The Link Between Mental Health and Debt
Debt can be a significant source of stress and anxiety for many people. Studies have shown that there is a strong link between mental health and debt.
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The Impact of Rising Mortgage Costs on Mental Health
In a recent study conducted by Mind, the UK’s largest mental health charity, statistics have come to light regarding the impact of increasing mortgage costs on people’s mental health. The research revealed a concerning connection between rising mortgage expenses and a decline in mental well-being, highlighting an issue that has been made even worse by…
Council tax: What is it and how much is it rising?
Millions of households in England face a 5% rise in April, with bills in the rest of the UK also expected to rise sharply.
Couples argue about money at least once a week
A quarter (26%) of couples argue about money at least once a week; around 5% say they argue about finances every day according to new research.
One in five now borrowing to pay for food and other essential bills
One in five people (over 12 million) are borrowing to pay for food and other essential bills, with half doing so for the first time according to research.
One in six households won’t be turning on the lights this Christmas
New consumer research from Go.Compare Energy has revealed that a sixth (16%) of UK households won’t be putting up their Christmas lights this year, to save on energy costs.
Almost half of adults struggle to talk about debts with friends or family
Almost half (47%) of the Uk population struggle to talk about debt with family and friends, new research by Go.Compare Loans has revealed
Over a third of parents worried about their finances suffering in the summer holidays
Soaring energy costs and rising food and fuel prices are set to put an extra burden on families’ budgets over the school holidays, which begin this week with more parents being forced to turn to borrowing to make ends meet over the summer according to new research.
School uniform grant 2022: Claim up to £150
Struggling parents can apply for financial support for their children’s school uniforms. This may not apply to you but please share with friends and family that may be struggling.
Clever ways to cut your grocery shop in half
Grocery bills are set to rise by £271 a year, and many of us are looking at ways we can make a saving.
Personal Insolvencies Fall
The latest figures from the Insolvency Service have indicated that personal insolvencies in England & Wales decreased by 18.5% to 9,409 in April 2022 compared to 11,550 in March.
Debt Awareness Week 2022
Debt Awareness Week is an annual campaign that aims to encourage people to speak up and seek advice quickly to ensure their debt problems don’t spiral out of control.
Practical tips to help you save money
Follow our tips and advice for straightforward ways to save energy, lower your bills and reduce your carbon footprint. Whether you’re a homeowner, a private or social renter, or you live with your parents, there are lots of things you can do.
Valentine’s Day & Debt
Just when you’re starting to recover from the extra money you spent at Christmas, along comes Valentine’s Day, which for many is another pressure to spend money that you don’t have.
Financial stress could be impacting your life more than you think, it’s important to recognize the symptoms early.
Stress can come in many different forms, acute, episodic, chronic stress can be the result of different situations. Workplace stress, personal stress and psychological stress are all quite common. However, there is one that is less commonly talked about and that is financial stress.
Older people worried about heating their homes jumps to nearly 8 million
Charity, Age UK is calling for urgent action as research by the company shows over 80 per cent of over-65s think the Government should step in to help poorer older people.
Buy Now, Pay Later – The New Debt Trap?
Buy now pay later (BNPL) has taken the online shopping scene by storm thanks to platforms like Klarna, Clearpay and Laybuy. Banks, both traditional and disruptors, are also embracing this type of lending with products like Monzo Flex and Barclays Partner Finance.
Blue Monday – Beat the January Blues
Blue Monday, considered to be the most ‘depressing’ day of the calendar year, falls on the third Monday of January. In 2022, this will be Monday, January 17.
10 Ways to Improve Your Financial Fitness In 2022
Health and fitness-related goals are usually at the top of the list in Jan, but what about financial goals and resolutions. Your financial health is just as important to evaluate.
Northern Irish business insolvencies rise by 29% whilst personal insolvencies double
Latest statistics from the Insolvency Service have shown that Northern Irish business insolvencies increased by 29% whilst personal insolvencies doubled.
Christmas & New Year Opening Times
The team at Refresh would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Opening times during the festive period can be found here.
One in ten will cut back on Christmas to save on energy costs
New research by GoCompare has revealed the impact that soaring household energy prices are having on consumers’ plans to decorate their homes this Christmas.
