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Brits fear they won’t be able to afford their current lifestyle if the cost of living continues to spiral

Sun Reporter

Published: 9:38, 15 Feb 2022
Updated: 9:41, 15 Feb 2022

ONE in three Brits fear they won’t be able to afford their current lifestyle if the cost of living continues to spiral.

A study of 2,000 adults found nearly eight in 10 (77%) are "concerned" about rising inflation and the impact it’s having on their bills and day-to-day living expenses.

Over half of Brits have already sacrificed luxuries to be able to afford the rising cost of livingCredit: Getty

And 55% have already tried to offset rising costs by giving up luxuries or reducing non-essential spending, including eating out, new clothes and takeaways.

Inflation rose to 5.4% in December – a 30-year-high – and is predicted to hit as much as seven per cent this year, leaving millions with higher bills for food, clothes and other living costs.

Rising energy costs mean bills are also on the up, and many face a planned National Insurance hike in the coming months.

To help combat rising inflation, the Bank of England has increased the base rate to 0.5%, and while helpful for some, this also means homeowners not on a fixed rate deal are facing higher mortgage payments.

Now, savings and investment app Moneybox has created an to help people get to grips with how inflation could affect their individual monthly outgoings.

It also aims to help them feel better prepared when considering what they can do now to offset the impact of inflation over time.

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It comes after the study also found 39% of adults are looking to plan ahead with their finances to ensure they can maintain their current lifestyle in the future despite the rising living costs.

And 32% feel it is more important than ever to grow their money for the future, with 18% trying to be braver with their savings and investments.

Charlotte Oates, a spokesperson from Moneybox, said: “For many, this will be the first time they’ve seen a significant increase in inflation, so it’s understandable there’s growing anxiety and uncertainty regarding the cost of living.

“The trouble with inflation is that it’s often only felt once your money has been spent, and you realise it isn’t stretching as far as it used to.

“The Inflation Time Machine will help give you a clearer picture of how you might be affected, so you can plan ahead and still make progress towards achieving your financial goals this year and in the years to come.”

The study also found that among those fortunate enough to have some money to spare, 25% are looking to Stocks and Shares ISAs to grow their money.

Nearly a third (32%) are exploring wider investing opportunities including individual stocks or opening a General Investment Account and 14% are open to investing in cryptocurrency.

Others are planning to invest in property (17%), put money into a Lifetime ISA (9%), Premium Bonds (22%) or a fixed rate cash ISA (19%).

The study also found that currently, the average adult spends £270 on food each month and £148 on gas and electricity.

However, this looks set to rise after regulator Ofgem increased the energy price cap, which means many could see their energy bills increase by around 50%.

A further £46 a month is spent on their water bill, while £116 is spent on fuel or transport, and £50 goes on their mobile phone.

When it comes to luxuries, £50 is splashed out on nights out while an average of £41 is spent on takeaways each month.

On average, Brits also try to save or invest nearly a fifth of their monthly income.

A savvy 78% are already making changes to their spending to try and offset the rising cost of living, with 36% simply spending less on the things they don’t need.

Nearly three in 10 (28%) are budgeting more while 25% are trying to put more away into their savings.

Others, polled via OnePoll, are selling things they don’t need (23%), going out less (22%) and shopping second hand (17%).

Charlotte Oates added: “Inflation can impact everything, from increasing the price you pay for essentials to de-valuing your hard-earned cash savings.

“To make your cash savings grow over time, the interest rate needs to be higher than the rate of inflation. If it’s not, you’re losing money in real terms.

“If you already have a rainy-day fund set aside, and you're looking to the long term, investing is one of the best ways to grow your money over time and offset the impact of inflation.