Two thirds of adults are concerned about their finances over the coming months – finds Lightning Reach & TSB

• Polling: Almost two fifths (38%) of respondents say their finances have worsened since last year
• Almost a third (31%) do not feel comfortable discussing finances with family, or friends (32%)
• Over one in 10 (12%) say their debt is becoming difficult to manage
• Lightning Reach data: Two thirds (66%) of customers¹ are struggling with home energy costs - over three quarters (78%) of those have a disability, and almost two fifths (39%) are single parents
• Lightning Reach and TSB encourage households to apply for grants – with £610 paid out on average

Two thirds (66%)^2* of adults are concerned about their finances over the coming months – as Lightning Reach and TSB encourage people to check their eligibility for grants.

A survey of over 2,000 adults found that almost two fifths (38%)* said their finances had worsened since this time last year.

Of the 51 percent* who said they had debt; two fifths (42%) said their debt had increased, while a quarter (25%)* said it had reduced.

Yet a quarter (25%) of respondents said they would not feel comfortable requesting financial support – even if their finances required it.

Lightning Reach grants – help for households

Lightning Reach² and TSB are encouraging households to check their eligibility for a grant on the Lightning Reach portal, which has connected people with £25.5 million in grants in just five years.

Of this, over a quarter (26%) of people received help with energy and bills;11 percent with furniture and appliances, and nine percent with food and essentials. Other support types include help with housing costs and clothing. On average, users receive £610 in financial support.

Household debt

Encouragingly, polling found that over two fifths (41%) of respondents said they had no debt at all. A third (33%) said they have debt which is under control.

However, over one in ten (12%) said their debt is becoming difficult to manage – and over one in twenty (6%) said they had fallen behind on payments.

Energy

A third (33%) of respondents spend between 5-10 percent of their household income on energy bills. Almost three in ten (28%) spend 11-20 percent - and almost a fifth (17%) spend 21-30 percent. One in 50 households spend over 30 percent of their income on energy bills.

Lightning Reach data shows that two thirds (66%) of its 300,000 customers are struggling with home energy costs. And over three quarters (78%) of those have a disability, and almost two fifths (39%) are single parents.

Financial pressure

Encouragingly, to alleviate financial pressure; over a third (34%) said they had shopped around for better deals on essentials.

However, over three in ten (31%) had cut back on essentials (such as food, heating and gas). A quarter (25%) used savings to cover everyday costs. One in six (16%) had borrowed from family or friends, while 15 percent missed or delayed a bill or payment.

Talking about your finances

Lightning Reach and TSB found that almost two thirds (66%)^* of respondents are confident in talking about their finances. However, over a third (34%)* are not very confident – and 13 percent were not at all confident.

However, charities and debt specialists are respondents’ preferred outlet to discussing financial concerns (88%)*, followed by banks (87%), and their partner (87%).

Over three in 10 (31%) do not feel confident speaking with family, and almost a third (32%) did not feel confident sharing financial matters with friends.

Seeking financial support

A quarter (25%) of respondents said they would not feel comfortable requesting financial support – even if their finances required it. Over a third (35%)* said they were not confident that they would know where to turn.

Almost one in five (18%) had given up when applying for support. Almost two fifths (38%) of whom said that the process was too long and complicated, while almost a third (32%) felt too embarrassed to seek help.

Budgeting

Encouragingly, almost a half (46%)* of respondents say they budget every week, with one in 10 (10%) budgeting every day. A third (32%) budget once a month, while 12 percent never budget at all.

Ren Yi Hooi, founder and CEO of Lightning Reach, said:

“With many households facing growing financial challenges, we aim to make it as quick and seamless as possible to access support in one place - breaking down barriers such as stigma, repetitive form filling and lengthy paperwork.

“There’s much more support out there than people realise, so it’s worth taking 10 minutes to check if you might be eligible for one or more of the 2,500+ schemes on the Lightning Reach portal.”

Keely Newman, Head of Vulnerable Customers, TSB, said:

“With concerns over finances rising, we are always pleased to hear of our customers accessing vital support through Lightning Reach, which can make all the difference to people's budget
 and wellbeing.

“If you find yourself in need of support; we'd encourage households to check their eligibility for a grant, and contact your bank, or a charity for advice and debt management.”

Vikki Brownridge, CEO at StepChange Debt Charity, said:

“Uncertainty around household finances is rising, adding to several years of cost‑of‑living pressures that haven’t gone away. Early intervention can make a real difference for people struggling with debt, and it’s vital that people know where to access support. In fact, 85% of StepChange clients say they would have sought help sooner if they could go back in time.

“For anyone struggling with debt, it’s important to speak to your creditors, who can offer tailored support and guidance. Free, impartial, and non-judgemental debt advice is also always available from charities like StepChange.”

