More than half of Brits won’t be able to afford to pay their bills within a matter of months - with more than five million already forced to choose between heating and eating, research has revealed
An exclusive survey for the Daily Mirror has exposed the everyday impact of the cost of living crisis, from families ditching non-essentials and cancelling holidays, to missing rent payments and parents skipping meals so their children can eat.
Worries about soaring bills has impacted the mental health of more than half those questioned - one in five significantly so.
It is the first major poll published since energy prices rocketed and the Government’s national insurance rise kicked in early April.
Labour seized on the findings to slam millionaire Chancellor Rishi Sunak ’s lack of action to properly help those now battling to make ends meet.
Leader Keir Starmer told the Mirror: “Working people are being hammered, and the worst is about to hit.
“The Mirror’s poll shows just how bad things are already.
“People are working hard but getting less, and the Conservatives have put up taxes at the worst possible time.
“The Government’s refusal to act is shameful.
“We need an emergency budget now to put money back in people’s pockets.”
Campaigners say a record surge in energy prices for 22 million households from April 1 means the true scale of the crisis is only now being felt.
Adam Scorer, chief executive of the charity National Energy Action, said: “Energy bills haven’t landed yet, but people are not heating homes, not having a warm bath or shower, not using cookers and washing machines, not letting their kids watch TV.
“Knowing it will only get worse as we head to winter sends a shiver down my spine.
“You can’t measure this crisis just by pounds and pence. Measure it in how it is destroying basic quality of life for millions.
“When we get to winter we will be measuring it in thousands of lives lost.”
Gillian Cooper, head of energy policy at Citizens Advice, said: “Urgent help is needed for those who’ve been hit the hardest by rocketing living costs.”
The Deltapoll survey of more than 1,600 adults revealed how the cost of living crisis is by a long stretch the biggest issue facing families.
Nearly two-thirds put it as their number one concern - with the economy second at 27% - up sharply from 55% when we asked the same question in late January.
Tackling the crisis is likely to be a key factor in looming local elections.
An overwhelming nine out of 10 of those polled have noticed their own cost of living rise.
The biggest impact for many is energy bills.
According to the survey, one in 10 people had to choose between heating their home or going without food - equivalent to 5.3million people.
The surge in energy bills has prompted regulator Ofgem to launch an investigation into whether suppliers have jacked up customers’ direct debits more than necessary.
When asked, seven out of 10 thought they had.
And there could be more pain, with experts earning average energy bills could jump from an already sky-high £1,971 to more than £2,500 a year ahead of next winter.
Yet our survey, conducted after this month’s hikes, found a £20 a month rise in energy bills would mean a quarter would face extreme financial difficulties.
Overall, 9% of those questioned said they already couldn’t afford their household bills - equivalent to about 4.8million people.
Another 12% said they would become swamped within weeks and a further 31% within a matter of months.
Many families are tightening their belts elsewhere.
Around one in six have cancelled their holiday plans, and over a quarter have ditched non-essential outgoings, including TV subscriptions.
A Government spokesperson said: “We understand that people are struggling with rising prices, and while we can’t shield everyone from the global challenges we face, we’re supporting British families to navigate the months ahead with a £22billion package of support this financial year.”
- Deltapoll interviewed 1,610 British adults online between April 21 and 23, 2022. The data has been weighted to be representative of the British adult population as a whole.
Changes people are making in the face of the cost of living crisis:
Staying at home more - 41%
Buying fewer clothes - 37%
Buying fewer takeaways - 34%
Making fewer car journeys to save on fuel - 30%
Cancelled non-essential outgoings, such as TV subscriptions - 27%
Fewer nights out - 26%
Cancelled days out - 25%
Eating less healthily to save money - 18%
Cancelled holiday plans - 16%
Borrowed money from family or friends - 13%
Chose between eating food and heating/going without food - 10%
Put essential bills on credit card - 8%
Cancelled gym membership - 8%
Increased overdraft - 6%
Gone with food so the kids can eat - 6%
Spent less on children’s school activities - 5%
Missed one or more rent payments - 4%
Used payday lender - 3%
Spent less on children’s school trips - 3%
Used pawn broker - 2%
Missed one or more mortgage payment - 1%
None of the above - 19%
