I never thought I’d be the sort of person to barricade myself inside a freezing flat, but last January, with my bank account empty and the landlord banging on the door, I made a decision that would change everything. My story is about what happens when you try to live without spending in a country where every cup of tea, every bus ride, and every moment of warmth comes with a price tag. It’s about family, pride, and the impossible choices we make when the world seems determined to squeeze us dry.