Rising household bills have pushed 79-year-old Errol McGuiness to pare back daily comforts as Britain heads into colder evenings — he now relies on extra layers, collects rainwater, and spends much of his time in a single room.

After dark, he even watches television without turning on the lights, according to the BBC.

Here's what to know

McGuiness' choices reflect a wider squeeze on older people. 

September inflation reached 3.5% — its highest point in nearly a year — and higher fuel costs are adding to Britain's prolonged cost-of-living crisis.

Research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation underscores how broad the pressure is: about two-thirds of lower-income families say essentials like food, heating, and clothing are hard to afford, and nearly half reported skipping meals or shrinking portion sizes to save money.

Another pensioner, 83-year-old widower Bryan, has also retreated into one room to keep costs down. 

"When you see the price keep going up, I think, 'well, I'm sitting in one room,'" he said after describing how he shuts the door and uses a fan heater to stay warm.

More background

Rather than raise the heat, McGuiness said he keeps "lots of clothes on." 

He has a health condition, and his daughter often tells him to turn on the heating.

Community groups are feeling the impact too. In Blurton, Stoke-on-Trent, Affordable Foods runs a food bank and social supermarket and offers outreach help with debt, benefits, and employment.

For shoppers, manager Millissa Beydilli said, rising prices are hard to avoid. 

"Every supermarket you go into, everything's gone up," she told the BBC. "There isn't a place where you would go now and not say there's at least a 25% to 30% hike on prices."

Beydilli warned that older people are among those under the greatest pressure, particularly when grocery budgets force trade-offs between basic necessities and fresh produce. 

She said seniors should not have to stand in a supermarket deciding whether they can afford "apples and oranges this week."

What's being done?

On the policy side, the BBC reported that Prime Minister Andy Burnham had pledged steps to reduce pressure on household finances, including ending standing charges on gas bills. 

Those fees are fixed costs households still see on their energy statements even when they cut usage.

Short-term coping strategies include staying in one room, adding extra layers, collecting rainwater, and using less light at night. The savings help, but come at the expense of comfort.

As bills rise, McGuiness described the mindset many households are adopting in stark terms. 

"I live in the dark. You don't need a light on to watch telly. You don't need a light on when you go to bed. You know the way to the toilet and the kitchen, so you don't need a light on."

Where can I learn more?

Elsewhere, households are trying a range of ways to manage high energy costs and keep their homes comfortable. They cover British bill-cutting programs, home heating tricks, and simple ways to reduce wasted electricity.

• Across the U.K., homeowners are getting solar panels installed cost-free to help bring monthly bills down.

• As winter sets in, families say a simple reflective insulation trick helps keep rooms warmer without more heat.

• In many homes, hidden vampire energy drains are quietly pushing electricity bills higher than expected.

• For homeowners able to invest, a smart thermostat upgrade can trim bills while lowering emissions.

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