Cost-of-living crisis: Woman switches to diet shakes to cut grocery bill

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Mother-of-three Anahera and her husband are switching to diet shakes to help cut their food bill, because, she says, they do not qualify for enough government support.

Her husband works 40 or 50 hours a week as a labourer, and earns about $1000 a week after tax.

A couple with children must earn no more than $969 a week between them, before tax, to qualify for any Jobseeker Support.

Anahera, who does not want to be identified, says she has always had mental health issues and is currently waiting for ACC to approve more counselling.

“But my mental health issues make it extremely hard to function ‘normally’ daily, as well as having psoriasis, arthritis and having pain in most joints daily.

“All we are entitled to weekly is the accommodation supplement. Our rent is $700 a week with $15 for water on top as we can’t afford to not be in credit as we can’t afford extra bills. According to Work and Income, my husband earns too much for me to be getting any kind of sickness benefit or any benefit.”

She said the welfare system had not kept up with the increasing cost of living.

“Everything apart from our income is rising. We pick and choose between food and petrol. We have just started our two-shakes-a-day diet to lose weight and try and make groceries cheaper. As long as our kids have food, we are OK, but it’s still tough.”

She said she had been meant to be starting a new job, but she could not…