Rising Bills Force Elderly Britons to Extreme Cost-Saving Measures

79-year-old Errol McGuiness conserves energy by living in the dark and collecting rainwater to manage rising household costs. New figures show inflation reached 3.5% in September, and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation reports that almost two-thirds of low-income families struggle to afford essentials like food and heating, with nearly half skipping meals. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has promised measures, including removing standing charges from gas bills.