A nearly 100-year-old war veteran from Leeds says he is living in fear of how to pay his bills as the cost of living crisis continues. Jack Mortimer, 99, from Leeds, fought for his country on D-Day at the age of 20.
But now, the former despatch driver is closely monitoring his energy meter and is hesitant to switch on his lights. He and others in his flat block are "feeling the pinch", The Mirror reports.
Jack takes four buses everyday, to visit his wife of 78 years, Flo, 97, who is in a care home with dementia. He turns everything off before leaving his flat, but when he's home, he only boils enough water for one cup of tea and turns off the hot water every other night.
He said: "I live in a block of flats of nearly all older people. There are one or two who are really feeling the pinch.
"My generation has suffered quite a lot and it looks like they are going to suffer again through no making of their own.
"Armistice Day brings back memories of very very dark days for my generation but dark days are certainly still here."
Jack takes four buses everyday, to visit his wife of 78 years, Flo, 97, who is in a care home with dementia.
He added: "You have to make sacrifices, one or two of the little luxuries you give yourself have to go.
"I was reminded of that only on Tuesday when I was shopping, I buy a sandwich now and again for my tea from the pound-shop and the price has gone up to £1.25.
"It's a 25 per cent increase, that seems out of all proportion to me. You've got to eat to live."
And younger veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan are struggling too. One ex-RAF pilot told the Mirror how he had pawned his war medal when he had nothing but a bag of rice to eat.
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