Summary
Sarah Daniels from Reading, England, went into debt after losing her job due to illness in 2024. She sought help from the charity Christians Against Poverty to manage her £5,000 debt. Citizens Advice East Berkshire and Christians Against Poverty reported an increase in people seeking help for debt, often due to essential bills.
Key Facts
- Sarah Daniels lost her job because of health issues, leading to a debt of £5,000.
- Her debts mainly came from being unable to pay necessary bills like utilities and rent.
- Daniels received help from the charity Christians Against Poverty to manage her debts.
- Citizens Advice East Berkshire reported a 54% increase in clients with debt issues in 2024-25.
- Many are going into debt due to essential living costs rather than luxury spending.
- The average debt for new clients in the south east of England is over £12,500.
- Citizens Advice noticed around 400,000 people nationwide with debt problems, a 45% increase in two years.
- 80% of debt clients can't cover their basic living expenses.
