Rising energy costs lead to desperate measures.
Some people who turn to the BBC are concerned their businesses may fail or run into debt.
Many are simply confused as to how they can find themselves unable to afford heating or lighting their homes.
We’ve only spoken to a select few about their concerns, but many others are unsure how to handle what consumer expert Martin Lewis has called a “national crisis.”
He was referring to energy bills, which will effectively double between May and October this year when the new higher energy price cap – which sets a limit on the amount that can be paid for each unit of energy – comes into effect.
The latest forecast from Cornwall Insight analysts has predicted it to hit £3,582 before climbing back up to £4,266 in January.
Energy watchdog Ofgem is due to announce the actual level of the cap later this month, but many consumers will certainly struggle and some cannot afford gas and electricity
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With his monthly energy bills set to double in the fall, James Gilmour has now borrowed thousands to keep his family afloat.
He lives in Essex with his partner and three children and his gas and electricity bills have already doubled from £145 a month to £320.
As of October, based on current estimates, he expects to pay in excess of £600.
“As a family of five, we just can’t afford it,” he said.
“We’re already halfway through the month and we’re out of money for groceries and essentials.”
He is borrowing £5,000 to be repaid over five years to weather the current cost of living pressures.
James works in the auto industry while his partner is a part-time teacher
He reckons the £93 monthly loan repayments – meaning he’ll pay back a total of £5,567 – will be well worth it to keep the family’s finances from spiraling out of control.
He hopes he can avoid getting into expensive debts such as For example, a huge bank overdraft where interest rates are closer to 30%. The loan he takes is calculated at 4.4%.
“This is the only way to get through this crisis and I just hope it settles down as another loan will not be possible if this goes on for years,” James told the BBC.
Emily Wilkinson, who runs a gym with her husband in Macclesfield, says the energy crisis has left her company “struggling to survive”.
“We face a double whammy. Not only will our household bill rise to £3,000 a year, but we are also seeing an even more dramatic increase in the cost of electricity at our gym.
“Just as we were starting to recover from Covid we were faced with an energy bill of £1,000 a month, up from £480 a month before.
“That was in October 2021, six months before the energy price cap was raised.
“On September 24th, our basic electricity price increases by 818% per day.
“I know everyone has issues, but I think small business owners have been forgotten.”
She says many companies like hers couldn’t risk raising their prices to match rising energy costs because they would lose customers.
She wonders what the government will do to support small businesses struggling to afford rising energy bills.
“The general public thinks it’s all over now that Covid restrictions have been lifted, but we feel the battle is just beginning.”
She is one of many concerned people who have reached out to the BBC in recent days.
Graham West has turned to using food banks for the last six or seven weeks after seeing energy and food costs soar.
The 68-year-old is retired and lives in sheltered accommodation in Sheffield.
“As a pensioner on the basic state pension of £185 a week, I classify myself as low income but am not eligible for additional assistance because I’m £2.50 a week over the pension credit limit.”
That means he will only miss out on the £650 extra money the Government has set aside to send to people in need to help with the cost of living squeeze. The payment will go to more than eight million low-income households who receive Universal Credit, tax credits, pension credits and other means-tested benefits.
“I only use electricity in my house but my bill has gone from £30 a month to £42 and will hit £60 in October,” says Graham.
“I can’t really afford to pay the increase now, so I’m relying on the extra £66 a month that the Government has promised us from October.
“That has to cover the higher bills and make up the shortfall I’m building up right now.
“I’ve been using food banks for the past few weeks or I wouldn’t eat anything. I can’t get additional help anywhere.
“People like me need help urgently now, not in a few months.”
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