Dear World
This website connects to the Pulse of Humanity and delivers topics that may be relevant to the reader at this time.
The RISING Cost of Living is currently Trending and most of us have no clear direction on how to deal with it.
The Cost of Living is in our face and it is something we cannot afford (pun intended), to brush aside in the hope it goes away.
What we need is a Reality check and a road map to guide and direct us and more importantly keep us on Track.
What is evident and very clear is that there are no signs that the Cost of Living is on its way down to Benefit us – the working general population.
Where is this trajectory heading and what can we do OR not do to support us right now?
The RISING COST that many are now dealing with is beyond doubt having a huge impact on our health and well-being and this is something we simply cannot negate or Ignore.
We hear the words “Cost of Living” every day and everyone is moaning, complaining, Blaming and are totally furious about the RISING COST of literally everything.
We need Services and Products and the RISING COSTS are creating DEBT worldwide – do the research it’s all there.
How are we coping with everyday Costs just to live?
How are we dealing with the RISING Cost of Living?
How are we Living now with prices hiked so high?
How do we operate in daily life with the Rising Costs?
The following is a small summary of the Cost of Living in different countries –
EUROPE
Switzerland most expensive out of 36 countries
184% of the EU average prices
84% HIGHER than the average
Turkey is the cheapest
47% of the EU average prices
53% lower than the EU average
Western and Northern European countries are generally high–income countries with strong currencies and higher living costs.
The following countries All show SIGNIFICANTLY above average prices.
- Switzerland
- Iceland
- Luxembourg
- Denmark
- Norway
- Finland
- Ireland (1)
GLOBAL
The world’s largest Cost of Living database and global resource for Quality of Life data provides insights into:
- Cost of Living
- Housing Price Indicators
- Perceived Crime Rates
- Healthcare Quality
- Transport Quality
- Other Key Statistics (2)
UK
11 July 2025
Across the country, people claim certain benefits to help them cover the Cost of Living.
24 MILLION are now in receipt of some combination of DWP–administered Benefits, which are becoming more essential with RISING COSTS.
2022/23
21% were living in Poverty
14.3 MILLION people
£23 BILLION worth of Benefits go unclaimed every year. (3)
28 July 2025
£300 for families to claim this summer holiday as Councils and Local Authorities give away free cash.
North Northamptonshire
£320 worth of Supermarket vouchers, the Local Authority has confirmed.
Doncaster
£300 payouts offered to those in need of cash. (4)
29 July 2025
York
Citizens Advice in York are working at “maximum capacity” as the need for its service continues to grow amid the Cost of Living Crisis.
Rising food and housing costs had resulted in more people turning to Citizens Advice in York.
“It appears that there is no end in sight as rising costs continue to put pressure on households in the city.
People were continuing to find themselves in financial difficulty due to the impact of the pandemic”.
Fiona McCulloch, Chief Executive, Citizen’s Advice Charity
A ‘debt tsunami’ was predicted by Citizens Advice due to increased spending during the pandemic.
£2.7 million worth of debt was written off last year.
With recent government welfare changes, more people have been trying to rush to get Personal Independent Payments (PIP) made ahead of the change to the rules.
This has put a huge amount of pressure to support people with PIP forms, which are incredibly complicated to fill in.
Due to demand, the charity plans to recruit and train 16 more volunteers this year. (5)
Affordable Luxuries
Despite the Cost of Living crisis, British consumers are ‘splashing out on affordable luxuries like lipstick and other beauty buys to boost their mood’.
£80.4 MILLION – sales up by 16% in first half of this year for one branded lip product.
Great Depression
25% RISE in cosmetic sales during that time.
9/11
11% RISE in Lipstick sales across the cosmetics giant Estée Lauder.
2008 Crash
SIGNIFICANT INCREASE in average cosmetics expenditure among younger women aged 18 to 40.
2020 Research
Lipstick purchasers in recessions just wanted a cheaper treat than clothes.
‘Little Treat Culture’
Bougie Condiment and Fancy Snack sales booming as people cut back on eating out.
People replace big spending with small affordable luxuries to ‘keep their spirits up’. (6)
Local Authority Support
Local Authority have money to ‘support’ people with the Cost of Living crisis.
Local places to find Free Support with Food, Clothing and Hygiene Products.
Maps to show local spaces to keep warm in winter, access Free Wi–Fi and take part in activities.
