When I boil the kettle, I fill a flask up so I can have another cup of tea later. These are the realities of this energy price increase
- This article is part of the heat or eat diaries: a series from the frontline of Britain’s cost of living emergency
This winter, I’ll be wearing an extra jumper and the heating won’t be going on until it’s cold enough to see my breath. Even then, it will be timed to go on when I’ve done a wash and I need to dry laundry. Life is going to get a lot more harsh. At the moment I’m paying £95 a month, and a few months back it was £66. I’m just about covering my bills and I don’t know what happens when the changes announced on Friday hit – I’m looking at £200 a month.
I’ve lived on benefits for years – I’m a single mum to two autistic children – and I’ve never felt poor. But actually, I am at the point where I’m thinking: is it cheaper to do a small wash or one big wash? Do I need to put the lights on? Who knows if they’ll make a dent in the bill, though.
As told to Emine Saner. Sophie is in her 40s and lives in the north of England. Her name has been changed
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