Gwen is a B.C. senior who doesn香蕉视频直播檛 want her last name used because she香蕉视频直播檚 embarrassed by how desperate her financial situation has become.

But she did share her reaction every time she goes to a grocery store.

香蕉视频直播淚 get sticker shock at the price,香蕉视频直播� said Gwen, who at 81 lives on a fixed income that shrunk in half after her husband died in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. 香蕉视频直播淚 dread going grocery shopping because it香蕉视频直播檚 a reminder of how poor I am now.香蕉视频直播�

Gwen spoke with Black Press Media while she was shopping in the produce section of a Victoria store.

She never goes out to eat and cooks for herself, but has now been 香蕉视频直播渟kipping香蕉视频直播� a meal a day 香蕉视频直播� usually lunch 香蕉视频直播� in order to stretch her food budget.

Gwen says she simply can香蕉视频直播檛 afford to eat three times a day because her rent also went up. The senior got rid of her car two years ago to save money each month, but walking has become more difficult as she gets older.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 hard to watch the news because most days there are stories about inflation and it香蕉视频直播檚 a yet another reminder of my situation,香蕉视频直播� said Gwen, who is actively seeking a roommate to cut down on monthly costs.

She has also sold off a bunch of her jewelry.

香蕉视频直播淭hat really hurt,香蕉视频直播� Gwen said.

The Victoria senior is hardly alone. Many residents are struggling as inflation drives up food prices and other items.

Black Press Media has spoken to a dozen customers shopping in area grocery stores in recent days to ask how they are managing.

Some parents said they were paying far more than 50 per cent of their monthly income on rent, which doesn香蕉视频直播檛 leave much money for groceries. Parents described cutting back on Christmas presents and entertainment, as well as also skipping meals to ensure their children eat a proper number of meals each day.

香蕉视频直播淵ou sacrifice anything for your kids,香蕉视频直播� one dad said.

Statistics Canada said recently that upward pressure is being placed on rent prices as more Canadians are priced out of homeownership because of high interest rates.

In a client note, BMO chief economist Douglas Porter said core inflation edging up is a clear sign of persistent underlying inflation pressures.

香蕉视频直播淭urning the temperature down on inflation is proving to be an achingly slow process, and we suspect this may be a theme for 2023,香蕉视频直播� Porter said.

Economists expect Canadians facing higher shelter costs because of high interest rates to pull back on other spending. That process is expected to slow inflation.

The Bank of Canada has raised interest rates rapidly to cool decades-high inflation and slow spending in the economy.

香蕉视频直播擶ith files from Nojoud Al Mallees, The Canadian Press