Episodes
| Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barry And Amy | 20220730 | 20220731 (R4) 20220803 (R4) | The cost of living is dominating the headlines. Inflation has risen to a 40-year high, with energy and food prices soaring. According to recent data by the National Union of Students (NUS), a third of students are living on less than £50 a month after paying their rent and bills. Barry, who studies at St Andrews University, is one of many young people struggling with the cost of living. He has been working full time in-between his studies to make enough money, meaning less time for his uni work. He's meeting Amy who got her degree at Bangor university during the 2008 recession. She shares her experiences to help Barry get through his last year of studying. Presenter: Rachel Stonehouse Producer: Georgia Coan Editor: Clare Fordham Amy struggled for money when she was a student. She advises Barry who is at uni now. |
| Holly And Scott | 20220813 | 20220814 (R4) 20220817 (R4) | What can people struggling through today's cost of living crisis learn from those who lived through previous hard times? Holly, in Gateshead, has been struggling to keep up with rising prices. She lives with her daughter Harley and boyfriend Kevin, and says that during the last few months, she has struggled to afford to put food on the table. She says she feels terrified about the coming winter, and wonders how she will keep her daughter warm in the colder months. She's meeting Scott, who left school and started work in the 1980s, a time of mass unemployment. He lived hand to mouth for years, taking home wages from odd jobs that barely covered his bills. He knows what it's like to be on the breadline - so by sharing his experiences, can he help Holly navigate today's cost of living crisis? What can we learn about today's cost of living crisis from previous hard times? |
| Moet And Carry | 20220806 | 20220807 (R4) 20220810 (R4) | Two women compare coping with two cost of living crises, 30 years apart. Today we are seeing energy and food prices soaring, leaving some struggling to afford basic necessities. Moet, a single mum living in Birmingham, has been struggling to keep up with the increases in costs. She has found herself getting into debt after being made redundant in May. She says she sometimes has only £7.50 left in her bank account at the end of the month for a food shop. She meets Carry, who was also a single mum during the recession that began in 1991. She managed to survive - just - by starting her own business. Can her experiences of living on the breadline help Moet get through today's financial squeeze? Producer: Eleanor Layhe Production Coordinator: Janet Staples Sound: Neil Churchill |
| Sophia And Chris | 20220820 | 20220821 (R4) 20220824 (R4) | Two women compare coping with the cost of living, 50 years apart. Today, soaring energy and food prices are leaving some struggling to afford basic necessities. 23-year-old Sophia, from Bury, is a single mum to her four-year-old, Layla, and a full-time student. She says her student finance barely covers her rent, and she's not entitled to any benefits because of it. She's been cutting back on using gas and electric, as well as missing meals to make sure the food stretches far enough. She says she sometimes just has a slice of toast for dinner. She meets Chris, who struggled with the impact of rapid inflation during the 1970s. Chris juggled three jobs and cut down on food - sometimes living on sandwiches given to her by a co-worker. A night school course and eventually a new job eased the pressure on her finances. Can her experiences of living on the breadline help Sophia through today's cost of living crisis? Producer: Eleanor Layhe Production coordinator: Janet Staples Studio Mix: Rod Farquhar Editor: Emma Rippon |