The cost of living in the UK is rendering young people isolated and unable to make ends meet. 

In a recent survey, 37% of 18– to 24-year-olds reported feeling lonelier than they did last winter, while 36% reported having less leisure time than last year. This financial burden has a significant impact on the mental and emotional health of adolescents, as well as their social lives.

The cost of living crisis has a variety of effects on young individuals. Nearly half of those aged 16 to 25 are concerned that inflation will prevent them from earning enough to start a family, while other research indicates that young people will be “cautiously hopeful” but “struggling” in 2023. 

Many young people work multiple jobs to make expenses meet, leaving little time for social interaction.

Manchester pupil Fizah, 22 years old, is one example. In addition to her studies, she works two jobs to pay for her housing, food, and transportation. She states, “By separating yourself from your social circle, family, and friends, you become significantly mentally detached.”

Even for young people saving money by living with their parents, rising prices can cause significant tension and social isolation. Tasnia, a 20-year-old Tower Hamlets resident who lives with her mother, claims that the cost of living crisis has exacerbated her melancholy. 

Nearly one-fifth of young individuals surveyed reported having difficulty paying their energy bills within the previous three months.

Additionally, young people are twice as likely as the general population to miss payments on utility bills, and 18% have reported falling behind on housing payments. 19% borrowed money to avoid falling behind on their expenses, while 27% used their savings. In contrast, between 2018 and 2020, 34% of young adults will have more debt than savings.

After paying their expenses, Tasnia and her mother struggle to budget £50 for a month’s worth of groceries. Additionally, Tasnia has reduced her social activities because she “simply cannot afford it.” She comments, “It feels incredibly isolated.” Jem, age 26, claims that the soaring cost of living has made it extremely difficult for her to leave her parents’ home, causing her social life to “disappear.” 

She believes that the government has “forgotten” about young people, as only 22% of young people in a survey said that the political system in the United Kingdom works for people like them, compared to 18% of those with poor incomes.

The cost of living crisis has a significant impact on the lives of young people, isolating them, causing them financial stress, and leaving them feeling abandoned by the government.

In addition to working multiple jobs and reducing their social activities in order to make ends meet, young people are experiencing increased levels of tension, depression, and anxiety due to their financial situation. 

To assist young people in overcoming these obstacles, it is important to address the underlying causes of the cost of living and to provide assistance and solutions to those affected.

In conclusion, the cost of living crisis in the UK is affecting young people in a variety of ways, isolating them, causing them financial stress, and making them feel abandoned by the government. It is crucial to provide support and solutions for those affected by this crisis, including government policies, community programmes, and personal finance advice. 

Together, we can assist young people in overcoming the obstacles they face and ensure a brighter future for all.