A Leeds woman fears she’ll never be able to retire due to rising energy bills and said she might be forced to choose between heating and eating.
Like millions of others across the country, 64-year-old Karen Jones is scared about the rising energy bills from April.
The Seacroft support worker, who lives alone and works 37 hours a week doesn’t think she’ll be able to cut down any time soon.
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With her bills set to increase from £58 a month to £90, she is worried she’ll have to chose between staying warm and other essentials.
“It’s a hell of a lot more and will feel like an extra bill. I’m on a low wage and will struggle with everything else I’m having to pay out. I’m already getting from one month to the next," Ms Jones told LeedsLive.
“I’m worried about not being able to afford food. I’m already limiting myself with my gas central heating and only putting it on for two hours every evening. But I’m isolating at the moment and have had to break that because it was so cold in the morning.”
She said she earns "too much" to claim any benefits but still struggles to get by on a daily basis.
With bills set to rise, she doesn't think she'll be able to afford even just the two hours of heating every night.
“I’ll probably have to choose between important things," she said.
"I know how important house insurance is and have always made sure to have that but I’ve considered whether I’m going to be able to afford it anymore. It’ll be things like that.”
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The government announced this week households would be given an upfront £200 discount from October.
Energy suppliers will apply the discount to domestic electricity customers with the government meeting the costs.
The discount will then be automatically recovered from people’s bills in equal £40 instalments over the next five years. This will begin from 2023, when global wholesale gas prices are expected to come down.
Ms Jones said she would rather keep the heating off than indebt herself.
“I was in debt years and years ago and it’s left me with a fear of it ever happening again," she said.
"They’re making us take this £200 and it’s a debt, we’re being forced to borrow it. I’d rather keep my heating off and use blankets because that feels unfair.”
The rising cost of living has left Ms Jones worried that she won't ever be able to retire.
“I’m already worried I’ll be working full-time forever," she said.
"I was wanting to cut one day a week in two years but now I know I’ll have to keep on working full time forever more really. Things will only go up. I love my job but I’d like to retire or cut down to help me manage."
She added: "I feel it’s unfair that some people will have to work their whole lives.
"I’ve considered taking on an evening job but that really would be too much. I’m slower than I used to be and get more tired. It can be taxing some days."
Ms Jones said the current situation has left her feeling scared.
“I don’t feel very hopeful for the future. I don’t think I’ll be able to go on holiday again because I’ll be working all year just to pay bills," she said.
"I don’t expect much pension because I’ve only been paying into it for a few years.
“I’m stressed out about it already and it’ll only get worse.”
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