Debt management company Gregory Pennington has emphasised the importance of getting debt help at the first sign of financial difficulties, following research showing that the average UK worker spent the first 83 days of 2009 earning just enough to cover the interest on their debts.

Unbiased.co.uk have said that March 25th was this year’s ‘Debt Freedom Day’ – a theoretical date on which the average UK worker’s earnings have covered the amount they will pay in interest on their debts (not including mortgages) over the course of the year.

The date came more than two weeks later than last year’s Debt Freedom Day, which fell on Ma rch 2nd 2008. This means that debt levels amongst people in the UK have risen, despite increased caution amongst lenders.

Unbiased.co.uk’s figures showed that personal loans borrowed in 2008 amounted to £11.6bn in 2008 – up by more than £1.6bn on the previous year. Meanwhile, mortgage debt from equity release loans increased by £6.5 billion. Debt on credit cards, however, fell by £4.9bn.

A spokesperson for Gregory Pennington commented: “We can look at lending figures from recent years and see how much personal debt has risen, but the amount of time it can take to repay the interest on those debts may surprise some borrowers.

“It’s also worth remembering that this is before the borrower has started repaying the actual debt, which suggests that a lot of people may be spending a considerable proportion of their annual income repaying debts.”

Debt Freedom Day works on a similar basis to ‘Tax Freedom Day’, recorded by the Adam Smith Institute, an economic think tank. Last year’s Tax Freedom Day fell on June 2nd – meaning that if these figures are combined, the average UK worker spends almost three quarters of their annual income on tax and debt interest.

The Gregory Pennington spokesperson said that the figures not only show how much the average UK worker spends on debt interest each year – they also show how much better off they could be once those debts have been taken care of.

“Especially in difficult times for the economy, reducing debt can ensure that people are well-prepared for what the future may hold. If costs begin to rise sharply, or any other unexpected financial events occur, people who are in debt are more likely to struggle. If that results in the borrower missing debt repayments, the situation can become quite serious.

“The fact that interest rates have fallen sharply in recent months will help some people – particularly those who have experience a fall in their mortgage costs – but for situations that have become more serious, finding the right type of debt management could make a big difference.

“We advise anyone who is struggling to repay their debts to seek professional debt help at the first sign of difficulty. A debt adviser can discuss the borrower’s situation in confidence and, if necessary, recommend a suitable debt solution for their personal circumstances.”

Via EPR Network
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