‘Struggling to pay the bills’: Britons under pressure react to budget 2025

As they struggle with the cost of living, people weigh up whether Rachel Reeves's measures will help them

• What the budget means for people on a range of incomes

• Budget calculator: find out if you are better or worse off

For Brett and Maria MacDonald, the cost of living has been biting this year, from rising mortgage payments to childcare fees. Living in London with two young children and no extended family nearby, the pair are juggling work with parenting.