Support available:
National Cost of Living Support
Help with Food, Fuel and Hygiene
Council Tax Support
Mental Health
Holiday Activity and Food Programme
Help with Energy Costs
Rent Arrears – Discretionary Housing Payments*
Free/Cheaper Computer and Internet Access
Help with NHS Costs
Benefits and Maximising your Income
Help with Housing Costs if on Low Income
Debt, Income and Financial Support
* Discretionary Housing Payments
Can be used so rent arrears can be paid off with ‘good’ reason.
This depends on how much money is in the pot.
At the end of the financial year, if there is lots of money left, there is more chance of being assisted as the Council needs to spend the money.
Universal Credit
Budgeting Advance Loans
The UK government offers a ‘budgeting advance loan’ for people on Universal Credit who face an emergency lack of money.
These Interest–Free Loans have a maximum repayment period of 2 years and payments are automatically deducted from the Universal Credit payments.
Advance Borrowing
- £348 single
- £464 couple
- £812 with a Child Benefit Claim
Household Support Fund (HSF)
The Household Support Fund is distributed by local Councils and offers vital assistance to those facing Financial hardship, complementing standard Benefits and Grants.
Eligible households can apply for support for
- Essential Appliances
- Contribution towards Utility Bills
- Direct Cash Payments up to £300
Local Authorities are free to decide how to allocate their HSF funding to suit households in their area. This means what is available will vary.
Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP)
Households can apply to their Council for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP).
This offers financial support toward rent or housing costs.
DHP is available for those receiving Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit.
It can cover housing costs for a rent shortfall, rent deposits and rent in advance if moving home.
Exact eligibility and the funds available are on a Council–by–Council basis.
Charitable Grants
For those struggling financially, there are certain charitable grants available depending on the circumstances.
Those eligible are disabled or ill, carers, bereaved, unemployed and students.
Typically, these grants require specific criteria and only offer limited funds. (3)
August 2025
MILLIONS more Britons are now worried about the Cost of Living.
6 in 10 adults report their Cost of Living has INCREASED in the last month.
45% HIGHER than those who said this a year ago.
95% say the most common RISE that has driven up their outgoings is more expensive food shopping.
Office of National Statistics poll
57% Energy Bills had INCREASED their Cost of Living
45% Price of Fuel
Age 16 to 29
86% most reported issue was the Cost of Living
Age 20 to 49
92% citing Cost of Living was an issue
Adults under age 50
Cost of Living was an important issue
Age 50 and over
NHS is more important (7)
Dear World
This is the latest news as it is going on right now in August 2025.
We cannot continue to Ignore that across all younger generations the Cost of actually Living is a very important issue.
We still read that many are away on summer Holidays and the Question is are they all affording this or creating DEBT?
Will this add to the underlying worry as the Cost of Living is not going to make it easier to repay if there was a loan or credit used to fund the family holiday or getaway that was planned a long time ago?
What if they knew beforehand that the RISING costs of just living everyday was going towards epic levels, with no signs of stopping or slowing down?
Jersey
Mother of 3 skipping meals to make sure her children could eat well because of recent increases in prices. (8)
July 2025
Prices continuing to RISE at a faster rate than earlier this year.
1 in 5 families are struggling to make ends meet.
Causing Stress with some parents working at Night and then switching over and the other working in the daytime. (8)
Government opened 2 grants to help islanders struggling financially.
Community Costs Grant to help with Cost of Living pressures.
Cold Weather Bonus for pensioners’ heating costs. (9)
Guernsey
3.9% RISE in the rate of inflation.
Relocation grants has led to steep INCREASE in rental prices locally.
51.7% HIGHER cost of rental properties than 5 years ago. (8)
Next –
USA
American Ageing Workers’ issue is the High Cost of Living.
50% lack steady employment in their 50s.
33% of these people will work in their 60s.
80% of those who have stable employment in their 50s will be working in their 60s.
As lifespans lengthen, wages are not keeping up with Inflation and even a decent nest egg may not go far enough.
That is especially true as Employers have shifted the burden of Retirement Savings to Employees, offering 401(k)s rather than pensions that promise a certain benefit every month.
As a result, millions of Americans are going to have to keep working longer. “The issue more than anything is the HIGH COST OF LIVING”.
John Mandeville – Executive Director Council of the Central Vermont Council on Aging (10, 11)
Welfare Benefits of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families is a federally funded, state–run program, also known as Welfare.
TANF helps families pay for
- Food
- Housing
- Home Energy
- Child Care
In addition to cash assistance for living expenses, many states offer job training and help with tuition payments for work–related education.
Each state or tribal government runs its TANF program differently and has a different name. (12)
Financial Assistance and Social Services (FASS) for Native Americans
Federally recognized tribes can apply for government funding for services and programs. Some programs provide funds directly to tribal members living on or near reservations.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) manages the Financial Assistance and Social Services (FASS) program.
