By Sophia Corness-Parr, Rebecca Robinson, Alice Bourne, and Scarlett Yu

As energy bills rise and the temperature plummets this winter, new data from Joseph Rowntree Foundation revealed over 700,000 low-income households cannot afford to pay for heating, warm clothing and food in the UK.  

With people already seriously concerned about how they will cope with the cost of living this winter, the country’s first severe cold weather warning has been issued by the Met Office this week. 

Inflation is at its highest rate in 40 years with the latest data from the Office for National Statistics recording a 11.1 per cent rise in October, up from 10.1 per cent in September. 

In Lewisham, Croydon, Hackney and Tower Hamlets people are bracing themselves for the impact the plummeting temperature is likely to make on their spending habits.  

And for some, the difficult decision on whether to fuel themselves or their home is already being made.  

Eastlondonlines went out onto the streets to ask local residents how they will be coping this winter and holiday season.  

In Croydon, Kevin Young, a 58-year-old street cleaner living in Bromley said: “Our wages are not going up with inflation … inflation is crippling people, the prices of food, electric and gas is ridiculous. Not being funny but my electric has gone so high that after rent and council tax I don’t have enough for food.” 

When asked how he is coping with the cost of living crisis Young became quite emotional: “After working 12-hour shifts, over the last month with living costs I’ve been getting home and having a single cold sandwich for my dinner.”  

He added that this week was the first time he had used a food bank in his life and he felt ashamed: “How is it that I’m working seven days a week and needing to go to a food bank? How is that right?” 

In Deptford, Bola Omotoso, a 36 year old mother to a four month old child described the energy prices she was paying currently as “just something else.” 

 “We just have to put on the heater [to] keep ourselves warm in the house and before you know it, because I use pay as you go, before I used to use like £20 in one, now even after loading £50, three weeks it’s gone.”  

“We cannot do without [it]. I have a little baby [and] I have to keep him warm at all times.” 

Also in Deptford, Lia Cunnew was concerned with heating her family in the run-up to Christmas. The 58-year-old primary school office worker said: “I have my parents with me [at the moment] who came from Portugal spending time with me so I cannot leave [them] without heating, but it is on a timer so I’m cautious.”  

Cunnew’s food shopping habits have also altered with the hike in food prices: “I shop around; I used to go to one specific place but now I go to two or three to find the cheaper [products].” 

Food inflation is increasing month-on-month with latest figures from the British Retail Consortium showing a rise to 12.4 per cent in November, up 0.8 per cent from the previous month.  

In Canary Wharf, 24 year old graphic designer Sharon Chang said she was having to choose to heat her flat over eating: “It’s simply because I find it easier to endure hunger than being physically restrained due to freezing coldness.” 

Chang added that she was struggling to keep up with bills: “The amount of council tax I need to pay every month is already eating up one third of my monthly earnings. With the drastic increase of energy costs coming this winter, I’m struggling to make a living for myself.” 

In Hackney, Sofia Johnsson, 34, store manager at L.F. Markey in Dalston, said she had noticed customers were “more conscious of spending”, with payday being the only noticeable busy period.  

The cost of heating her shop and home had also been affecting her: “We’re freezing in here! … But I think everyone is complaining about [energy price increases]; customers and every household.”  

Johnsson predicted the cost of living crisis would impact the business more in the new year: “I think January, February, March are going to be really tricky” for L.F. Markey because people will have less money to spend after an expensive holiday season.  

Babita Sharma, 23, is a student and barmaid living in Hackney who found the cost of living crisis to be impacting both her studies and part time work.  

To save money, Sharma cuts down on excess food spending where she can but said never buying food out “gets in the way of education and part time work.” 

She recently moved from India and so has not experienced a winter in Hackney without being in the crisis: “This winter I really don’t know how to keep myself warm because I’ve considered buying thermal wear but that’s really expensive too … Sometimes it gets really cold and I haven’t been able to manage that.”  

“I’m really worried about the cost of electricity here because my landlord has a clause where he can increase the rent if we use too much … As a student, sometimes I need to work through the night and I feel really conscious of my lights being on all night.”