Hertfordshire money charity concerned over post-Christmas debt
Citizens Advice Stevenage is expecting this month to be particularly busy
Citizens Advice Stevenage has reported a seasonal rise in people seeking support for debt issues, as financial pressures mount following the Christmas period.
The cost of bills over this period of time and the cold spell have led to many seeking financial support, but more are feared to be suffering in silence.
The Stevenage branch of the charity spoke about the challenges faced and need for accessible and regulated financial advice.
Melanie Bel Haj, Deputy CEO at Citizens Advice Stevenage, said: "We do tend to see an increase in concerns around debts in the lead up to and after the Christmas period.
"This is generally because costs mount around Christmas due to the sort of general cost of living increases. So it's winter, so people are using more heating and hot water as well as, obviously, there are pressures specifically from Christmas spending, whether that's around food or presents."
Historically, January has been the organisation's busiest month for debt advice, with many people turning to Citizens Advice for help navigating financial difficulties.
Ms Bel Haj stressed that seeking advice early can make a significant difference, encouraging people to address issues before they escalate.
She said: "There are lots of things that people can do. There's lots of help available out there.
"It's really important that they should seek debt advice from somebody that is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. And all Citizens Advice debt advisors are."
"There's another 2 million people who are sort of only avoiding being in a negative budget because they're cutting back on spending on essentials to unsafe levels..."
For those looking to manage their finances more effectively, Ms Bel Haj recommended practical steps, such as assessing income and expenses, prioritising essentials like rent and utility bills, and using tools like the budgeting resource available on the Citizens Advice website.
"It's really important that people be realistic about what they need for essentials like food and travel," she said.
"Listeners will also be able to find sort of tips on how to reduce their regular living costs, which might be helpful if they're struggling to keep in line with their budget that they've set for themselves."
Nationally, Citizens Advice has observed significant increases in financial insecurity over the past few years, with millions of households struggling to cover even essential costs.
Ms Bel Haj said: "National data from Citizens Advice shows that millions of people have become increasingly reliant on emergency support just to get by.
"The number of people across the country whose monthly income is not enough to pay their essentials... was just over 3 million at the start of sort of 2020, and it's now 5 million today."
This growing financial strain leaves many households vulnerable to added expenses around the festive season, further deepening their difficulties.
"When you come up to a time like Christmas, where there is additional expenditure, you're paying more for your heating, for your hot water, perhaps more on food, on presents—if you're already struggling and living on a negative budget, it's going to place increasing pressure on your household finances," she added.
Ms Bel Haj also highlighted another concerning trend: individuals cutting back on essentials to dangerous levels in an effort to stay afloat.
"There's another 2 million people who are sort of only avoiding being in a negative budget because they're cutting back on spending on essentials to unsafe levels. So that means people who are living in cold homes, who are going hungry because they're skipping meals, or putting their health at risk."
She urged anyone struggling to seek help and not to let embarrassment or stigma prevent them from accessing support.