A mum fearing how she will be able to afford heating this winter says she will keep herself wrapped in blankets to battle the cold.
Sarah Smith says she has to keep topping up her gas and electricity as it is not lasting as long, making heating her home unaffordable.
The volunteer fears the situation will get worse when the weather becomes colder and admits she worries how much Christmas will cost this year amid spiralling bills, Birmingham Live reported.
Sarah, 49, says: “I'm finding it a struggle. I've got two kids, TV, gas and electric.
"Sometimes we can't afford to put the heating on. When the kids are at school I'll have it off so we can put it on at night. Sometimes we have to keep it off because we can't afford it.
"I pay for the electric but it doesn't seem to last. I'll put it up on Friday and it'll all be gone by Monday. The gas and electric does go quickly.
"It's going to get harder, I'm going to have to wrap a blanket around me because I can't afford it all the time.
" Universal Credit doesn't get me very far. It's not a lot really to survive. I pay for the gas and electric, food as well and for the kids, I try to buy extra things."
Miss Smith helps out at the Active Christians Food Bank, which helps people across Birmingham and the Black Country.
She is keen to support others struggling as she is and regularly hits the streets to help the homeless.
The mum added although Christmas is her favourite time of the year, it will be an unwanted extra cost in this year of unprecedented rises to household costs.
She added: "It's a lot of money. I've got grandkids as well.
"It will be tough this year, I'm trying to look for work, I'm at the Job Centre every week. I like to help out. It's giving something back to the community.
"I'm hoping to get a job. I don't want to be sat on my butt, so I go and volunteer."
It comes as Brits are being urged to take energy meter readings and try to submit them ahead of prices rising on October 1 so the estimated usage won't be at the higher rate.
The average household energy bill will rise from £1,971 to a frozen £2,500 under the energy price guarantee announced by Prime Minister Liz Truss earlier this month.
This is an increase of 27 per cent from the previous price cap, which limited the rate providers can charge customers on a standard variable tariff.
The Government's plan only caps the cost per unit that households pay, with actual bills still determined by how much energy is consumed.
Households will receive a non-repayable £400 payment from the Government as part of the cost-of-living support package, paid directly to energy accounts over six months in instalments of £66 and £67.
