31% of people in UK are cutting back on essentials to ease pressures

(Alliance News) - 66% of people in the UK are concerned about their finances over the coming ...

Alliance News 15 April, 2026 | 12:41AM
Email Form Facebook Twitter LinkedIn RSS

(Alliance News) - 66% of people in the UK are concerned about their finances over the coming months and 31% have been cutting back on essentials such as food and heating, a survey has found.

38% said their finances have worsened since this time last year, according to the research carried out for TSB and Lightning Reach, a portal that connects people with financial support grants to which they might be entitled.

25% of people have used savings to cover everyday costs and 16% have borrowed from family or friends.

51% of people said they had debt, and 42% of these people said their debt had increased.

About 12% of people said their debt was becoming difficult to manage and 6% had fallen behind on payments.

To alleviate financial pressure, 34% of people said they had shopped around for better deals on essentials.

But 25% said they would not feel comfortable requesting financial support, even if their finances required it.

The conflict in the Middle East has prompted prices to rise and mortgage rates to increase, putting further pressure on households' costs.

Ren Yi Hooi, founder and chief executive of Lightning Reach, said: "There's much more support out there than people realise."

Keely Newman, head of vulnerable customers, TSB, said: "If you find yourself in need of support, we'd encourage households to check their eligibility for a grant, and contact your bank or a charity for advice and debt management."

Vikki Brownridge, chief executive at StepChange Debt Charity, said: "Uncertainty around household finances is rising, adding to several years of cost-of-living pressures that haven't gone away.

"Early intervention can make a real difference for people struggling with debt, and it's vital that people know where to access support. In fact, 85% of StepChange clients say they would have sought help sooner if they could go back in time.

"For anyone struggling with debt, it's important to speak to your creditors, who can offer tailored support and guidance. Free, impartial, and non-judgmental debt advice is also always available from charities like StepChange."

Censuswide surveyed 2,000 people across the UK in April.

source: PA

Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Email Form Facebook Twitter LinkedIn RSS

About Author

Alliance News

Alliance News provides Morningstar with continuously updating coverage of news affecting listed companies.

© Copyright 2025 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Terms of Use        Privacy Policy        Modern Slavery Statement        Cookie Settings        Disclosures