Welsh Voters Squeeze Budgets Ahead of Senedd Election

BBC Business reported Wednesday that cost of living pressures are reshaping daily life for Welsh households on the eve of Thursday’s Senedd election. Voters across the country say food, energy, and transport costs have become defining issues at the ballot box.

Homemade Meals and Homemade Dog Food

Cardiff resident India Lerigo, 29, told the BBC she now spends entire weekends batch cooking a month’s worth of meals for herself and her dog, Luna. Before adopting the approach, Lerigo spent between £400 and £500 monthly on food for both of them. She has since cut that figure to roughly £250. Lerigo also makes Luna’s food from scratch using meat off-cuts, offal, and vegetables. The Staffy has allergies and proved too selective for most commercial brands. Lerigo said she spent two months researching canine nutrition and had the plan approved by her vet. Luna’s skin and digestion have both improved. Lerigo said she would “quite like that weekend back” but considers the trade-off worth it. She added that party policies on living costs will directly influence how she votes.

A Squeeze Felt Across Wales

The financial strain extends well beyond one household. Caerphilly mother of two Sara Davies, whose family runs on two incomes, said the couple now compare prices before putting items in the trolley. Fortnightly pub evenings have become a luxury they can no longer afford regularly. Andrew Pritchard, 62, from Cowbridge, described the situation as “bonkers,” saying rising electricity, gas, and fuel costs left him working full-time simply to cover rent and bills. Llanelli resident Orla Williams, 58, pointed to elevated petrol prices linked to the Iran conflict as one driver of what she called a “never-ending spiral upwards.”

How the Crisis Built Over Years

Citizens Advice figures underscore the depth of the problem. Ashley Comley of Caerphilly Blaenau Gwent Citizens Advice noted that financial pressure had been building for years. His organisation recorded a 49% rise in the number of people seeking help in 2025 alone. Comley traced the origins of the crunch to the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which triggered the initial surge in energy and food prices across the UK.

Election Day Test

Welsh voters head to the polls Thursday to elect members of the Senedd. For many, the question is straightforward. Incomes have not kept pace with council tax, energy bills, or grocery prices. Donna Jones, 58, from Swansea, put it simply. “Food prices, energy prices, they just go up and up, but incomes don’t,” she said. “It’s unsustainable for ordinary households.”

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