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'I'm a single mum on £41,000 and limit my weekly shop to £40.' What do you want from the Budget?

People earning from £380 a month to £150,000 a year tell the BBC what they want to see in this year's Budget.

'I'm a single mum on £41,000 and limit my weekly shop to £40.' What do you want from the Budget?

Chancellor John Healey is preparing to deliver the first Budget of his term on Wednesday. With few leaked details, his tax and spending plans will be closely examined amid historically high borrowing costs. BBC News interviewed individuals across various income levels to gauge their financial concerns and budget-related desires for the upcoming Budget.

Chloe, a single mother on £41,000, limits her weekly grocery bill to £40. Her biggest worry is the increasing cost of living, particularly her energy bill, which has risen to £200 a month. Despite cutting back on luxuries, Chloe seeks more support for single-parent families, ideally through tax relief.

Robert Portlock, 29, lives with his parents in Gateshead and aspires to move out. Rent, combined with council tax and energy bills, would consume over two-thirds of his salary. Robert wants fuel duty reduced and his personal allowance increased to £16,000 to help him afford a flat and improve his financial situation.

Emily Nelson, 19, recently completed her A-levels but has struggled to secure employment. She requests additional funding for businesses to hire young workers, extended financial support for training, and an accelerated rollout of the Jobs Guarantee scheme for 18 to 24-year-olds. Emily lives with her parents but dreams of moving out independently.

Dave Herbert, a professional driver, reports a 40% to 50% increase in fuel costs this year, spending around £350 monthly on petrol. He demands a drastic reduction or removal of fuel duty for a specified period. Dave, married with a daughter, fears the rising fuel expenses will strain his already tight budget.

Jonathan Whitwam, a 52-year-old finance worker, emphasizes the need for higher taxes on higher earners to fund public services like roads, hospitals, and schools. He also proposes a one-time wealth tax for individuals with assets worth over £10 million and additional taxes on the oil and gas and banking sectors. Jonathan believes that investing in these areas will yield long-term benefits for the economy.

Written by urgent.news from BBC Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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