Profiles

Holly and Gary

Names and ages: Holly – 25, Gary - 40, Daughter aged 8 months

Occupations: Holly works full time as a benefits advisor, Gary is currently unemployed and looking for work

Household Income: £20,000 – including tax credits

Location: Oldham, near Manchester

Housing: Buying on a mortgage

Current situation:

• Holly and Gary have an 8 month old daughter. Holly is currently on maternity leave and due to return to work in May. Gary has recently been made redundant after 20 years full time then part time with a local furniture manufacturer.

• There have been lots of changes for the family over the last year – the birth of their daughter; Gary’s redundancy; and they have just moved into a new home which they are buying on a mortgage. So they are unclear what exactly their new household costs and income will be, and how that will change over the coming year.

• At present their monthly outgoings far exceed their income, although this will improve when Holly returns to work from maternity leave in May. They also have large credit card debts on which they can only afford to pay off the minimum. They have no savings at all and have not had a holiday since their honeymoon in 2007.

Challenges:

• Gary finding a job – especially as he cannot drive or afford driving lessons

• The cost of childcare and fitting this around their work, especially if Gary gets a job

• Cost of living and rising prices – they currently have to borrow money each month to survive

Aspirations:

• For Gary to find work that he enjoys

• For Holly to retrain as a mid-wife

• To get their finances on an even keel

Listen to Holly and Gary being interviewed on Radio 4's The World Tonight