I work 50 hours a week and I’m still in arrears on my council tax. What can I do more? | Sharron Spice

TJeremy Hunt, Council tax is set to increase by up to 5%. Already in arrears. I don’t think I can cope with austerity again. It was so difficult the last time. I lost my job, struggled and ended up on benefits. Council tax was the first thing I got into debt with, because it’s not a priority when you’ve got food to buy, a flat to look after. I can’t afford to pay it. With everything that’s going on, I’m like: “Council tax will have to wait”, “TV licence will have to wait”. I’m paying what I can. But I’m not going to pay council tax and then be sitting at home cold, eating bread and soup when I work six days a week.

Protecting workers is what the government must do. We need fresh ideas and new eyes. They are selling the same thing. Rishi Sunak keeps referring to Jeremy Corbyn. Is that all you’ve got? It’s so bad! Why is it that Kwasi Kwarteng and Liz Truss are not affected? How can they get away with this, make us less and then walk away? They’ve vanished. No consequences. If it was a normal job, she would have been accused of gross misconduct.I wanted to join the protests calling for a general election, but I can’t. I’m two months into my new job, working on a pilot youth project that uses a holistic approach – including CBT – for young offenders. I can’t run the risk of getting arrested and losing my job.

I’m working about 50 hours a week at the moment – with a Saturday job too – and it feels like I’m juggling a thousand plates. I’ve started my Open University degree in youth justice. I’m trying to snatch time here and there to complete my first assignment.

My rent has stayed the same because I’m in social housing, but food prices have gone up again. Pasta, butter and all my staple foods are available to me. The other day, I bought some pork. It’s the cheapest meat. It was £5.

Since a while, I have been stockpiling food. I stockpile soups, tuna and fish as well as canned vegetables, soups, tuna and corned beef. I will buy anything that is on sale. I’ve got quite a lot now: I have to rotate my tins to make sure they’re in date. I now do bulk cooking. I prepare three meals on Saturdays and Sundays, then I place them in take-out containers. Last week I made soup and this week, I made pasta. I never buy food or drink out – a coffee is £3, so I don’t buy one any more. I can use that money to pay for travel or a meal. I don’t get takeaways. I feel like I’m contributing to slowing down the economy, but I suppose we are all doing that. I’m trying to appreciate doing the cooking – I’m seeing it as taking time out for self-care.

I’m still talking with my friends on the phone and WhatsApp, and I’m saving for a Christmas meal we have booked and a birthday that’s coming up. Maybe two years ago, I’d have bought a new outfit. But I can’t do that now.

I sometimes work from home, so I have turned the heating on. I have decided that I’m not going to sit shivering in my house while I’m working. We’ve been given that handout to help with energy costs from the government. I’m topping up extra so my energy account is always in credit.

I’m looking forward to Christmas because it’s going to be a few days’ break. I’m currently filming my play, The Perils of Universal Credit, and turning it into a series of short snippets to share online and with organisations. I’m hoping to relax and allow my creative side to shine through.

• Sharron Spice lives in London and is in her 30s. She tweets @ @mSharronSpice

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