Russell Anderson is a man who has learned to live within his humble means. After a chronic illness forced him to retire as a coach driver three years ago, he managed to stretch his benefits to cover his bills, including rent and fuel.

Increasingly, he has found that balancing act harder to juggle. Anderson, who lives in rural Scotland, says the surging cost of fuel has made it too expensive to drive to his nearest Aldi, the low-cost supermarket he can afford, meaning he has to take a circuitous bus ride instead.

When his cat fell sick unexpectedly, there were more bills to pay. “I went to the vets, spent ￡170, and he came back even more sick,” says Anderson. He had nothing left to cover the bill that would have ensured the proper handling of his pet’s remains after it was put down.