A single mum-of-three doesn’t know how she’ll cope when energy prices rocket in April.
Claire Pulfrey, from Grimsby, currently puts £15 a week on gas and £10 on electricity with a prepayment plan.
The former teaching assistant, 38, recently had her monthly income reduced by £400 after her youngest son’s special needs were recently reassessed.
With no extra cash left over to treat her three sons, aged seven, nine, and 17, Claire already scrimps and saves to get through the month.
She can no longer afford to take them to the cinema or days out.
Now, If she keeps using the same amount of energy, she faces an increase of £13.50 a week.
Today, Chancellor Rishi Sunak addressed the nation after the energy regulator Ofgem confirmed the increased price cap will see the average UK household bill increase by nearly £700.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Thursday he promised that Brits would receive an £150 council tax rebate and a £200 discount on their energy bill to manage the rising costs.
But Brits slammed Mr Sunak for dressing up the £200 loan as "a discount", highlighting that it must be paid back in £40 instalments over the next five years.
On hearing how much more she’ll be paying, Claire said: “Wow, how am I going to work this out to keep up with everything?
“I don’t think I can economise more than I do. I’m just going to have to try to cut back on gas and electricity if I can. And try to buy less food for me.
“I have an electric cooker and gas central heating.
"I already make sure lights and other things are turned off, I don’t think I can do any more apart from not using any heating or electricity when I’m on my own at home when the kids are at school.
“One of my boys has asthma, and I have some health problems.
"I always put my boys first, so if I have to sit in the cold all day then I will, then I can turn on the heating just before I go and pick them up so the house is nice and warm when they come in.
“We’re already really struggling at the moment, but we are just about getting buy.
"I buy the cheapest foods that will last the longest at the supermarket, but I can’t really give them any treats, even a bar of chocolate.
“I’m already on the edge to be honest, I wouldn’t know where to find even an extra £10 on food or bills.
"Already I’m seeing food prices going up, and now this, I really don’t know what I’m going to do.”
The confirmed rise in energy bills came just hours before the Bank of England confirmed a 0.5 per cent rise in interest rates, and will come into effect at the same time as a 12 per cent hike in National Insurance tax in April.
But the pinch is becoming tighter yet as the UK inflation rate hit a 30 year high and analysts predict energy bills will rise by another £400 in October.
