People are cutting back on absolutely everything. They're buying supermarket own brands, driving less, cancelling subscriptions, staying in instead of going out and putting off purchases until they can justify the expense. They're making sacrifices that would have seemed ridiculous a few years ago just to keep their heads above water. But when wages disappear into rent, council tax, energy bills, food and transport, even the strictest budget can only do so much. You shouldn't have to give up every little thing that makes life enjoyable just to afford the essentials. If working full-time still means you can't afford to live comfortably, maybe the problem isn't your spending habits. Maybe the system is broken.