'I might have to take a second job' - the impact of rising inflation
Mum tells how she might have to take a second job due to increasing financial pressures and the rising cost of living.
**'I might have to take a second job' - the impact of rising inflation**
Nursery worker Emma Ashfield said the cost of living has become "extremely expensive"
A mum has explained that she may have to take on a second job simply to cope with the rising cost of living.
Emma Ashfield works full-time, but said the growing financial strain is a постоян worry and can make bringing up a child "extremely expensive".
The latest figure from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Wednesday showed inflation increased to 3.1%.
That is up from 2.9% in July, which was the highest level in four months and above the Bank of England's 2% target.
Ashfield said after-school provision at the nursery helps her and her partner with childcare for their eight year-old daughter, but added that they are always under financial pressure.
"It is very hard with the cost of living, of food, gas and electric, and especially with my wee girl getting up [in years], the price of clothes as well, everything is just extremely expensive."
She said school uniforms, rent and rising rates are "another money problem" that people have to deal with.
"You are trying to keep food on the table, [buy] clothes, trying to provide for them, alongside [that] your child wants the after-school clubs or any activities, you are trying to afford that as well as everything else, you would basically need a second job," she said.
Ashfield also said she is learning to drive, which means she has to find extra money for lessons that can cost up to £400 a month.
Ashfield said the rising cost of energy was a concern, with winter approaching
Millions of UK households are expected to face energy bills rising to their highest level in three years as winter approaches, and gas prices have climbed above 200p per therm for the first time since the end of 2022.
Ashfield said the rising cost of energy was a worry, with winter around the corner.
"I am constantly putting heating on, and the electric is a main one for me, I find electric very pricey... and it is costly trying to heat my apartment too.
"My wee girl is always wanting the heating on, so that's another thing."
Businesses in Northern Ireland have also been feeling the pressure because of higher prices.
Selina Horshi, managing director at the White Horse Hotel in Londonderry, said she would be worried about any further increase in inflation.
She said energy makes up the hotel's biggest costs, followed by food.
Horshi added that "even if inflation was to slow down, the problem is it is still adding small incremental amounts to the costs of what has been an incredible time of high inflation".
"I have to heat the whole hotel, whether I have one customer who can afford to come in and use it, or whether it is 500 customers, so I have quite a high fixed cost base.
"I need to keep it warm, I need to keep the pool hot, I need to keep the lights on, and I need to keep buying a huge variety of food where there has been particularly high inflation," she continued.
"All those costs are piling up and what it has done, is squeeze margins further and further."
Horshi is also a member of the city's chamber of commerce and said different kinds of business are being affected, but she believes hospitality "is exponentially impacted".
"The costs are continuing to go up, but because the costs are going up for every household as well, people have less money in their pockets and hospitality is one of the last places you spend.
"It is where you spend if you have money left over... and people have less money left over after they have spent what money they have on their increased costs for households."