RESIDENTS in Bournemouth have told how they are keeping the heating turned off and are “just trying to survive” as the cost of living crisis bites.

With winter around the corner and skyrocketing energy costs, we went to Boscombe High Street and listened to some of the difficult situations people are facing.

Alice, 28, a mum from Bournemouth is "very stressed" as she currently lives "paycheck to paycheck."

Alice said: "I am literally just trying to survive. It's very stressful living paycheck to paycheck.

"I have been renting since the age of 18 and it's always been difficult but I'm really feeling the pressure at the moment. 

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"I'm very worried and I don't see things getting any better."

Given, a mum from Boscombe, said after paying her bills she "struggles" to buy all the food and essentials her family needs for the month.

She feels "upset" when she has to say no to her children when they ask for things she cannot afford. 

Given said: "It's difficult at the moment, I am struggling.

"You know what kids are like when they are growing up, they are always asking for this and that and I just feel awful I can't get everything my boy wants and I can't stop thinking about it." 

Bournemouth Echo: Boscombe High StreetBoscombe High Street (Image: Evie Coffey, Newsquest)

A Boscombe café owner said: "I have worked here for 16 years and things are very different now to when we started. 

"It is scary times, when looking at the bank account, it is not healthy.

"I have been turning off the coffee machine when not in use and we have been turning the big fridge off.

"We have been putting drinks in the smaller one behind the till so people pick their drink from the big fridge then we will get them a cold one from the smaller fridge to save on energy."

The coffee shop has started to notice the waste left behind by customers in his café, which he believes is adding to the issue.

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The owner added: "You notice how many things go to waste when you are counting pennies.

"I used to bulk buy napkins for about half the price that I pay for them now and you will see people grabbing great big handfuls of them and not even using them. 

"The same with food, people will order a great big meal and only eat half of it. 

"We are a very wasteful country and it isn't helping, people are chucking things away that other people might desperately need. 

"It's going to be very hard for the future generations and I worry for my children."

A 74-year-old resident, who did not wish to be named, said she has "been wrapping up to avoid turning on the heating."

The Boscombe resident said: "I live on my own, I still haven't turned the heating on, I'm very conscious of what I'm using. 

"I have my pension so I am lucky not struggling as much as some people are but I still make sure I am cutting back on things I can.

"I feel for people who can't afford to get by at the moment because I don't suspect it is going to get any better."