When full-time work still isn’t enough

Meet David - data analyst by day, heavy metal musician by night - who embodies a troubling economic trend that's sweeping across the UK.

David and his wife both work full-time professional jobs. They don't drive, don't have children, and live modestly. Yet they frequently find themselves struggling financially, sometimes unable even to afford The Bread and Butter Thing's affordable food service. How is this possible?

The answer reveals much about our current economic landscape. David's mortgage nearly quadrupled following interest rate increases, consuming an unsustainable portion of their income. He's also been battling credit card debt for eight years, making regular payments that barely reduce the principal. This financial pressure has transformed ordinary pleasures into rare luxuries - meals out reserved only for special occasions, holidays requiring months of careful planning, and spontaneous treats becoming calculated financial decisions.