Merker prisveksten på kroppen: – Treffer fra alle kanter

Inflation has been steadily rising for several years following the pandemic, but it has recently increased once more. In October, prices were 3.6% higher than the same time last year, and even higher compared to the previous month. One individual who feels the impact of this inflation is Katarina Magnus. She explains that the rise in living costs hits her from all sides.

As a pensioner with a high degree of osteoarthritis and an entrepreneur, Katarina is particularly affected by the surge in electricity, fuel, and food prices. Although she has always been frugal, saving, buying second-hand, and inheriting, she now finds it impossible to save any more money. Any additional expenses, such as car repairs, can quickly become overwhelming.

Katarina experiences financial stress that affects her physical health, causing her to shiver and feel heart palpitations. She wakes up at night in a panic, wondering how she will pay her bills. While she has support from family, they too have limited resources. Katarina had to sell her house a few years ago due to rising rents, which increased her mortgage payments.

Although she now rents, rent prices have also risen since interest rates started to climb. The constant uncertainty about where she will live and whether her finances will last is taking a toll on her. To help those struggling most with the economic burden, Katarina hopes for more substantial measures. This could include larger tax breaks for those earning less than 500,000 kroner, especially single people and those supporting others financially.

Katarina feels overwhelmed every time she goes shopping, especially during the holiday season when she had to seek crisis support from Nav. She hopes the situation improves, but it feels extremely difficult.