'Everyone is affected by rises'

Stuart Chandler, 46, is unemployed and lives with his two sons in Clydebank.

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I have been unemployed since the end of April and I am currently using my savings to pay my mortgage and sustain our livelihood.

I have worked primarily in retail management for more than 20 years and I am finding it impossible to find suitable employment.

'Island living can be difficult' 'Money is really tight right now'

It would appear that employers are looking to reduce staff levels as against recruit.

I am fortunate in that I have sufficient funds to keep the vultures from the door for two or three months.

Thereafter, I will have no choice but to put my home up for sale as clearly I will be unable to continue payments on my mortgage unless I am lucky enough to find suitable employment.

I had my home valued this time last year and worryingly in that space of time the value has dropped by £10,000.

This typically represents the average house devaluation in Clydebank.

I currently own a car, however, for obvious reasons it mostly sits in the drive.

While unemployed I simply cannot justify spending money on fuel when I can walk to shops etc. Driving for pleasure is simply out of the question.

I have advertised my car for sale in a major car trade magazine, and unsurprisingly I have yet to receive a single enquiry.

It's abundantly clear that everyone across the board is being affected by the dramatic increase in fuel and food prices.

I do allow myself an evening in the local per week and the economy is by far the main talking point.

I have to laugh at some of the blatant propaganda on TV that suggests Scotland is riding the storm.

Sorry folks, but I think its time we took off the blinkers.

We will outline the panel's findings and thoughts on their weekly living costs on the BBC Scotland news website next week.