One in Seven UK Families Struggle with Back-to-School Costs
New research from consumer watchdog Which? reveals a worrying trend: 1 in 7 households with kids are strapped for cash, struggling to cover back-to-school essentials. The Consumer Insight Tracker shows 15% of families missed vital payments—like rent, bills, or loans—in the month before September 8.
That’s triple the 5% of child-free households facing similar money woes. Overall, a shocking 8.2% of UK homes—around 2.3 million—fell behind on essential payments during this time, matching recent high levels of financial stress.
Parents Slashing Spending and Borrowing to Get By
Families with children are bearing the brunt. A massive 68% of these households have made tough adjustments: cutting back on essentials, dipping into savings, selling belongings, or borrowing cash. For households without kids, just 46% are forced to make these moves.
While fewer families are tightening belts compared to past months, 15.1 million UK households still make sacrifices. This is the lowest since early 2023 but remains well above pre-pandemic figures.
Winter Bills Will Add to Pressure, Which? Sounds Alarm
With winter on the horizon and energy costs set to rise, money worries are only set to deepen. Which? is urging essential service firms—from energy providers to supermarkets—to step up. Their recommendations:
- Boost availability of budget-range items
- Keep customer service lines fully staffed
- Properly advertise social tariffs to aid struggling customers
Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, slammed the ongoing hardship and pleaded for people in financial trouble to seek free debt advice. She also called on businesses to support customers during these tough times.
As the cold months and soaring heating bills arrive, the pressure on family finances will only mount. Experts stress that anyone struggling to pay bills should contact service providers immediately to get help.
