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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Leo Black & Graeme Murray

Teacher forced to move family into parents' garage after petrol and food costs double

A teacher and her family have been forced to move back into their parents' home as the cost of living crisis bites.

Substitute teacher Katie Ziemer moved her family out of their home when her husband was injured at work and their monthly expenses went up 40% reaching £1,450 ($1,750) per month.

Her bills and food costs nearly doubled and the family's monthly grocery bill went from £400 ($480) - to approximately £825 ($1,000) - with petrol costs also doubling in the last year.

With a rent of £1,500 ($1,800) and her 32-year-old prison officer husband Jeremiah out of work since early January, Katie's family simply couldn't keep their heads above water.

The only solution was to move into an apartment above her parents' garage to save on rent and utility costs.

The only solution for mum Katie Ziemer was to move home with their parents, into an apartment above their garage to save on rent and utility costs (Katherine Ziemer/ SWNS)

The couple and their three sons, who are from Southern California, moved into the one bedroom apartment at the beginning of September after several months of struggle.

Katie, 28, said: "It's a good place. It was a little cramped, but I really can't complain. The boys loved it though, they got to see their grandparents every day.

"Of course, we're blessed to have this space to go to."

Two weeks ago, after just over two months at Katie's parents, the family was finally able to move out, having saved £3,300 ($4,000), which they used to pay off their debts.

The family are now back on their feet after relocating for Jeremiah's work.

Katie added: "There was no shame in what we did. We wanted to stay there longer, through the holidays, but due to my husbands work we had to relocate.

"We were in debt over our heads, but we've managed to get on our feet now. I know we're very fortunate to have a place we can go to like that.

"I was feeling lost, like life was so weird at the moment, but it was a good decision. We grew a lot from this time.

"I was thinking this is such a weird time in my life and I can't be the only one who was going through something like this.

"I felt the need to normalise this time in our lives and all the change the world is going through at the moment.

"Based off the comments I got, there are a lot of people that can relate to our situation, at least here in the US.

"It was definitely unforeseeable that the post was going to be so successful, but I really think it brought attention to the situation we're all in."

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