I used to shoulder the money worries – now my kids feel the burden too. I chase them around the house turning off lights

theguardian.com:

I don’t like asking for help. As a care leaver, I’ve always had to look after myself, but I’m not only looking after myself any more. I’m a single mum with four wonderful kids, and I can proudly say that they’ve never wanted for anything. That was until recently.

I had always been able to provide a warm home for my kids, but due to the tripling of my energy bills, I had to tell them to put an extra jumper on or sit underneath a blanket to keep warm this winter. I’ve always managed to keep a stocked fridge and cupboards, and made sure my kids never go hungry; now, I’m leaning on food banks to feed them.

When my energy bills went from £83 a month to £283 a month without warning, I had to cancel my direct debit and opt for a prepayment meter instead. Prepay meters are supposed to be for people managing a tight budget, yet they’re on a higher tariff, so I’m paying more for less energy. This was fine in the summer when the sun dried my clothes and kept my house warm; now, I need to power a tumble dryer and radiators if I’m going to keep my kids warm with clean clothes on their backs.

I used to shoulder financial worries myself; now my kids have this burden, too. I’ve found myself timing their showers, and I spend most of my time chasing them around the house, ensuring they have turned off electronics and lights when they’re not using them.

I don’t mind tightening my belt, as I’ve never had loads of money to play with. Being frugal is a discipline I’ve instilled in my kids, so I’m fortunate not to be under pressure to keep up with the latest fashion trends, gadgets and other fads. My kids enjoy spending time at charity shops and discount stores hunting for bargains. Still, I worry that looking after the pennies won’t be enough