I have just received my latest gas and electricity bills for the last quarter and to say I was shocked is an understatement.

Both bills have risen by a substantial amount even though I have used quite a lot less this quarter, knowing that the costs have risen.

I wonder how the average working family in this town is supposed to manage and survive. Where will the extra money come from?

Salaries are not rising at this rate, so can anyone tell us what to do?

Maybe the Government is going to provide us with a money plant and hope it bears fruit.

The cost of food has risen in the past few months and so have water rates, telephone, gas, electricity, petrol, mortgages and rents - it just goes on and on. We have to try to budget as best we can.

The less money we have, the less we will spend on the little extras.

This could cause some retailers to go out of business, causing redundancies and more hardship.

I keep seeing the average salary for Brighton and Hove is in the region of £28,000 (The Argus, May 1) but whenever I look at the jobs section in The Argus, rarely do I see jobs offering this salary. I work in administration and would say the average salary is nearer £12,000 to £16,000.

The Government goes on about tax credits, etc, but this payment is reduced if your salary rises, so you are never really any better off.

I would love to see a Government minister try to survive for six months on the average salary, trying to juggle income and expenditure in the real world.

  • Debbie Knowles, Sandgate Road, Brighton