Parliament has resumed, and Andy Burnham is preparing to implement his vision of a "cost-of-living government," focused on addressing the economic challenges facing UK households. Since 2021, a mix of economic and geopolitical factors has led to a decline in real disposable income and rising inflation, especially in the prices of food and energy. Families are under continuous financial pressure, and this may worsen due to ongoing conflicts such as the US-Iran tensions and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which impact energy prices and the broader economy. Economic research suggests that inflation and slow wage growth linked to these conflicts could reduce average UK household incomes by £1,100 in 2026 and a further £1,300 in 2027. The heaviest impact will be on those already in financial difficulty, who often have the least influence on the decisions that affect them. To ease the pressure, the government has taken steps like removing VAT from domestic electricity bills. However, understanding whether these policies are effective requires listening to the people most affected, as families provide a real-world test of policy success. Since 2022, the Changing Realities project has gathered insights from over 200 parents and carers on low incomes across the UK. This initiative, run by academic researchers and the Child Poverty Action Group, involves participants sharing their experiences through online diaries. These diaries provide a continuous view of how rising costs affect families in real time. The findings reveal that those already struggling are making tough choices daily. They manage tight budgets while trying to protect their children from hardship. One parent wrote about the challenge of preparing for their son's secondary school, only to have rising energy and food costs negate any financial relief. Another participant, Gemma, described the difficulty of keeping her children warm and dry due to financial constraints. The diaries highlight that the most affected families are those with the least, as their spending is heavily on essentials like food and energy, which are rising fastest. As one participant put it, the focus has shifted from the cost of living to the cost of survival. Parents involved in the research have called for social security policies that reflect the real cost of living and reforms to Universal Credit, such as ending the five-week waiting period for the first payment and increasing support for families with children. The current Labour government has shown interest in listening to those directly affected by policy. Their work on the UK Child Poverty Strategy included input from Changing Realities participants, who shared their experiences through diaries, questionnaires, and discussions with policymakers. The strategy’s introduction emphasized the hope that changes could allow families to live with dignity rather than just survive. While more work remains to tackle child poverty, the removal of the two-child benefit cap is a significant step, potentially reducing the number of children in relative low income. However, the government must now ensure that the same level of engagement with families continues as it addresses the evolving economic and geopolitical landscape. Devolution adds complexity, as different parts of the UK have varied approaches to cost-of-living and child poverty issues. There is an opportunity to use families’ experiences to shape and evaluate policy effectively.