A 'perfect storm' of food and fuel shortages coupled with price rises and the impending Universal Credit cut are leaving people in deprived areas of the UK struggling.
The general feeling is that life is "getting worse" for people who were already hard up as they look ahead to winter on the back of the pandemic and Brexit, reports the Manchester Evening News.
The price of gas has rocketed, food has become more expensive, doctors' and dentists' appointments are more difficult to get, and the HGV drivers' shortage and a run on the pumps has led to a scarcity of petrol.
On top of this, the £20 Universal Credit uplift, intended to help people through the pandemic, is going.
Leaning over his balcony, smoking, a man stares out at the rain bouncing off the block of flats facing his. By his side sits a woman still wearing her dressing gown, despite it being way into the afternoon.
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A washing line is strung across the front door of the flat below, towels billowing in the wind and getting soaked.
When asked by the Manchester Evening News if they fancy a chat about the problems the country is facing, they shrug "we don't speak English" - but the dejected expressions on their faces say it all.
Down on the street, Damon Watters, 27, who lives opposite them in Uvedale House, off Cawdor Street in Eccles, has a sunnier demeanour.
Rushing off to visit a friend he tells us he likes to keep positive, keep smiling and have fun every day.
But, despite his happy-go-lucky aura there things on his mind.
"The petrol situation is a pain in the a**e," he said.
"I have a grandmother in Droylsden and she doesn't have anyone to do her food shop if I can't get petrol for my bike."
He also worries about the food shortages.
"There is The Mustard Tree food bank in the middle of Eccles. If there are food shortages it might be affected," he said.
"Me and my Mrs have had to go to foodbanks if we are struggling financially. A few of the lads I go in the pub with have had their Universal Credit cut, I buy them a pint if I can.
"They just try to have a bit of fun with what they have left. For the most it's alright here. It looks a bit rough but it's alright - we have a bit of banter with the police when they turn up."
Roy Bannister, 68, a retired UPS worker, has lived at Uvedale House for over 12 years. He's dreading the prospect of food shortages and the rise in his energy bill.
"I imagine it will be hard and it is probably going to get worse," he said.
"I get my pension and I don't get anything else. I went on Sunday to the supermarket and it opens at 10am.
"I got there at 8.40am and waited for an hour.
"I can't just go now, I have to plan ahead as you could go and have 300 people in front of you.
"When I went out the other day the whole road was blocked up with people queuing up for petrol at Morrisons petrol station.
"If I can't get petrol and the weather is bad it can mean I can't get out. I have not had a bill yet for my gas - God knows what that will be.
"Why do they just put it up? It's not our fault - it's crazy. I'm just about managing at the moment and I guess I will find out when I get the bill just before Christmas - Great."
In the next block along at Uvedale House, Vicky Derbyshire, 45, unemployed, says she has been looking for a job since lockdown.
Bewildered to be asked, she says with surprise: "People don't normally ask us how we are, or how we are feeling."
Vicky, who has learning disabilities and was widowed last year, has lost her disability allowance and says she is managing on Universal Credit.
She says she has got used to budgeting a small amount of money, but sometime uses Mustard Tree Foodbank. The prospect of food shortages, the benefit cut, and energy prices increasing weigh down on her.
"Nobody wants that," she said.
"I have been looking for a job since we came out of lockdown but a lot of places have shut down."
Across the road, just off Trafford Road, are blocks of high rise flats, built in the 1960s and given a £3.8m makeover in 2014.
Resident Shirley Kearney, 63, is a nursing assistant at the Moor Side Unit at Trafford General, lives at Engels House.
During lockdown she was shielding due to health issues and says she was paid her basic wage without "enhancements" - such as extra pay for weekend work and late nights.
As a result she was losing £800 per month, but she says she was not eligible for Universal Credit.
"You work hard all your life, and it is a simple no." she says. "My wages went down but my financial commitments still remained the same."
Had Shirley have been able to claim Universal Credit, she says the £20 uplift would have covered her electricity for a week.
Concerned about the hike in energy prices, she says she attempted to get a smart meter, but was told it wasn't possible because of the position of the meter and the wi-fi signal.
She says she blames the government and Brexit for the food and petrol shortage fears.
"No other countries are suffering like us," she said.
"They aren't having all these problems with food going off the shelves and fuel shortages. It's clearly down to Brexit.
"The government thinks we are thick."
Shirley says she worries about the younger generation.
"What are they going to university for? she asked.
But she also feels pensioners and taxpayers are getting a raw deal.
"We have suffered by having to wait until 66 to retire now instead of 60 and now they are insulting us by making us pay 1.5% to the NHS.
"I feel well ripped off by the government.
"It's not getting any better, it's getting worse. I think pensioners are being penalised. I feel like everything is getting worse.... it just feels like a very bleak future."
Rebecca Watson, 17, works in hospitality and lives at neighbouring Wade Court with her grandparents.
As a teenager she says she isn't yet feeling affected by any changes, but she worries about her grandparents.
"It concerns me that there might be a lack of food in the future," she said.
If there is no petrol my grandad will not be able to go to work, there will be no income and you get in a massive cycle of not being able to do what you want to do."
Seven miles away in Miles Platting, residents of Butler Court raise similar concerns, reported the Manchester Evening News.
Former Merchant Seaman Michael Bancroft, 67, said: "I got into debt with Universal Credit.
"My benefits stopped and I was not aware of it."
Michael, who is a full-time carer to his ex-wife, says that having his benefits stopped while universal credit was being sorted out left him six months in rent arrears and £1,000 in debt.
After all, that Michael says, he was eventually told he was not eligible for Universal Credit and put on the state pension. His ex, who is eligible, will lose the £20 uplift.
Another worry on Michael's mind is the rising cost of gas and electricity.
"I was led to believe we could make a change with our supply of gas and electric, but we have not been able to change or get a smart meter.
"People still feel isolated in the tower.
"It is like a ghost town, it was not great even before Covid - people just sat around like zombies.
"Nobody lets on to each other or says hello - It's like, 'what are they after?'
"I made a few friends here but I later found out they had died, and nobody had told me - so I didn't get to go to their funerals.
"I am not happy with the way it is going at all."
Annette Strain, 56, lives on the 11th floor. She's not optimistic that life will get any easier.
"Things are just getting worse," she said. "Nothing is any better.
"And these problems are not going to go away. They are here forever now."
