Brits expected to rack up £1.6k in debt this summer

Research conducted by Updraft has revealed that Brits are expected to accumulate an average of £1,641 in credit card debt over the summer months, with many falling into the trap of overspending, missing grace periods and accruing interest. In fact, for some, summer 2025 spending may not even be paid off yet.

Updraft surveyed 2,002 nationally representative UK adults to understand how spending habits and credit card debt change during the summer months. The study found that 25–34-year-olds are particularly vulnerable to seasonal overspending, with respondents in this age group expected to rack up an average of £2,100 in credit card debt by the end of summer.

An additional survey of 274 people who had previously taken out loans to cover credit card debt revealed that most Brits (62%) say they simply want to “make the most of summer” — but that mindset is coming at a cost, with nearly half (48%) still paying off purchases from previous summers.

FOMO also ranked as a major spending trigger. Almost half (46%) admitted that seeing holiday content on Instagram and TikTok encourages them to spend more.

When reflecting on how they felt after summer spending, nearly a third (31%) of respondents said they felt anxious about their finances afterwards, and 1 in 5 (21%) felt regretful. Only 9.1% said the spending was ultimately “worth the fun”.

Dr. Pavlo Kanellakis, a Chartered member of the British Psychological Society, said “In summer, we may be biologically predisposed to be more active, social, and open to new experiences. These same brain changes that could make us want to stay out later and try new activities may also make us less careful with money. Studies suggest that people engage in significantly more risk-taking behaviours during warmer months, and this could extend directly to spending decisions.

“The problem is that good weather is temporary, but the financial consequences can last long after summer ends. Few people want to waste a beautiful day, so spending money to enjoy it could seem logical. But weather-driven spending decisions may often be emotion-based rather than financially sound.”