On the one hand, the NHS sagely points out the health dangers of not heating your home properly in the cold weather; on the other, an estimated three million pensioners are struggling to afford to do just that.

Cold weather payments are now being triggered in some parts of the country, but large swathes of the UK won’t be covered. And neither will those households with incomes marginally above the applicability level.

With voices demanding an end to the triple lock becoming ever more strident (the right-leaning CPS weighs in today) this makes it crucial for any future discussion on the State Pension to take into account those living on extremely modest incomes who receive no additional support, arguably by adjusting the current cliff-edge for support.

In other news: part-time workers (which will include many working up to State Pension Age) are now entitled to auto-enrol into a pension, following the last Budget. The incoming Archbishop of Canterbury has also called on communities to play their part in looking out for those struggling with their physical and mental health.

Meanwhile, deep in the heart of Dorset (which has one of the oldest median ages in the UK), the good people of Bridport are up in arms about the prospect of more retirement apartments coming to their town, arguing that affordable housing is needed more.

It is a genuine tragedy that this is regularly seen as an “either-or” argument, when both are so badly needed. Anyhoo, if you fancy joining the planned march, they’ll all be meeting up in the gloriously-named Bucky Doo Square; pitchforks are optional.

We also have two helpful articles on what happens to your money should you move into a care home, and what difference living with dementia will make to that.

And we end on an uplifting note with a story from Yorkshire about how befriending can turn people’s lives around.

Have a great 2026.