Handbags   (The sad, the bad and the ugly. Non-productive stuff here.)

I was with Scottish Power and was being charged £165 a month for gas and electricity, most of it being on electricity because my central heating gas boiler was condemned in 2013, so only use gas for cooking now, which uses at most £15 a month.

I use two electric heaters in my living room when it's really cold to keep warm and an electric heater in my kitchen and I boil a kettle for washing up, cleaning surfaces, etc; electricity for washing machine, dryer, fridge, freezer, shower etc. The rest of the house is like living in an igloo, but I've adapted as I've no need to heat rooms I don't use. My bed attire is now what may be called passion killers, but I don't care anymore, as long as I'm warm.

My brother put me on to BULB, and I now pay just £92 for gas and electricity a month which, for me, is excellent.

A few years ago someone suggested that I apply for a Warm Home summat or other and I did but, because I've never drawn benefits and only ever worked, I wasn't entitled, despite my age. Ah well.