{"id":814561,"date":"2026-10-26T16:27:03","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T16:27:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/814561\/"},"modified":"2026-10-26T16:27:03","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T16:27:03","slug":"third-of-low-income-households-skip-meals-amid-cost-pressures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/814561\/","title":{"rendered":"Third of low-income households skip meals amid cost pressures"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"supermarket<\/p>\n

More than a third (36%) of households earning less than \u00a340,000 per year have skipped meals or eaten less because of financial pressures in the past three months, as record numbers turn to own-label<\/a> groceries and cheaper supermarkets<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Two-thirds reported buying more own-label groceries, while 63% said they were shopping at cheaper supermarkets, according to the latest Vanquis Financial Wellbeing Index. Both measures were at their highest since the index began in October 2024.<\/p>\n

More than a quarter (27%) said they had delayed medical or dental treatment because they could not afford it, while 28% had sold personal possessions to cover living expenses.<\/p>\n

Water, energy<\/a> and council bills cost 7.3% more than a year ago, with housing costs up 14% and transport up 8.4%. Grocery spending rose by a more modest 2.3% year on year in the three months to 30 September 2026.<\/p>\n

The index is based on a Mintel survey of 2,000 people, together with analysis of anonymised transactional data from 58,263 households with an annual income of less than \u00a340,000 from Spendmapper, an app owned by Vanquis Bank.<\/p>\n

Despite efforts to rein in spending, 44% of lower-income households said they could not absorb a \u00a3100 increase in regular monthly costs without cutting back on essentials, using savings or borrowing, compared with 20% of higher-income households. A further 12% said they had no capacity to absorb any increase.<\/p>\n

Careful money management does not always translate into financial security, the report found. Many continue to meet their commitments, but limited savings leave them exposed when costs rise or circumstances change.<\/p>\n

Supporting relatives is also putting pressure on household finances, with 30% of lower-income households providing financial support to relatives in the past 12 months. Nearly three-quarters of those said it has affected their own ability to save or cover expenses.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople are working hard to make their money go further, shopping around and making careful choices about what they spend,\u201d said John Natalizia, deputy CEO of Vanquis.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut for some, those efforts are still not enough to avoid difficult decisions, including eating less or putting off medical or dental treatment. It is also concerning that so many people say their financial situation is affecting their mental wellbeing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat concerns me is how little room some households have left. If people are already cutting back on essentials, another rise in bills or an unexpected expense can put them in a very difficult position.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese findings reinforce the need for people to access the financial support they are entitled to, so they can manage their spending commitments and get help early when difficulties arise. Being able to meet today\u2019s bills and face tomorrow with greater confidence should be within more people\u2019s reach.\u201d<\/p>\n

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