How we cope with the cost of living crisis

THE FULL-TIME CARER

Shelagh Thompson, 55, cares for her sons David, 28, and Karl, 26, and lives with her husband Peter, 57, who is a nurse, in Liverpool.

FOOD BUDGET £110 per week

Both of our sons have profound and multiple learning disabilities, autism and David is non-verbal. We have a lot of extra living costs to help take care of our sons and also keep them fed as they are both fussy with food. Everything from colour, texture and composition of meals can cause them to be physically ill, or refuse to eat if different bits of the meal are touching on the plate. I’m a vegetarian, too, so it’s a juggling act cooking and serving something everybody likes.

There isn’t any more money to put towards our food shops, so