I earn about £20,000 to £22,000 a year in a minimum wage job in London, where my income depends heavily on the number of hours I’m given on my monthly rota. During slow seasons, my hours can be axed to as little as 20 hours per week. Although there’s often some relief when colleagues call in sick and extra shifts become available, but just mean I have to pull a double shift (from 5am to 8pm), blowing out my knees in the process (I'm not allowed to sit at work).

Honestly, it’s been difficult, especially while flatsharing (I used to be able to afford renting a place of my own when I was a student - no council tax). I’ve been forced to move out multiple times and nearly left homeless twice, either because the landlord had found a tenant that is willing to pay more, or because the lead tenant of the flatshare had decided to end the housing arrangement due to a career change or a started a committed relationship with the missus. My financial situation was a lot better before Covid. Covid hecked me over and I was unemployed for a year, and so was my dad. Things haven't been the same since then, my dad had given up entirely (finding a job). He spends his time in spoons and refuses to try, because he has a massive ego thinking applying to a lower level position means he's losing out. So I have to become the sole breadwinner of the family. I wish I could knock some sense to his head but it's pointless. My mum had tried, his friends/former coworkers had tried, my relatives had tried. My dad won't budge and is under the impression that his previous companies he had worked for would call him back one day to offer him back his previous role as CEO or Executive manager.