More Scots Feeling the Squeeze as Cost of Living Pressures Bite – Which? Report.
Households across Scotland are continuing to feel the strain of rising prices. According to new research from Which?, more than half of UK households have had to make at least one financial adjustment in recent weeks just to keep up with everyday essentials. This is the highest level seen so far this year.
The Which? survey found that 52% of people said they’d had to take action to cover daily costs such as food shopping, energy bills, rent or mortgage payments, school items or prescriptions. If those numbers were applied across the UK, it would mean around 14.8 million households have made changes to cope with rising costs, the highest level since December 2024.
The survey of more than 2,100 people across the UK was carried out between 17 and 19 October.
People said they had been cutting back on essentials, dipping into savings, selling belongings, or borrowing money to get by. Those on lower incomes were particularly likely to say they’d had to go without.
Cost of Living in Scotland
Here in Scotland, our own 2024 Trust Deed Scotland® Customer Survey found similar patterns.
When asked what actions they had taken to combat the cost of living crisis:
- 66% said they had cut back on socialising or hobbies
- 31% said they had cut back on heating
- 34% said they had cut back on buying food
- 20% said they had borrowed money from family or friends
We also asked those struggling with problem debt about the impact of interest and charges being added to what they owed. Over 93% told us it made their situation worse.
And 62% said they had taken on longer hours or even extra jobs just to make payments.
The Scottish government released a report in February 2025, amongst its findings, it reported rising levels of food insecurity. Food insecurity is the lack of reliable access to enough affordable, nutritious, and safe food. It can range from reducing the variety of diets to members sometimes disrupting eating patterns or going without food due to a lack of resources.
The Which? report found that the number of households missing at least one essential payment, such as rent, mortgage, utilities or loan repayments, was 5.5% in October. Applying the same percentage to Scotland’s population suggests that around 140,000 Scottish households may have missed at least one essential payment during that period.
This is only an estimate, as both the Which? survey and the National Records of Scotland household data are based on sample and census estimates rather than exact numbers.
Which? warned that more households are still making financial sacrifices just to stay afloat as we head into the colder months and the expensive festive period.
Looking ahead, one in five (20%) people believe their financial situation will improve over the next year, while about a third (34%) expect things to get worse. Those who expect things to deteriorate cited the rising cost of food, energy bills and inflation as key concerns. Some also mentioned worries about possible tax rises and government policies.
If You’re Struggling With Debt, You’re Not Alone
At Trust Deed Scotland®, we speak to hundreds of people every month who are in the exact same position. The rising cost of living has made it harder for many to stay on top of bills and debts, even when they’re working full-time or more than one job.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s important to know that there’s help available. We’ve helped thousands of people across Scotland reduce their monthly payments, write off unaffordable debt, and find a way forward.
You don’t have to face it alone. Our team is friendly, understanding and here to help you make sense of your options.
Take the first step today and see if you qualify for help. Use our Trust Deed Wizard or speak with one of our experienced advisers on 0141 221 0999.