· Overall, nearly a third of adults in Scotland have less than £100 put away.
· Almost half of people who use credit are anxious about how much they owe.
· Over a third are anxious about the number of credit products they have.
· Free help is available, but six in seven people still struggle to talk about money.
Almost a million people across Scotland have no savings and another 450,000 have less than £100, according to new research from the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS).
The survey of 301 adults, carried out for Talk Money Week (November 7-11), shows that one in five (20%) have nothing put away and another one in ten (10%) have £100 or less.
This leaves almost a third of adults living without a financial safety net to cope with the rising cost of living or unexpected bills, meaning some may have to use credit.
MaPS says although credit is an important tool when used and managed well, it’s crucial that people understand what they can afford and have a plan to pay it off.
However, the figures also reveal that many people are already finding this difficult. Among the 82% of Scotland residents who use credit, two in five (43%) are now anxious about how much they owe. Two in five (40%) are worried about the number of different products they have.
As cost of living pressures start to hit home, MaPS says it’s more important than ever to talk about money before problems set in. However, the survey also reveals that 85% of people still avoid discussing their finances.
Asked why, the most common responses were ‘not wanting to be judged’ (24%), ‘shame or embarrassment’ (20%) and ‘fear of burdening others’ (17%).
During Talk Money Week, MaPS is encouraging everyone to open up about money, plan for their financial future and take free debt advice as soon as they need it.
The organisation says its MoneyHelper service can be people’s first port of call, offering free guidance on topics like everyday money, savings and where to find free debt advice.
It also provides a range of information on dealing with money issues, including step-by-step guides on how to talk to your creditors or discuss money with family and friends.
Allison Barnes, Scotland Manager at the Money and Pensions Service, said: “Over a million people across Scotland find it a challenge to save and this leaves them vulnerable when sudden expenditure items arise. When you add in the anxiety that they feel with their credit commitments, the weight of that worry can quickly become overwhelming.
“This Talk Money Week, we want everyone to start the conversation with family or friends and share the burden of any money worries. By dealing with the problem head on, people can discover just how helpful free debt advice can be and see the importance of talking to their creditors early. They can also begin to find a way forward, no matter how difficult their situation might feel.
“Free help and guidance on how to do all of this is available via our MoneyHelper service and I’d urge everyone who needs it to get in touch today.”
About Talk Money Week
The week is an opportunity for everyone to get involved with events and activities across the UK which help people have more open conversations about their money – from pocket money to pensions – and continue these conversations year-round.
This year’s Talk Money Week will focus on the theme of ‘credit’ – to help demystify some of the jargon, build people’s understanding of credit products, and what their options are, including other forms of support that might be suitable. However, we encourage people to use the week as an opportunity to talk about any aspect of money.
More information is available at https://maps.org.uk/talk-money-week/.
