60% worry about effects of unexpected bills

New research from Moneyboat has found that six in ten (60%) of adults are worried about the effects an unexpected cost would have on their savings, with 23% of adults stating that they aren’t confident that they currently have enough saved to pay for one should it arise. The research also showed that nearly a quarter…

Read more

Nearly 1 million people only £10 a week away from poverty

5th June 2024 Consumer Collections | #poverty

New analysis from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) has found that millions of people are already in poverty, and millions more are ‘teetering on the edge.’ The research found that 3.2 million people in the UK are only £40 a week from poverty, equivalent to the entire population of Wales. This includes 700,000 children, 1.5…

Read more

Households reliant on savings to cover everyday costs

31st May 2024 Arrears and Recoveries |

New research by Compare the Market’s latest Household Financial Confidence Tracker has found that almost half of people (45%) admit they need to dip into their savings around three times per month to afford everyday living costs, despite optimism about their household finances. Over half (61%) feel more optimistic about their finances compared to this time…

Read more

Rise in debt repayments continues to hit household budgets

A sharp rise in debt repayments was recorded in April as cost-of-living pressures continue to bite according to research by Nationwide. The data showed that customers repaid unsecured debts of £735 million in April – a 25 per cent year-on-year rise, while the number of transactions to debt repayment increased by 14 per cent. Many…

Read more

Cost of living concerns lead to delays in starting a family

A new report published today by Royal London,  shows significant increases across housing, energy and food bills, and childcare, since February 2023 meaning the average family with young children have seen their expenses rise by over £1,000 a month, leaving almost a fifth (18%) of parents with no money for unexpected bills or emergencies. The…

Read more

Money Statistics: May 2024

Here is an overview of The Money Charity’s latest statistics for May 2024 Personal debt in the UK People in the UK owed £1,843.9 billion at the end of March 2024. The average total debt per household, including mortgages, was £64,296 and per adult was £34,372, around 97.4% of average earnings. Net mortgage lending increased by…

Read more

Energy price cap to fall by £122 from July

Energy regulator Ofgem has confirmed the energy price cap will fall by 7% from 1 July to 30 September 2024, compared to the previous quarter. For an average household paying by direct debit for dual fuel, this equates to £1,568, a drop of £122 over a year. The average household paying by prepayment meter for…

Read more

More people are borrowing for debt consolidation in retirement

New research by Hodge has found that more people are borrowing into their retirement to help out with debt consolidation and meet day to day living costs. The research found that over two thirds of brokers say lending up to and into retirement in the UK is changing, with greater numbers borrowing into their retirement…

Read more

Half of renters struggling to keep up with bills

23rd May 2024 Arrears and Recoveries |

Latest ONS figures out have revealed that average UK private rents increased by 8.9% in the 12 months to April 2024. StepChange Debt Charity says this will create more worry among private renters as the Renters (Reform) Bill, currently making its way through the House of Lords, does not address rising affordability concerns. The ONS…

Read more

Outstanding balances on credit cards continue to increase

UK Finance has published its latest card spending data which has found that outstanding balances on credit card accounts have grown by 9.5 per cent over the twelve months to February 2024 and 50 per cent of outstanding balances incurred interest compared to 51.2 per cent in February 2023. The data showed that there were…

Read more

One in four have recently borrowed money to pay for essentials

New research conducted by YouGov on behalf of StepChange Debt Charity reveals that one in four (24%)  adults have recently used a form of credit to pay for essentials such as household costs and groceries. StepChange’s analysis estimates this is the equivalent of 13 million people. Analysis shows among the one quarter (24%) of UK…

Read more

Mortgage possessions grow by 28%

Mortgage and landlord possession volumes in the first quarter of 2024 have increased when compared to the same quarter last year new Ministry of Justice (MoJ) figures have shown. Mortgage possession actions have continued their gradual upward trend with mortgage claims at their highest since 2019. Compared to the same quarter in 2023, mortgage possession…

Read more

Over 3m people admit to borrowing from an illegal lender in the last year

Over 3 million people across the UK admit they have been forced to borrow from illegal lenders in the last 12 months, reveals research from responsible lender Creditspring. A third (31%) of people in the UK say they currently feel stuck and that there is nothing they can do to improve their financial situation, this…

Read more