Personal Insolvencies Rise By 9.2%
Latest figures from the Insolvency Service have indicated that personal insolvencies increased by 9.2% to 9,954 in September 2021 compared to August’s figure of 9,118.
Personal insolvencies show a minor increase
Personal insolvencies in England & Wales increased by 0.2% to 9,106 in August 2021 compared to July’s figure of 9,090 and were 42.7 % higher than August 2020.
900,000 people could still be on furlough as the scheme ends
900,000 people are still expected to be on the scheme when it finishes on 30th September. As a result, huge uncertainty surrounds what might happen next.
Never auto-renew your Car Insurance Policy
One of the easiest ways to spend money unnecessarily and unknowingly is by automatically renewing your car insurance policy.
Monthly Insolvency Statistics July 2021
The latest monthly figures from the Insolvency Service have indicated that personal insolvency numbers across England & Wales fell by 7.8% to 9,079 in July
Families with children are struggling to afford everyday goods
The impact of the pandemic hits families hard with a third of those with children struggling to afford everyday goods.
Almost 9 million never check the best deals on regular outgoings
New research from Yolt, has revealed that over one in six (16%) UK adults never review some of their key household expenses.
Get help with the cost of school uniforms
School uniforms can become a costly expense, but struggling parents may be able to claim up to £200 to help cover this expense.
A third of women couldn’t cope financially if their relationship ended
33 percent of women, compared to 19 percent of men, admitted they would not be financially stable in the event of a marriage breakdown, according to Fidelity International.
UK Personal Finance – Summary Report June 2021
A summary report from the Money Charity highlights the current state of UK personal finances.
Weddings and Debt: Starting off on the right foot
The phenomenon of wedding debt is a fairly modern and underreported one. What’s more, the problem seems to get worse with each passing year.
Hidden debt – How to approach the sensitive topic of debt with your partner
Debt in today’s society is rife and there has been an abundance of research carried out in relation to it, research has found that one in seven people have hidden debt from their partner.
Council Tax arrears rise to £4.4bn
New figures from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have shown that council tax arrears in England have risen to £4.4 billion.
Monthly Insolvency Statistics May 2021
The latest figures from the Insolvency Service have indicated that personal insolvency numbers across England & Wales fell by 14% in May 2021.
Redundancy Looming – Know your rights
If you are made redundant, it’s important to know your rights. You can only be chosen for redundancy fairly — never based on your age, gender, disability, or mental health status.
County Court Judgments explained
If you are in debt, there are various techniques the court can use to force you to pay back what you owe. One of these techniques is a County Court Judgment (CCJ).
Monthly Insolvency Statistics April 2021
The latest figures from the Insolvency Service have been released for April 21. Figures are lower when compared to 2020 but there has been a month-on-month increase this year.
Debt Relief Order eligibility changes
More people will be able to access the debt solution, giving them a fresh start, as a result of the changes announced today, which will come into force at the end of June.
Temporary Relief From Council Tax
Temporary relief from Council tax, rent and other forms of debt arrears have been introduced as the “Breathing Space and Mental Health Crisis Debt Respite Schemes” are launched by the Government.
A New scheme launched giving people with problem debts breathing space
Hundreds of thousands of people struggling with debt problems will be supported through a new debt respite scheme that launched today (4 May 2021).
New report finds a Quarter of Buy Now Pay Later customers can’t afford to pay household bills
A quarter of young people making Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) repayments haven’t been able to pay for food, rent or household bills
Unable to repay your credit card debt? You’re not alone.
Nearly a third (31%) of credit cardholders have been unable to repay their balance in full each month since the pandemic began.
Seven in ten people don’t talk about debt with anyone
New research from Lowell as part of Debt Awareness Week has revealed that seven in ten people don’t discuss their debt with anyone.
Encouraging debt conversations one year after lockdown
This week we are encouraging people to take The First Step towards getting debt help, by opening up the conversation around debt.
Debt Management Plans (DMPs) And Your Credit Score
If you’re struggling to meet regular repayments, a debt management plan (DMP) can take some of the pressure off.
IVA Failed or in Danger of Failing?
Both debtors and creditors are legally bound by this arrangement and must comply with what is set out in the proposal..
Experian Credit Score Booster
Experian’s free Boost service, which launched last week, lets people share details of some everyday transactions. This then allows Experian to create a “boosted” credit score.