Family of five forced back into parents' house after cost of living crisis almost DOUBLES monthly bills
  • last year
A mum had to move her family back in to her parents' house after the cost of living crisis nearly doubled her bills and grocery costs. Substitute teacher Katie Ziemer, 28, moved her family out of their home when her husband was injured at work and their monthly expenses went up 40% - reaching £1,450,000 ($1,750)-a-month. The family's monthly grocery bill went from £400 ($480) - to approximately £825 ($1,000) - with petrol costs also doubling In the last year. With a rent of £1,500 ($1,800) and her 32-year-old husband Jeremiah, a prison officer, out of work since early January, the family simply couldn't keep their heads above water. The only solution was to move into an apartment above Katie's parent's garage to save on rent and utility costs. The couple and their three sons, who are from Southern California, USA, moved in to the one bedroom apartment at the beginning of September after several months of struggle. Katie said: "It's a good place. It was a little cramped, but I really can't complain. The boys loved it though, they got to see their grandparents every day. "Of course, we're blessed to have this space to go to." Two weeks ago, after just over two months at Katie's parents, the family was finally able to move out, having saved £3,300 ($4,000), which they used to pay off their debts. The family are now back on their feet after relocating for Jeremiah's work. Katie added: "There was no shame in what we did. We wanted to stay there longer, through the holidays, but due to my husbands work we had to relocate. "We were in debt over our heads, but we've managed to get on our feet now. I know we're very fortunate to have a place we can go to like that. "I was feeling lost, like life was so weird at the moment, but it was a good decision. We grew a lot from this time. "I was thinking this is such a weird time in my life and I can't be the only one who was going through something like this. "I felt the need to normalise this time in our lives and all the change the world is going through at the moment. "Based off the comments I got, there are a lot of people that can relate to our situation, at least here in the US. "It was definitely unforeseeable that the post was going to be so successful, but I really think it brought attention to the situation we're all in."
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