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| Bristol tower blocks: Resident says energy bill rise a 'shock' | Bristol tower blocks: Resident says energy bill rise a 'shock' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Brenda said the rise in heating costs came as a "huge shock" | Brenda said the rise in heating costs came as a "huge shock" |
| The cost of living crisis is having a huge impact on many families in the UK. In Bristol, we spent the day with two families, who have been badly affected by rising inflation and energy bills. | The cost of living crisis is having a huge impact on many families in the UK. In Bristol, we spent the day with two families, who have been badly affected by rising inflation and energy bills. |
| It was still early when we arrived at Brenda's tower block. Bikes and mopeds were chained to the railings. | It was still early when we arrived at Brenda's tower block. Bikes and mopeds were chained to the railings. |
| Brenda came to her balcony and beckoned us into the communal courtyard and up into her flat where she was making breakfast. | Brenda came to her balcony and beckoned us into the communal courtyard and up into her flat where she was making breakfast. |
| Her boys, eight-year-old Mac and Val, aged five, were sat on the sofa turning a Rubik cube at incredible speed. | Her boys, eight-year-old Mac and Val, aged five, were sat on the sofa turning a Rubik cube at incredible speed. |
| Life in some Bristol tower blocks has been hard due to rising costs | Life in some Bristol tower blocks has been hard due to rising costs |
| Brenda told me: "We try to keep the TV off, it all helps". | Brenda told me: "We try to keep the TV off, it all helps". |
| She said that since April her energy bills have shot up and that this came as a "huge shock". | She said that since April her energy bills have shot up and that this came as a "huge shock". |
| A household using a typical amount of gas and electricity is now expected to pay around £2,500 annually. | A household using a typical amount of gas and electricity is now expected to pay around £2,500 annually. |
| And bills are currently set to rise sharply in more than five months' time when the government's energy price guarantee ends. | And bills are currently set to rise sharply in more than five months' time when the government's energy price guarantee ends. |
| While the boys finished their breakfast, Brenda was busy back in the kitchen, pouring beans and rice into a slow cooker. | While the boys finished their breakfast, Brenda was busy back in the kitchen, pouring beans and rice into a slow cooker. |
| "I have an instant pot and it really is a lifesaver, I don't normally use my oven or my cooker. It saves about 60 or 70%," she said. | |
| Why are prices rising so much? | Why are prices rising so much? |
| What's happening to my energy bill? | What's happening to my energy bill? |
| Six tips for cutting home energy bills this winter | Six tips for cutting home energy bills this winter |
| Brenda, who is bringing up the boys on her own, is a carer in a residential home. She is on the bank staff and said she just hopes to get shifts. | Brenda, who is bringing up the boys on her own, is a carer in a residential home. She is on the bank staff and said she just hopes to get shifts. |
| Another way of her saving money is to use the communal laundry room. Brenda took a huge plastic orange bag of dirty clothes and bedsheets down in the lift to the basement. | Another way of her saving money is to use the communal laundry room. Brenda took a huge plastic orange bag of dirty clothes and bedsheets down in the lift to the basement. |
| She only gets one slot a week in which to do all the family's washing. But it keeps the electricity bills low. | She only gets one slot a week in which to do all the family's washing. But it keeps the electricity bills low. |
| Once the washing was loaded, it was back upstairs to collect her boys for the short walk to school. | Once the washing was loaded, it was back upstairs to collect her boys for the short walk to school. |
| Brenda said the rise in heating costs came as a "huge shock" | Brenda said the rise in heating costs came as a "huge shock" |
| Money is tight, work is not constant, and on the whole Brenda is upbeat, but as we went our separate ways at the school gate, I asked how she felt ahead of the winter. | Money is tight, work is not constant, and on the whole Brenda is upbeat, but as we went our separate ways at the school gate, I asked how she felt ahead of the winter. |
| "Of course I'm worried but we'll see how it goes," she replied. | "Of course I'm worried but we'll see how it goes," she replied. |
| Inflation, which measures how the cost of living changes over time, currently stands at 10.1%. | Inflation, which measures how the cost of living changes over time, currently stands at 10.1%. |
| That has led to increases in food prices. | That has led to increases in food prices. |
| Oil and gas prices also went up because energy was in greater demand as life got back to normal after Covid. | Oil and gas prices also went up because energy was in greater demand as life got back to normal after Covid. |
| At the same time, the war in Ukraine meant less was available from Russia, putting further pressure on prices. | At the same time, the war in Ukraine meant less was available from Russia, putting further pressure on prices. |
| Family sleep in same bed | Family sleep in same bed |
| Five miles across Bristol lives Brenda's friend, single dad, Samuel. He lives in a 15th floor, one-bedroom flat, with his two boys - eight-year-old Lysander and five-year-old Zenuel. | Five miles across Bristol lives Brenda's friend, single dad, Samuel. He lives in a 15th floor, one-bedroom flat, with his two boys - eight-year-old Lysander and five-year-old Zenuel. |
| When I arrived, Samuel was on the phone trying to sort out his benefits. | When I arrived, Samuel was on the phone trying to sort out his benefits. |
| He used to be a security guard, but he has been signed off sick. | He used to be a security guard, but he has been signed off sick. |
| There is no slack in his budget. After he has paid all his bills, he is left with £52 a week to cover everything - food, school uniforms and shoes. | There is no slack in his budget. After he has paid all his bills, he is left with £52 a week to cover everything - food, school uniforms and shoes. |
| Samuel showed me his fridge. He told me how they can not afford cheese, unless they save up for it. | Samuel showed me his fridge. He told me how they can not afford cheese, unless they save up for it. |
| Inside all the food has "reduced" stickers. He said: "You've got to find a time when they are putting the prices down." | Inside all the food has "reduced" stickers. He said: "You've got to find a time when they are putting the prices down." |
| WATCH: Day in the life of a struggling single dad | WATCH: Day in the life of a struggling single dad |
| WATCH: Day in the life of a struggling single dad | WATCH: Day in the life of a struggling single dad |
| He showed me their bedroom, where all three of the family have to share a bed and his sons "cuddle up" to him for warmth. | He showed me their bedroom, where all three of the family have to share a bed and his sons "cuddle up" to him for warmth. |
| "It's ridiculous," he said. "Three of us sleeping in one bed." | "It's ridiculous," he said. "Three of us sleeping in one bed." |
| With tears in his eyes, he added: "I'm not the only one in this position, many families all over Bristol going through situations what we are going through and I can't take any more of this." | With tears in his eyes, he added: "I'm not the only one in this position, many families all over Bristol going through situations what we are going through and I can't take any more of this." |
| Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk |