Stories

Sun, 25 Oct 2026

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 Budget 2026: No more fat to trim for 'squeezed middle'

As the chancellor finalises his first Budget, how are the "squeezed middle" feeling about costs?
The Struggle is Real For many families, the cost of living has become unbearable. Dawn Fazackerley-King, a mother of two from Ipswich, is one such example. She struggles to make ends meet and has had to make sacrifices, including giving up holidays with her family. Living on the Edge Jessica Badenoch, who runs a community interest company that helps people manage their finances, says she frequently sees people in work struggling to get by. They often rely on credit cards or buy-now-pay-later schemes just to make ends meet. The Budget - What's at Stake? Labour's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Healey, is set to deliver his first budget on Wednesday. He has promised not to hike the three main taxes and to deliver growth in every postcode while giving businesses and families some breathing space. Financial Struggles are Not Unique Dawn says she is not alone in her struggles. Many people are living paycheck to paycheck, with no safety net to fall back on if things go wrong. The Importance of Openness Karen Badenoch, Jessica's mother, advises people to be open about their finances and seek help if they need it. She says that by facing up to financial issues, people can resolve them and feel a weight lifted off their minds. What Next? Healey has promised to cut "pointless paperwork" to save businesses up to £800m. But what else will be in the budget? Only time will tell.