A TSB and Lightning Reach survey found 66% of Britons are concerned about their economic prospects in the coming months, with 38% reporting their finances had deteriorated since last year. According to a Which? survey, consumer confidence in the UK economy fell by 13 points to -56 during February and March. The same survey indicated nearly half (49%) of UK households are forced to make at least one adjustment—such as dipping into savings, selling possessions, or borrowing money—to cover basic costs. The TSB and Lightning Reach survey also revealed 51% of those surveyed are in debt, with 42% of this group experiencing an increase in their debt burden.
Housing affordability is forcing adults into house sharing, with Nationwide research indicating the average age of Brits living in house shares is 35. A Nationwide survey found 69% of people think living alone is unaffordable, and 29% is the age at which house sharing becomes embarrassing according to Brits. The survey also showed 11% of people are still sharing to split costs and pool resources.
Young people are particularly affected, with a Citizens Advice and Loqbox survey finding 65% of young people aged 18-28 in the UK say money worries are damaging their mental health. The same survey showed 64% of young people aged 18-28 wish they had learned more about managing bills before moving out. An Intuit Credit Karma survey found 51% of Gen Z adults aged 18 to 29 feel less financially secure than they had expected to be by this point in their lives.
In the US, Buy Now, Pay Later services are becoming essential but risky for consumers. A LendingTree survey found 29% of BNPL users in the US have used the loans to purchase groceries, roughly double the share from two years ago, with 38% of Gen Z BNPL users using BNPL for food purchases. The survey also indicated 54% of BNPL users in the US said they would not be able to make ends meet without the services, while 47% reported making at least one late payment in the past year, up from 34% in 2024.
The UK is also grappling with a plastic packaging waste crisis. A Big Plastic Count survey estimated UK households are throwing away 1.6 billion pieces of plastic packaging every week, with 82% of the waste originating from food and drink packaging. Tesco and Sainsbury’s together accounted for almost half (46%) of the fruit and vegetable packaging counted.
Young Brits are adopting creative saving and earning strategies to cope. A Plum survey found 95% of 18-29-year-olds in the UK are finding savvy ways to save money without giving up luxuries. The survey showed 28% of 18-29-year-olds using reselling apps made an average of £184 over the past year, and 33% are making the most of Lifetime ISA accounts.
Millennials are making purchases influenced by aging concerns. An Intuit Credit Karma survey found 62% of Millennials said they had made at least one purchase in the past year shaped by how they feel about ageing and where they are in life, with an average annual spend of £1,888 on such purchases.
The rise of a second-hand and reselling economy is providing some relief. A KPMG survey found buying second-hand has been the first choice for one in 10 consumers when purchasing items other than food so far this year. The survey showed 8% of people of all ages report using reselling sites as their main way of buying non-grocery goods so far in 2026, rising to 15% of those aged 18 to 24, and 33% of people say they have sold an item via a reselling site this year, averaging five items across all age groups.
Severe cost-cutting measures are widespread among struggling households. The TSB and Lightning Reach survey found 31% of Britons have resorted to cutting back on essentials such as food and heating.