scottish Tory party conference.

A charity has warned Greater Manchester residents are ‘beyond breaking point’ as the cost of living crisis worsens.

A councillor in Oldham who has tendered her resignation after just 10 months in the job is understood to have cited the cost of living crisis as one of her reasons for quitting.