I am coping!!! My fixed EDF rae finished in Janujary, as I am not able to have a smart meter here, will not know exactly how much that is costing now per month until August. BUT.....I have worked on having similar usage as previous years and upped my monthly DD to take tht into accont. As I got rid of my car well over a year ago, really thankful now that I did, I am able to ignore the emails from so many companies telling me how much it will cost to insure it now.
I have a Sainsbury delivery for three weeks in each month and do an 'in-person' Tesco shop on the fourth week. Very large Tesco about a quarter of a mile away. Food prices horrify me - not so much on my own behalf, but for families. Many store-cupboard items have actually doubled in price over the last few months (much more than the 17 or 18 percent being quoted in the media). I do not see how families with one or two teenagers (always hungry), are starting to manage, particularly those with low salaried working parents.
But our wonderful government has chosen to give so much more money to the very high earners and the rich, and nothng whatsoever to those families.
I can still manage a few items each week to go into food bank. can keep myself comfortable and warm at home, never been one for holidays, visits to and from my kids and g.children and friends are what I choose. Television is my constant company, no subscriptions (except, I suppose Prime, although rarely used for tv). I enjoy attending (most days) social groups and these usually cost the price of a pot of tea at the places we meet.
I know I am one of the fortunate ones, have no concerns for any of my adult children - and know, that in any real emergency the older two would be happy to step up to help me out financially.
As Pensioners, we, are at least getting that 10% increase next month which will help out with increased expenditure - but families are not ketting that and are still having to pay those same sort of bills.