Four million people in England and Wales are trapped in a negative budget, meaning they simply don’t have enough money coming in to pay for essentials like food, energy or housing, Citizens Advice is warning. The charity’s latest research shows on top of those in the red, hundreds of thousands more have cut their spending…
Read moreA quarter (25%) of households will pay as much as four times more for the heat they use between now and 1st January 1st, by opting for a plug-in electric heater over gas central heating, according to new research by Utilita. The data reveals households still opt for an electric heater, despite the running costs…
Read moreRenters are left with just an average of £440 of disposable income each month after paying for bills and essentials—almost half the £872 reported by homeowners. Yet despite tighter budgets, renters are more proactive in managing their money, with 27% checking their credit score monthly compared to just 20% of homeowners, according to new research…
Read moreNew research from Aviva has revealed that adults are increasingly motivated by personal values when it comes to their financial planning, with providing for their family (44%), financial independence (43%), and security (31%) emerging as the top drivers. Among 25–34-year-olds, these motivators are even more apparent, with more than half (58%) citing family security and…
Read moreDigital tools are transforming customer service across every sector, but don’t replace the value of human empathy when people face financial difficulties, according to new research from Lowell. Conducted to mark National Customer Service Week, the research found that 81% of respondents believe it is important to speak to a human when they have a…
Read moreA joint study from credit management company Lowell and free debt advice provider Money Wellness has found that almost two-thirds (64.22%) of debt advice circulating on TikTok, Facebook, and Reddit is misleading, while an overwhelming 98.27% is unreliable. With over 10.1 million people in the UK currently over-indebted (FCA Credit & Loans survey), many turn…
Read moreNew research from Compare the Market has revealed that almost three-quarters of people with multiple forms of debt (72%) say they find it difficult to stay on top of their repayments. On average, people in the UK with multiple debts owe £7,296 in total and have been paying them off simultaneously for nearly three and…
Read moreMillions of households will have to pay higher water bills than previously announced, after five water companies appealed to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) regarding Ofwat’s price determinations. Five companies – Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water, South East Water, Southern Water, and Wessex Water – argued that Ofwat’s decision left them unable to meet the…
Read moreLatest data from Shawbrook has found that people are £224 worse off each month compared to last year, as they continue to suffer the consequences of the cost of living crisis. Nearly 40 per cent of people confirmed they were worse off compared to last year, with women being affected in particular, with 43 per…
Read moreNational Energy Action says 58% of households expect to cut heating use as typical annual dual-fuel bill increases to £1,755. Polling from National Energy Action with YouGov has found that people with health conditions expect to ration their heating this winter, and many prepayment meter households have run out of credit at least once in…
Read moreLatest data from Ofgem shows that energy suppliers are owed at least £4.43bn in energy debt. It is believed that this figure is likely to be significantly higher, as it only accounts for debt that has been outstanding for more than 91 days. The data from April to June (Quarter 2, 2025) shows that household…
Read moreAlmost three in four UK adults (72%) – the equivalent of 39 million people – admit they are losing sleep over money worries, according to new research from Nottingham Building Society. The biggest concerns are around savings; of those who say money worries keep them awake, a third (33%) worry that they are using up too much…
Read moreNew analysis from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) shows that the UK is on track for a decade of decline in families’ disposable incomes by the end of the parliament (September 2029). This comes after a decade of stagnant earnings growth following the financial crisis. By updating the March 2025 Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR)…
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