A SCOTTISH debt advice charity saw more than 3000 visits to its website on Christmas Day, the Sunday National can reveal.
And on the first working day of the New Year, StepChange reported more than 23,000 visits to its webpage – with a full advice session given to 758 people either over the phone or via the web.
“That was a higher daily total of clients advised than we saw during any day during the whole of 2022,” said Sharon Bell, head of StepChange.
“We are seeing really quite high numbers and we are expecting numbers to grow over the next few weeks, so it is worrying. It is also insightful that people are so worried that they are having to get debt advice on Christmas Day when they should be celebrating with their families. It’s a sad state of affairs.”
Bell said that around one third of the charity’s clients had a deficit budget or a “broken budget”, meaning they do not have enough income to cover their daily costs.
The cost of heating and lighting is a particular worry, with some people already “thousands of pounds” in arrears. Some are so desperate they are even cutting out costs like home insurance.
“That is a big worry at a time of year when you can get flooding and burst pipes and those kind of issues,” said Bell. “Some have stopped making payments to their life insurance and if they have cars we are having to tell them that they legally have to have that insurance.”
READ MORE: Strikes: 'Immoral' new legislation condemned by SNP and union bosses
The charity is also seeing a growing number of people worried about the amount of money they are paying on their mortgages after interest rates rose just before Christmas.
“They are starting to see those larger mortgage payments coming out of their accounts and we are also seeing the impact of the higher utility costs,” said Bell.
“We have not gone through the whole winter yet with these costs so we are still to find out the full ramifications. We are seeing people coming with thousands of pounds of arrears already and no way of paying it back. It is a long time to spring when you can naturally have heating off, so it is a big worry.”
Families are having to decide between putting the heating on or eating, with parents going without in order to feed their children or put the heating on.
“We are hearing stories about only having candles lit, or trying to cook something on the hob with one pot,” Bell said. “People are trying every way possible to minimise what they are spending on utility costs. Food costs are huge as well.
“With some things it is ridiculous how much they have increased. That is just not sustainable.”
She added that while people were looking at all sorts of ways to save money, for example by shopping around or going to charity shops, there was a limit to what they could do.
“There are certain things you have to pay such as rent and council tax and in the spring council tax will go up, some government help will run out and the cost of fuel is expected to increase,” Bell pointed out.
READ MORE: Scottish Parliament's first debate in 2023 to be on independence
She said it was important for those with worries about debt to know they are not alone and help is available.
“People might not know where to look but we can help direct them to the right place and give them the right information. There may be ways they can maximise their income whether through other benefits, grants or trust funds and it is also worth looking at how they can possibly cut down on costs.
"The important thing is for people to realise not alone and there is help out there,” said Bell.
Get online advice now at www.stepchange.org/scotland or call 0800 138 1111 (Monday to Friday 8am-8pm and Saturdays 8am-4pm).
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here