The 49-year-old man lives with his six-year-old Jack Russell-Poodle cross-breed dog named Rocky in a ground-floor flat in the southwest of Ipswich. Mr. Turner and his partner Paula Macintosh bought Rocky as a puppy.
Mr. Turner, a fully qualified silver service waiter, put his career on hold in 2009 to care for Ms. Macintosh, who had severe mental health issues. She passed away at the age of 54 in her sleep one night in February 2019.
A few months later, Mr. Turner’s mother also passed away, then came the global Covid-19 pandemic.
“It has been tough,” said Mr. Turner. For years, since his partner’s death, he has managed to buy enough food for himself and Rocky with just £40 a month. He meticulously monitors the prices from various shops, checks the discounted foods sections of supermarkets, and buys in bulk when possible.
“Since we came out of lockdown the costs have just tripled”, he said. “I am having to ask
neighbors, friends, and family for help.” He also filled out up to 15 applications each day, from catering to office jobs, but none was successful. “Part of me does want to get back to work because of the cost of living and everything. But the other part of me says I would rather be safe than sorry”, he said.
All of the money left when his bills are paid goes on food. But the monthly food shop that just a year ago cost him £40 now costs £80, he said. As a result, he only has enough cash to buy a week and a half’s worth of food each month.
“There are days when I am only having one meal a day – I am not supposed to because of the medication I am on, which is supposed to be consumed with food or around meal times. Sometimes it does have an impact on the medication,” he said.
However, Rocky’s feeding routine has not been affected by the rising costs. “Sometimes I would rather feed my dog than myself.” He was asked if he would ever give Rocky up to save costs, he said: “He is the only one who keeps me going. He is the kind of dog that if you want and need a cuddle, he will come and give you a cuddle.”
“I have to go without food to afford to pay for his food and I have got enough for him at the
moment to go a good couple of months. After that, I don’t know what to expect. “Mr. Turner said. “If it had not been for him I would definitely have lost my sanity.”
The government said it understood the pressures people currently faced with the cost of living. Like an increasing number of people in Ipswich and across the UK, Mr. Turner’s worries about his finances have become “constant”.
“It used to be that they would come to us for a one-off food bank because they were having a particularly difficult month.” Sally Harrison, professional services manager at Ipswich Citizens Advice.
