Gwen is a B.C. senior who doesn91裸聊视频檛 want her last name used because she91裸聊视频檚 embarrassed by how desperate her financial situation has become.

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

91裸聊视频淚 get sticker shock at the price,91裸聊视频� 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. 91裸聊视频淚 dread going grocery shopping because it91裸聊视频檚 a reminder of how poor I am now.91裸聊视频�

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 91裸聊视频渟kipping91裸聊视频� a meal a day 91裸聊视频� usually lunch 91裸聊视频� in order to stretch her food budget.

Gwen says she simply can91裸聊视频檛 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.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 hard to watch the news because most days there are stories about inflation and it91裸聊视频檚 a yet another reminder of my situation,91裸聊视频� said Gwen, who is actively seeking a roommate to cut down on monthly costs.

She has also sold off a bunch of her jewelry.

91裸聊视频淭hat really hurt,91裸聊视频� 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 doesn91裸聊视频檛 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.

91裸聊视频淵ou sacrifice anything for your kids,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淭urning the temperature down on inflation is proving to be an achingly slow process, and we suspect this may be a theme for 2023,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频擶ith files from Nojoud Al Mallees, The Canadian Press