Brits are struggling to make ends meet, finds study

Brits are struggling to make ends meet financially, with four in ten falling short of cash to pay the bills.

According to a survey of 2,000 UK adults, 43 per cent cited that they were short of the cash that they need to cover the bills an average of seven months each year.

But one quarter said that money is an uphill battle for them every single month.

As a result, the average adult is forced to turn to their credit cards or overdraft to get them through payday four out of every 12 months, with one in ten saying this is the case each month.

“With rising costs and wages not following suit, it’s not a surprise so many people are struggling,” said a spokesperson for OnePoll.com, who commissioned the research.

“Living costs are getting more expensive each year, whether it’s the fuel we need to put in our cars, utility bills or the price of food.

“But struggling to make ends meet can be extremely stressful – it’s hard to cut back when it’s the basic bills you are finding it difficult to pay.”

Elsewhere, 49 per cent say that their struggle to make ends meet is due to the rising cost of food, while 46 per cent blame the increasing cost of utility bills.

15 per cent have even avoided turning their heating on as they didn’t have enough funds to pay for it.

The study also found that the stress of dealing with the financial pressures is having an impact on the physical and mental health of 15 per cent of cash-strapped Brits.