How to deal with debt – especially at Christmas

Dave Murphy said he experienced financial difficulties after a divorce

Debt advice charities are urging people to only spend what they can afford this Christmas and to reach out for help if they find themselves getting into difficulty.

Julie O'Brien, area partnership manager for Christians Against Poverty in Surrey, Kent and Sussex, said people can feel pressured to meet expectations during the festive period.

Out of 299 people surveyed by YouGov, 28% of people in the South East said they would struggle to afford Christmas this year. A total of 2% said they would not celebrate at all due to the cost.

Simon Trevethick, from debt charity Step Change, said anyone who was struggling should contact their lender or a debt advice organisation as soon as possible.

He said: "People are thinking about how they're going to afford Christmas this year.

"For some people, making those small savings isn't going to be enough. We know that lots of people are struggling with their finances.

"We're seeing lots and lots of people coming to us struggling with the basics, so when you add Christmas in on top, that can make things really tricky for people.

"If you are struggling, it's likely that's not just a Christmas issue."

Simon Trevethick said a growing number of people were having difficulty covering "the basics"

Ms O'Brien said it was single parents who are worst affected at Christmas.

"When Christmas comes it's an added pressure for people, it's the expectation and trying to meet those expectations," she said.

Father-of-two Dave Murphy, an insurance broker, said he began to have finance issues after his divorce in 2018 and soon had debts of about £20,000.

"You put on a face to deal with clients and work colleagues, none of which would know what's going on because you keep it to yourself," he said.

"The perception is that everyone in the city has got money, but that's not necessarily the case. In the job, you have to come across as in control, so if you've got debt then technically, you're not in control."

Mr Murphy said he would worry about the debt letters that would come through the door, so contacted Step Change.

"They took away having to ring four creditors every week, they managed it, they did a report to the creditors," he said.

Step Change offers debt advice and support. A list of free debt advice services can be found on the government website.