The Consumer Council Tell us how the rising cost of living is affecting you

I wish to complain about the high cost of bottled gas both in terms of the high rises which did not come down again (30%+) and the fact that in Uk mainland it is 30% cheaper. When I tried to complain to the consumer cuncil they said they have no power to intervine as botled gas is not regulated. I feel it is time it was and urge the council to loby MLA etc to this end.

I am very scared at the minute, i am in what i feel is a great job and my husband is in employment and we still cannot cope with our bills. have missed the last 4 mortgage payments and it just seems that all the money we get is being paid towards last months bills, cannot see a light at the end of the tunnel. and with 3 year old and another on the way I dont even know where I will be next year, i cannot even remember the last time I had a big shop. we just simply have to cut everything back even our food. havent turned the heating on this yet I'm too frightened.

These are scary times. Every day theres just worse news & what happens in America affects us. I cant see how my wages will stretch to pay all my bills. Cant even bear to think about Christmas - it will be a dismal time this year.

I am unable to work due to a disability and have struggled for years to make ends meet. I have managed to eke out one tankful of oil for the last four years, but it is now running out and I don't know how I will be able to afford a refill. My current mortgage runs out in December and I am very worried about renewing it. I dread the thought of losing my home.

Did you know that if you pay for your electricity through a key pad meter and you buy before the 23 September you will be using electricity at the old price until you top up again after 23 September. The card holds a maximum of £999.99. So buy as much as you can afford before 23 Sept and don't top up until you're ready to run out as the new top will activate the new price tariff.

Why don't assembly get act together to give us money to pay electric I don't care about politics

I have definately noticed a change in the price of things especially the price of diesel. I work as a vocational rehabilitation officer working with trainees who have a brain injury, this role is community based and i am weekly paying £70 on diesel. I am also having difficulties with my mortgage, i was on a fixed rate until December of this year. Recently i checked options of changing my mortgage but this does not seem possible, therefore i will face an increase of £150 per month on my mortgage payments at the end of this year. This along side the increase in food prices etc have meant I have to cut down and budget my money more effectively.

Now that the price of oil has collapsed with the current financial market turmoil, how quickly will a decrease in price be passed onto the consumer? How can oil companies say it takes 6 weeks for lower prices to filter through but when prices rise, they are passed on instantly?

The price of utilities and food has increased so much that it is difficult for families to cope. The government would be doing us all a favour if they dropped the VAT on utilities until the 'credit crunch' is over.

I suspect it's going to be a very different Christmas this year with Santa having to tighten his belt as well. Could be a good thing though and help us to control our spending & indulgence during this season, & re-arrange our priorities so that more money is spent on winter fuel and basic comforts.