91% of the UK still struggling to cope with cost of living crisis

New figures have revealed that the overwhelming majority (91%) of people are still grappling with money struggles as a result of the cost of living crisis. This is equal to around 63.1 million people feeling the impact of the ongoing financial squeeze, highlighting its continuing toll on UK households, and that many are in need…

Read more

Three-fifths of people are positive about personal finances for 2025

Research by Aegon reveals a growing optimism regarding personal finances for 2025, with three-fifths of people (60%) of respondents feeling positive, up from 52% in 2024. However, women (54%) and individuals aged 50 to 59 (47%) are less optimistic compared to the overall population. The survey showed that 60% are feeling positive overall about their finances…

Read more

Half of university students struggling to repay their credit cards

Research by Compare the Market has found that half of university students struggle to repay their credit card balance within three months. The data found that almost one in two (48%) university students have been struggling to repay their credit card balance within three months, with the main reasons being the rising cost of everyday…

Read more

Three-fifths of unhappily married can’t get divorced due to their finances

New research commissioned by Co-op Legal Services reveals that almost three-fifths (59%) of married people who want to divorce shared that they felt they couldn’t due to their personal finance situations whilst a similar number (60%) feel the same due to having children. Approximately nine in ten(88%) married people believe that unhappily married couples who…

Read more

Thousands searched for debt help over Christmas

2nd January 2025 Arrears and Recoveries | #debt help

According to a free money advisory service, nearly 4,000 people searched for debt help over Christmas. Data from the Money Wellness website showed that 3,994 people visited the website on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day seeking advice on dealing with unmanageable debt. Almost 2,000 (1,835) people in London searched for support, followed by…

Read more

Rental market driving financial hardship

New figures from Rightmove has shown that average rents are set to increase next year as demand outstrips supply in the private rental sector. The rental market study finds that the average number of enquiries sent to agents about each available property is still nearly double the level it was in pre-pandemic 2019, with an…

Read more

Water bills to rise by 36%

19th December 2024 Consumer Collections | #water bills

Ofwat has announced that water bills are set to rise by an average of £31 per year (36%) over the next five years from April. The water regulator has said the increase was enough for water companies in England and Wales to pay for upgrades and reduce sewage discharges. The increase is higher than the…

Read more

Half of students struggle to repay credit card balance within 3 months

Almost one in two (48%) university students have been struggling to repay their credit card balance within three months according to research by Compare the MArket, with the main reasons being the rising cost of everyday expenses (33%), increased university costs (31%), and having to prioritise other household bills such as energy or rent (23%).…

Read more

Personal insolvencies increased by 12% in November

Latest monthly figures from the Insolvency Service for England & Wales have indicated that personal insolvency figures increased by 12.2% in November 2024 to a total of 10,012 compared to October’s total of 8,924, and increased by 25.5% compared to November 2023’s figure of 7,978. The personal insolvencies consisted of 589 bankruptcies, 3,693 debt relief orders…

Read more

One in four people will struggle to afford Christmas this year

New YouGov polling by StepChange Debt Charity has revealed that more than one in four people (28%), equivalent to around 14.5 million, will struggle to afford Christmas this year – which is a rise of 1.6 million people since last Christmas (25%). The new survey also shows that among people with children at home, over…

Read more

Three-quarters of families rely on credit to fund Christmas

A new survey by credit management company, Lowell has found that almost three-quarters (74%) of households rely on credit products like Buy-Now-Pay-Later schemes and credit cards to manage Christmas expenses, with repayments stretching into mid-April. The average family is set to allocate over half (53.6%) of their monthly salary—approximately £1,546 based on the national average…

Read more

Third of single parents miss a household bill to cover Christmas costs

A third (34%) of single parents have missed paying a household bill to cover the cost of Christmas according to research debt counselling service Money Wellness, More than 50% of single parents with three or more children said being alone made it harder for them to afford the festive period. One in ten said they…

Read more

85% of parents worry they will give their children bad financial advice

A poll by Skipton Building Society has found that 85 per cent worry they will give their children bad financial advice. The data also found that many aren’t confident to give advice when it comes to investing (29 per cent) budgeting (25 per cent) and credit scores (23 per cent). While 21 per cent have…

Read more

1 2 3 138