Six in ten say Christmas traditions’ under threat due to cost of living

More than six in ten (62%) parents believe a traditional Christmas is under threat due to the cost of living, with four in ten (40%) having to prioritise essential bills over festive spending, new research from Nationwide reveals. The poll of over 1,000 parents, done in partnership with charity Action for Children, also reveals that 42…

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Third of consumers plan to spend more this Christmas

Around one in three consumers (30%) in the UK are planning to spend more this Christmas compared with last year, according to new Deloitte research. This is higher than the rest of Europe, where less than a quarter (23%) plan to spend more. In the UK, younger consumers aged 18-34 are nearly twice as likely…

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Four in ten cut back on Christmas gifts

New research from financial wellbeing business Loqboxr has revealed a major shift in how  families are approaching Christmas this year, with four in ten planning to buy fewer gifts and a quarter saying the season has become ‘too materialistic.’ Rather than these changes taking the shine off the season, this shift shows families are choosing…

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Rate of child poverty set to fall for the first time in nine years

The package of measures announced in the Government’s Child Poverty Strategy – including the abolition of the two-child limit on benefit support and an expanded Free School Meals offer – will result in child poverty rates falling in 2026-27, the first time in nine years (outside the pandemic), according to new analysis by the Resolution…

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Millions borrowing from family and friends to cover costs

With possible income tax and threshold reforms expected in the Budget, new data from Howden Life and Health reveal families are already under pressure, with millions forced to borrow from friends and family, take out loans, and even cancel insurance policies to cover sudden costs. As part of its Health Gap report, Howden Life and Health surveyed 3,000…

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One in ten have no emergency savings

One in ten (8%) of people have no emergency savings at all, rising to one in ten women (10%) according to Hargreaves Lansdown (HL) Savings and Resilience Barometer. The research found that 11% of the squeezed middle (35-54), 12% of single people and 17% of renters do not have savings, whilst 11% have £100 or…

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Higher prices for essentials are their biggest worry ahead of the Budget

20th November 2025 Consumer Collections | #cost of living

New research from Creditspring has found that half of people (49%) say higher prices for essentials are their biggest worry ahead of the Budget, followed by rising energy bills (47%) and income tax freezes (35%) The research also revealed that the average person has spent hundreds of pounds in the past year on unplanned expenses…

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Second charge mortgages grew by 22% in September

12th November 2025 Arrears and Recoveries | #second charge

New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that second charge mortgage new business volumes grew by 22% in September 2025 Commenting on the latest new business figures for the second charge mortgage market, Fiona Hoyle, Director of Consumer & Mortgage Finance and Inclusion at the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), said…

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Half of parents prioritise children’s Christmas experience over household spending

Almost half of parents (46%) say they’ll prioritise their children’s Christmas experience over every other area of household spending this year, according to new research from Thinkmoney. After another year of rising prices and stretched budgets, many families are determined to keep the festive magic alive, even if that means cutting back elsewhere. Nearly a…

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Workers earning under £40k say they can’t afford children

New data from the Vanquis Financial Wellbeing Index has shown that these people lack the confidence to have children or grow their families, with many taking on second jobs and cutting back on non-essentials to cope financially. The report shows that only 14% of householders earning under £40,000 feel confident in their ability to afford…

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High earners uncomfortable speaking about money

New research from financial wellbeing provider Money Wellness found that 22% of higher earners (those earning between £35,000-£54,999) feel uncomfortable talking about money, almost double the 12% of lower earners (earning £17,000 – £34,999) who feel the same. Despite the discomfort, financial struggles affect all kinds of households. Nearly one in five (18%) say they’re scarcely…

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Nine in ten people delay financial support until it becomes critical

Most people wait until their money worries reach tipping point before asking for help, according to new research by Lowell, finding that nine in ten people delay seeking help until their financial situation becomes critical. The study, conducted by Lowell to mark Talk Money Week, found that only one in ten people seek help at…

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Over 28m use AI to manage their money

Lloyds Banking Group research has shown that more than 28 million (56% of UK population) adults are now turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help manage their money. ChatGPT is referenced as the most popular platform, used by six out of ten. With more than half of people who use AI employing it for budgeting,…

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