Notes to editors

1. Lightning Reach ‘customer data’ relates to people who have used the Lightning Reach portal to request a grant
2. The research was conducted by Censuswide for TSB & Lightning Reach, among a sample of 2,000 UK Nationally representative consumers (18+). The data was collected between 02.04.2026 - 07.04.2026. Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC), and a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge. We adhere to the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles
3. Find & apply for financial support - Lightning Reach connects people with grants with support across energy, housing, mental health and disability.

Polling references

* ‘Very concerned’ and ‘Somewhat concerned’ responses combined

* ‘Much worse’ and ‘Somewhat worse’ responses combined

* ’I have debt but it is under control’, ‘I have debt that is becoming difficult to manage’, ‘I have fallen behind on payments or am under financial pressure due to debt’ responses combined

* ‘Increased significantly’ and ‘Increased slightly’ responses combined

*‘Decreased significantly’ and ‘Decreased slightly’ responses combined

* ‘Very confident’ and ‘Somewhat confident’ responses combined

* ‘Not at all confident’ and ‘Not very confident’ responses combined

* Inverse of specialist

* ‘Not at all confident’ and ‘Slightly confident’ responses combined

* ‘Every day’, ‘4-6 days a week’, ‘2-3 days a week’ and ‘Once a week’ responses combined

Personal Finance tips from TSB’s Keely Newman

Budgeting – Is key to successful finances at the best of times, but particularly so in times of turbulence as we’re seeing through the price impact of conflict in the Middle East. I always advise using a spreadsheet or a budgeting app to stay on top of your outgoings – and to see if there is anything you can cut down on, while building your savings buffer pot. Monitor this daily, alongside a weekly review to meet your targets and help you stay on track.

Mortgages – Speak with your lender if you’re concerned about rising rates and the risk of missing payments as they may be able to help you set up a plan and give you advice on how to manage your repayments. And if you’re coming off a fixed rate, it pays to plan well in advance, by keeping your eyes on rates and speaking with your provider or broker. Lenders are here to help – so don’t worry alone, get in touch.

Tailored support – Banks like ours have dedicated support teams, not only for customers facing financial distress, but also for those with wider financial needs - to offer plans and targeted measures to help get your finances on track. They can provide solutions to help you manage debts, optimise your savings, and make the most of your money, aiming to support you towards a more positive financial future whatever your circumstances, if you get in touch.

Subscriptions – Cancelling an unused subscription is a great way of saving money and I’m always amazed by how many of us don’t realise we’re paying regularly for a service we don't use. A quick scan of your banking app and statement will help you spot what you might want to cancel and can live without.

Fraud – Cruel fraudsters constantly react to the news agenda and capitalise on times of panic - with new scams to get at our finances. So be particularly wary of any out of the blue calls and those pretending to be from your bank, HMRC and any other official organisations – it could well be a scam. Pausing and asking ‘could this be a fraudster’ can potentially prevent you transferring your life savings to a fraudster. Which?’s scam checker is a free service that alerts users to the latest trends – so sign up to help stay scam safe.

Fuel - With the price of fuel rocketing, it could help to use one of the dedicated apps – to help locate cheaper fuel options. Where possible, try and plan trips in advance – while keeping a close eye on price movements to avoid, if you can, refilling at a peak price.

Energy – There are many simple options you can take to help reduce your bills and become more energy efficient - such as lowering the temperature on your washing machine, reviewing whether you need appliances to be left on and insulating your home. It’s positive that a price cap will bring lower bills from this week – but this is reviewed every three months. So, keep an eye on pricing and shop around to get the best deal. If you’re struggling with your bill talk to your provider, as they are required to help create manageable payment plans. The government also offers help to lower income households, or people on certain benefits.

Lightning Reach – I'm always delighted to read stories of customers claiming grants via Lightning Reach and I’d really encourage struggling households to check your eligibility on the portal – as a payout to help with energy, household essentials, disability and other costs could make all the difference to your finances and wellbeing;

Charity support – Your financial and emotional wellbeing is so important. So, speak with friends and family and don’t forget that brilliant charities such as Stepchange and Citizens Advice are on hand to help provide targeted advice and support, should you ever need it.

Emergency pot – Building up ‘emergency funds,’ are particularly useful for moments like these. Use effective budgeting alongside clear goals to ensure you’re putting funds away – even a few pounds a week can all add up over a year and can make all the difference as a buffer against unexpected bills, price hikes and emergencies.

Economic Abuse - Alarmingly, victims of economic abuse can be particularly vulnerable during cost-of-living spikes, with abusers further stripping them of financial independence. Charities such as Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) and Hestia provide vital help and can be the first step towards safety. Help is also available on the highstreet and online from brands that offer Safe Spaces - and via schemes such as flee funds and Surviving Economic Abuse’s banking directory.