It gives financial aid to tribal members who cannot get Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
Qualified members may receive money for:
- General Needs – food, clothing, shelter and utilities
- Child Care
- Emergencies, including homes destroyed by Fire, Flood or other Disasters
- Adult Care, for in–home or residential care of Native Americans who are older or have a Disability
- Burial costs of Tribal members with low income (13)
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
SNAP provides Food Benefits to low–income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford the nutritious food essential to health and well–being. (14)
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEA)
LIHEA is one of the most critical components of the Social Safety net.
The program provides heating and cooling assistance to 6.7 million households.
State block grants flow to local agencies with specific clients on a short–term basis to prevent utility shutoffs or assistance with heating and cooling bills. (15)
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) describes the Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEA) as a program that “helps keep families safe and healthy through initiatives that assist families with energy costs”.
LIHEA provide federally funded assistance in managing costs associated with:
- Home Energy Bills
- Energy Crisis
- Weatherization and Energy–related minor home repairs
LIHEA programs help to reduce the risk of Health and Safety problems that arise from unsafe heating and cooling practices. (16)
AUSTRALIA
August 2025
The BIGGEST inflationary shock in a generation has left Australia a much more expensive place to live. It could take years for households to catch up. (17)
Help with the Cost of Living
Tax Cuts
Tax Cuts for every taxpayer.
2 more tax cuts in 2026 and 2027.
$1,000 minimum tax deduction every year for all workers.
Low and middle income earners never to pay more than they should.
Energy Bill Relief
$150 off power bills for every household and one million small businesses.
Free Technical and Further Education (TAFE)
Government subsidised training available on a permanent basis.
Stronger Medicare
Boost to Medicare – see GP for free.
50 new Free Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.
1800 Medicare – a Free 24/7 Health Advice Line and after hours GP Telehealth Service.
Support for Students
20% wiped off every Student Debt.
Paid prac for students studying to be:
- Teachers
- Social Workers
- Nurses
- Midwives
Tradies
$10,000 payment to next generation of Tradies to help Construction and Clean–Energy apprentices to complete their studies.
Pay Rise
3.5% pay rise for those on minimum wage or an award.
This includes workers in Hospitality, Retail, Community Support and more.
Cheaper Child Care
3 days of Child Care subsidy guaranteed for children who need it.
Build new centres, not for profit but for affordable Child Care in suburbs and regions.
Support for Parents
More Support, Financial Security and Flexibility.
Extending Paid Parental Leave to 6 months.
Access to the Single Parent Payment expanded.
1 July 2025
Superannuation added to Government paid Parental Leave. (18)
Hello
Are our Local Councils and Local Government Authorities in anyway promoting summer Holidays with their give away free cash?
It is great to have a handout because we have an incident or situation that has financially affected us, but have we considered that many are claiming even though they know it and we know it and the Authorities know it, that it is not a true claim.
WHY are we allowing this and WHY are we not voicing this as a collective?
If we hear of an area where money is being dished out then word will get out and others in different areas will Demand that they have the same.
The Question is Are we Enabling or are we truly supporting individuals or families with the advertising of some kind of monetary donation?
How was it back in the old days and why are we not adopting their Simple1 way of life that could be the answer we need right now to sharpen up and get on Track with the Cost of Living?
It is a fact, many are genuinely struggling and so many have left school and entered university and then come out with no job in sight.
In fact, recent statistics tell us we have 630,000 Claiming Benefits. (19)
What does that do to a young person and why did they go down the road of a university degree that is not a ticket to a well paid job?
Of course, not all towns and cities in the UK have the budgets to dish out donations and some are exhausted and see “no end in sight”.
How do we feel knowing that we have individually contributed to a DEBT Tsunami that has created so much pain, misery and devastation?
WHY are more and more security staff reporting thefts everyday?
WHY are they saying that the thieves have got more bold and really don’t care as they know they can Get Away With It?
WHY are the ring leaders using children and youth to steal or have we worked it out that they cannot be prosecuted?
The police are inundated and cannot cope with the resources they have, so many Give Up and we can understand why.
Where is this heading and what are we going to do about it as a decent law abiding Citizen?
Complaining, bitching, Cursing and moaning will lead to nowhere other than be harmful to your own health and well-being, so there is no point going there.
How about we look at some super practical ways to educate ourselves about money and face the Cost of Living, so we know exactly what we need to do OR not do?
The author of this article and this huge website LIVES very Simple2 and is practical when it comes to the Cost of Living.
Applying some good old fashion Common Sense works and will always work.
