Facing rising costs, many voters in Wales are adopting new strategies to manage their household budgets ahead of the Senedd election. One notable example is India Lerigo from Cardiff, who has started preparing homemade dog food to save money amid increasing living expenses.
Facing rising costs: Homemade dog food as a cost-saving measure
India Lerigo, who works in Cardiff, makes her own dog food and batch cooks a month’s worth of meals over a weekend to reduce expenses. Her dog, Luna, a Staffy with allergies and picky eating habits, requires expensive food. By preparing meals herself, Lerigo saves about £100 a month on dog food alone.
Before this change, Lerigo spent between £400 and £500 monthly on food for both herself and Luna, often purchasing costly dog food brands to accommodate Luna’s dietary needs. Now, she bulk buys ingredients once a month and spends an entire weekend cooking and freezing meals, keeping her combined food budget to around £250 per month.
Her homemade dog food includes meat off-cuts and cheaper cuts like offal, supplemented with vegetables and nutrients. Lerigo’s vet approved this approach, and Luna’s health has improved, with fewer stomach issues. Despite being a vegetarian, Lerigo manages the preparation of meat-based meals, although she finds handling organs challenging.
Broader impact of rising costs on households
Rising living costs are affecting many families across Wales. Sara Davies from Caerphilly, a mother of two, reports that despite a double income household, her family now scrutinizes prices more carefully and has reduced outings, such as visits to their local pub, due to increased expenses.
Andrew Pritchard from Cowbridge described the cost of living crisis as overwhelming, noting that rising prices for electricity, gas, and fuel make it difficult to manage financially even while working full-time at age 62.
Others, like Orla Williams from Llanelli and Donna Jones from Swansea, highlight that wage increases are not keeping pace with rising costs for petrol, food, and energy, creating ongoing financial pressure for many households.
Political responses to the cost of living crisis
As the Senedd election approaches, party policies on the cost of living are influencing voter decisions. Welsh Labour has pledged to lower bus fares and energy bills, expand childcare, and increase pay for low-income workers. They also emphasize recent measures such as removing the two-child benefit cap and increasing pensions and Universal Credit allowances.
Plaid Cymru proposes controlling rents, introducing free childcare for all, and retaining profits from Welsh resources within local communities to help families manage costs.
Reform UK focuses on cutting taxes and capping council tax rates, aiming to ensure public funds are spent within Wales.
The Welsh Conservatives plan to cut taxes, extend free childcare for working families, and scrap stamp duty to stimulate the housing market and boost the economy.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats and Wales Green Party have been approached for comment on their cost of living policies.
With rising costs impacting daily life, voters like India Lerigo are adapting their spending habits and considering political platforms that address these financial challenges.