SIR – In the Great Depression of the 1930s, a spate of media articles advised the unemployed on how to survive on the pittance.

The irony was most famously highlighted by Communist MP Willie Gallagher who, when the poor were told how to make soup from fish heads, wondered: “what happened to the rest of the fish?”.

Willie would be chuckling to know that one television channel is asking people to send in tips on how to survive in these austere times garnered from the Great Depression.

Only recently in a morning TV interview, a woman was advising the old on how to save on fuel costs. Among the suggestions were to take fewer, briefer showers and wait until November to turn on central heating.

The reality is that these measures may help fuel bills savings, but the effect on older people could be disastrous.

I would ask people to think carefully before following such advice or may be look to more effective ways to save money.

Experts in the field have said that too much bathing will weaken you, so give up ablutions altogether.

Most of the elderly will find that they have gathered too much furniture, so open up the old fireplace and burn it an nice old fashioned golden glow.

I’m sure there are other people with equally good ideas for the old and poor (and young) this winter. Suggestions on a post card please...

Max Hey, Fairway Grove, Bradford