Being stupid when it comes to spending money will never work. FACT.
Example –
WHY do we need those “spirits up”?
How about we ignore them and give them no air time and use our money wisely to invest in a home cooked meal that would most certainly nurture and nourish us and take the left overs to work or have another day in the week?
What would granny say if she even heard the words “affordable luxuries” when there are bills to pay and food to be put on the table every day?
If we need our mood boosting, it is best that we look at WHY our mood requires a form of stimulation, like lipstick, a holiday or a new item of the latest fashion.
Mood boosters are short term fixes that never address the underlying issue that remains. In some cases, it could bury it deeper as we go for it and spend spend spend and forget it was supposed to be “affordable luxuries”, but our low mood needed the boosting and Online Shopping seems to do the job until the actual bill arrives.
Dear World
How is our relationship with our credit card or the multiple cards we have that offer us the buy now, pay later, or don’t worry pay the minimum and pay us forever with the super high interest rates?
How are we going with our monthly bank statement?
Do we have any concerns or worries, or are we just seeking the next thrill or next promotion or deal as that will make them all go away?
How many of us are living way beyond our means and never Question or even consider the Cost of Living?
Of course, we have sensible people among us that live according to what they can afford and make adjustments to ensure they are not going to be in DEBT at the end of the month.
A message to those people – why not help out and share what you live so others can benefit?
There seems to be a general trend of being IRRESPONSIBLE and this is not just a certain generation.
Irresponsible Living is widespread and global – something we ought to remember.
Back in the old days, there was no credit card, tap tap way of living.
It was Simple1 – you have to save for what you want and the PRIORITY has to be pay the bills and that includes at home.
As they called it, a ‘roof over your head’ was the first thing. What we call rent or mortgage. The next of course are the bills. What we call gas, electric and water.
Then we have the taxes like Local Authority And thereafter we need to consider medical bills for those that live where there is no free national health system.
What most of us have not worked out yet is that taking care of the Foundational aspects of living human life will give us the roadmap we are seeking to live with settlement and not a constant state of Anxiety.
What message do we give out if we have rent arrears and we are great at Lying and because our local Council has excess monies they need to spend, we get ‘lucky’ and bingo our irresponsible way of living had no consequences – we Got Away With It.
This tells us we are not accountable and there is no learning for us as there was no correction.
In other words, Getting Away With It offered us no evolution.
If we had to find a way to pay for our irresponsible living, the universal law of correction would have us accountable and this would be our learning and more than likely, we would never consider being stupid and irresponsible with money again.
WHY – because the lesson was long and pain–full and not worth repeating.
Of course, there are those that are truly struggling with the parent not eating so the kids get the food.
How can we be living in a modern day society where this is going on and how can we put an end to it without putting on our sympathy hat?
Next –
Is this why we have people using their work facilities to wash or actually sleep at night in? Is this what we call living the Double Life?
Where on earth did we bring in age as the factor for working?
If we find work that we love and just GET ON WITH IT surely we would not need to invest our whole mindset into retiring early and working through our bucket list.
It is a no brainer that when we resent our work, or hate working or have nothing great to say about what we bring by way of quality to our work or it is not appreciated, blah blah, then all this fed narrative is going to guarantee a miserable and moaning life as we get older.
On the other side, if we valued every skill or job we do as we give it our All and that means we are *Fully Present, doing what is being asked, not seeking more but just getting on with it, then we are most certainly going to feel joy–full inside our body.
*Fully Present means not being checked out – mind elsewhere meandering or on the phone in work time.
Our body actually likes work but it requires deep care and attention.
No point doing Late Nights and expecting to be Focused and ON the job next morning.
A heavy night with excess Alcohol is not going to deliver the results we want the next day at work. This is basic 101 common sense and we ALL know it even if it suits us to not admit it.
Next –
YES, for some the Pandemic killed the workforce and productivity.
For others, it opened the door to elasticated pants, slippers and a working from home lifestyle that we now want more of.
The HIGH cost of everything post pandemic makes no sense but everything is changing.
We pay the same price or MORE in some cases and yet the bar of Chocolate is smaller.
Now the price of Chocolate is so high and we are told there is a shortage, really?
Next –
WHY are we allowing the Cost of the rental market to only RISE and never go down?
How and when did this become the Normal?
Tenants some genuine and struggling and forced to pay more rent to the Landlord with multiple properties.
What if the rise in rent is simply because landlords want More and the current economic climate means they can Demand More but actually it does not affect their lifestyle whatsoever?
In other words, they do not need the money and if they did, they could sell just one of their properties and keep the rent the same or even lower it.
