Bolton residents have shared their concerns for the future as figures released this week found inflation soared to a 40-year high.

Msambelwa Emba, originally moved to Halliwell from the Democratic Republic of Congo 12 years ago, and has recently been made redundant as a security guard.

He says that this has now put him in a position where he is struggling to provide for his family.

Msambelwa said: “Life is not very easy currently for me.

“When you have a family that depend on you, it’s really difficult.

“After losing my job, it has been quite difficult to cope.

“How can people live their lives now when everything keeps going up.

“I don’t know what to do because I want to work and need to support my family.”

Msambelwa says that he has tried to apply for work but hasn’t heard anything, so is currently "dependant" on Universal Credit.

He explained that it was particularly tough during this time of year when his children want to go on trips in the holidays, but he can’t afford to take them anymore.

The Bolton News: Msambelwa EmbaMsambelwa Emba

Ellie Greenhalgh and her boyfriend Joshua Fraiser expressed frustration "at a system that makes it hard to progress".

The couple want to eventually move out together but following the increase in costs, they don’t know when they will be able to.

Ellie added: “It’s really hard, and I am especially concerned as a young person.

“A lot of the jobs you get are on minimum wage, but you can’t live off it.

“So, I don’t understand how we are supposed to move out of our parents’ house.

“It’s quite hard to get a start, especially when the Government aren’t providing much help for anything.”

Joshua added: “The minimum wage for some places can be so low and they may also be limited to only 12 hours a week.

“It’s also hard for people trying to afford driving lessons, and then having to pay for the price of fuel.

“When you end up affording lessons, you might not be able to afford the car or fuel for it.”

The Bolton News: Ellie Greenhalgh and her boyfriend Joshua FraiserEllie Greenhalgh and her boyfriend Joshua Fraiser

Friends Elise Amos and Nikki Ratcliffe, from Farnworth and Kearsley, who are both 19 say their main concerns at the moment are phone bills and food shopping.

Elise decided to take a gap year from university but ended up having to take care of her disabled mum and help support her stepbrother who has additional needs.

The increase in the cost of living has now left Elise worried about the future job market because she says they always need experience, and she has only worked in a kitchen before.

Elise added: “It’s difficult to eat, and it is hard because I don’t really get a break.

“I am supporting family members as well.

“I’m gonna be 20 in September and I am still worried about a job.

“My family can’t live without my help, and I can’t live without them.”

Nikki is currently studying forensic psychology at the University of Bolton as well as working part time.

She also expressed the pressure she feels in society to move out and the difficulties of that.

Nikki said: “I think it makes us feel a lot less independent even though I have a job.

“We can’t move out on our own.

“How can you survive on your own?

“And there’s still pressure to move out on your own in society.

“Some might look at us like kids but we’re adults.”

The Bolton News: Friends Elise Amos and Nikki RatcliffeFriends Elise Amos and Nikki Ratcliffe

Tallara Shields and Cerise Canty highlighted the fact that they wanted to be thinking about enjoying life and those experiences in their 20s but found it tough due to the economic pressures.

Cerise who battles depression and anxiety, says that this has just made her feel worse, due to the price of food increasing.

She is unable to work at the moment and says it’s really tough to find organisations supportive of mental health.

She added: “Sometimes I feel alright and sometimes I don’t, but I would love to work and hopefully go to college in September.

“But it can be hard to find jobs supportive of mental health.

“Some people think that I get this and that, but it’s not like that.

“People think I look fine because they can’t see it, but it’s an invisible illness.

“It’s really difficult because of the food prices that have gone up.

“It’s a struggle really, even with bus, train, or taxi fare.

“You see people going in the shop and they can’t buy anything for their son or daughter or old people who haven’t got the money, and it’s sad.”

The Bolton News: Friends Tallara Shields and Cerise CantyFriends Tallara Shields and Cerise Canty

Tallara – who works full time - says that she can pay up to £5 per day to travel to work and says the thought of money ‘takes over your life’.

She says sometimes she feels as though she is having to choose between money and being happy.

Tallara added: “You get really stressed because you’re on a low income, and it’s overwhelming when you think about money too much.

“But you work to have money to live, but your whole life is working to get by.

“And when you work for money there’s no time to do anything, and you might not have any money left because of gas and electric.

“And it’s really difficult.”