State pensioners have been given their Winter Fuel Payment back this winter (unless they earn over £35,000) but even with the triple lock also boosting state pension payouts each April, it’s no secret that many older people on a fixed income will struggle with the cost of heating, especially on cold February days with snow warnings in place.

While running the heating is definitely the right thing to do if you can afford it, there are, tragically, many who will be facing tough choices this winter.

It means the snow, forecast today in much of the UK, and set to return again this Friday according to the Met Office weather maps, couldn’t come at a worse time for pensioners who can’t afford to heat their homes.

Money saving expert Martin Lewis has previously issued advice to households across the UK including state pensioners on how to stay warm in the winter without using heating if you really can’t afford to put it on.

Martin Lewis pointed out how people can wear heated USB gloves, hand warmers, an electric gilet or an electric blanket to get warm without having to heat the entire house in a guide he put together at the peak of the cost of living crisis, but many of the tips will still apply to anyone struggling to make ends meet today.

Martin said: “I felt sad asking my team to put this together, but my emailbag is full of folk so desperate they can’t put the heat on, I wanted to try some help. [Please] share.”

Martin added on his site: “This is a guide I really wish we needn’t be publishing. The reason I asked Sarah and the team to put this together is due to my overflowing e-mail bag of desperation from people who can’t afford their energy bills. So don’t see this as an ‘MSE or Martin says you should do this’.

“It’s more that we’re trying to help provide some options and information for those that may need to drastically cut down on energy usage due to financial desperation and some help for others who may want to do it out of a commitment to green issues.”

Martin pointed out in his guide that it cost only £14 to buy a cheap electric blanket which, in turn, cost 3p an hour to run, even in the peak of the energy crisis. That equals a cost per week of £1.37 if used for seven hours a day.

An electric gilet, basically a heated jacket, would cost £46 to buy and just 4p per week to run, while USB gloves would cost 4p per week to run and just £5 to buy.