Can we imagine a world like that one day with no greedy landlords?
Brotherhood – what would that be like?
In other words, landlords could sense and feel we are all Brothers and ripping another off, or a couple or family with children is not the way to go, because we were never ever put on this earth to make it just about I, me, myself and profit for no reason.
Next –
WHY are restaurants and diners serving meals that are costing double or even triple pre–pandemic prices and we are still going?
WHY are we getting LESS meat and portion sizes, but the prices are HIGHER?
There are no winners when we behave in a way that takes advantage of others within our own species.
As the Code of Conduct on this website states at the very end
PUT PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT
If all Businesses started to operate in this way, True Success may look totally different to how it is portrayed today and it could end the vast disparity that exists in our world.
Enough said, our next article will present a road map on how we can actually get ON with living in a way that supports us, regardless of what is going on out there.
References
(1) Yanatma, S. (2025, July 27). Cost of Living: Which are the Cheapest and Most Expensive Countries in Europe? Euro News. Retrieved August 3, 2025 from
https://www.euronews.com/business/2025/07/06/cost-of-living-which-are-the-cheapest-and-most-expensive-countries-in-europe
(2) (n.d). Numbeo. Retrieved August 3, 2025 from
https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/
(3) Toth, A. (2025, July 11). July 2025 Benefits and Pension Payments Dates Plus Cost of Living Support. Independent. Retrieved August 3, 2025 from
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/july-2025-dwp-payment-dates-cost-of-living-benefits-pensions-b2787335.html
(4) Rodger, J. (2025, July 28). New £320 Cost of Living Payments Being Handed to Universal Credit Households. Birmingham Live. Retrieved August 3, 2025 from
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/cost-of-living/new-320-cost-living-payments-32151716
(5) Connell, D. (n.d). Citizens Advice York. At Capacity Amid Cost-of-Living Crisis. The York Press. Retrieved August 3, 2025 from
https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/25346069.citizens-advice-york-maximum-capacity-amid-cost-of-living-crisis/
(6) (2025, July 28). Worried about the Cost of Living Crisis? Maybe You Need Another Lipstick. The Guardian. Retrieved August 3, 2025 from
https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025/jul/28/worried-about-the-cost-of-living-crisis-maybe-you-need-another-lipstick
(7) Merriman, S. (2025, August 15). Millions More Britons Now Worried About Cost of Living When Labour Came to Power. Daily Mail. Retrieved August 23, 2025 from
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15004205/Millions-Britons-worried-cost-living-Labour-came-power.html
(8) Fernandez, J. (2025, July 24). How Are Islanders Coping with the Cost of Living? BBC News. Retrieved August 3, 2025 from
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0v1y0nvl1o
(9) Silver, J. (2025, July 28). Cost of Living and Cold Weather Payments Open. BBC News. Retrieved August 3, 2025 from
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8ze9g055no
(10) Semuels, A. (2025, February 24). For Many of America’s Aging Workers, ‘Retirement is a Distant Dream’. TIME Magazine. Retrieved August 3, 2025 from
https://time.com/7260357/aging-workforce/
(11) Roeder, A. (2025, February 27). Unstable Employment in 50s Linked to Low Employment in 60s. Harvard T.H. Chan. Retrieved August 3, 2025 from
https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/unstable-employment-in-50s-linked-to-low-employment-in-60s/
(12) (2025, January 3). Welfare Benefits or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). www.usa.gov Retrieved August 13, 2025 from
https://www.usa.gov/welfare-benefits
(13) (2024, December 3). Financial Assistance and Services for Native Americans. www.usa.gov Retrieved August 13, 2025 from
https://www.usa.gov/native-american-financial-assistance
(14) (n.d). Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Retrieved August 13, 2025 from
https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program
(15) (n.d). Understanding the Impact of LIHEAP. Retrieved August 13, 2025 from
https://www.liheap.org/
(16) (n.d). What is LIHEAP? Retrieved August 13, 2025 from
https://www.liheap.org/about
(17) (2025, August 4). Inflation is Down But Prices Remain High: When Will the Cost-of-Living Crisis End? The Guardian. Retrieved August 13, 2025 from
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/aug/05/inflation-is-down-but-prices-remain-high-when-will-the-cost-of-living-crisis-end
(18) (n.d). Help with the Cost of Living. Prime Minister of Australia. Retrieved August 13, 2025 from
https://www.pm.gov.au/our-work/help-cost-living
(19) Hymas, C. (2025, July 28). More Than 600,000 Graduates on Benefits. The Telegraph. Retrieved August 17, 2025 from
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/28/more-than-630000-graduates-on-benefits/