Almost 3m Scots cutting back on food spending due to energy bills

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Almost three million Scots have cut back spending on food and groceries as a result of increasing energy costs, according to advice charity Citizens Advice Scotland.The organisation, which provides help to those struggling with bills, said it was still seeing “far too many horrific examples of people having to make impossible choices like heating and eating”.

It highlighted the case of a pensioner with osteoarthritis who was using a sandwich toaster rather than turning on her oven to save electricity, and has also stopped using her gas central heating.Citizen Advice Scotland said its analysis of figures from YouGov showed an estimated 2.8 million people in Scotland have cut back on groceries or food for the household as a result of increasing energy costs.

That was after research by the polling firm in October found 63% had reduced spending on food and groceries over the last year.It raised the issue as the energy price cap across the UK increased by 5% – or £94 a year.Emma Jackson, social justice spokesperson for Citizens Advice Scotland, said: “As the energy price cap increases today, this analysis shows the sheer scale of people cutting back on food in various ways.

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) advisers see far too many horrific examples of people having to make impossible choices like heating and eating.“With inflation driving food prices up and energy bills high, it’s understandable people will be worried this winter when it comes to bills and money.