With Christmas rapidly approaching, worrying about money can be a real cause of stress.
New research has confirmed it is the biggest cause of stress for adults in the UK and can be detrimental to overall wellbeing.
The research from Central YMCA found a 52% divide between the most and least financially confident people in the country.
Other factors significantly impacting wellbeing include the quality of personal relationships and mental stimulation.
These factors are causing 50% and 48% swings in wellbeing scores respectively.
The report from leading health and wellbeing charity, Central YMCA, surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,000 UK adults and uncovered that financial woes reduce overall wellbeing scores by a third.
In total, the average Brit scored 6.13/10 on an index for their overall wellbeing.
[easy-tweet tweet=”Don’t let money worries ruin Christmas. Take control over your financial planning.” via=”no” usehashtags=”no”]According to the research, the average Brit spends roughly half their monthly pay on presents at this time of year.
They also reported that one in three UK adults regret how much they spend over Christmas, while up to a fifth are left suffering financially for three months or more.
Commenting on the findings, Rosi Prescott, chief executive at Central YMCA, said:
“As we move into what is both an expensive and stressful time of year, it’s likely that money worries will be heightened over the Christmas period.
“The financial stresses felt by people right across the country are symptomatic of the ever-growing financial inequality in the UK, and these worries and woes are enormously damaging to our overall wellbeing – affecting how we feel about ourselves and our lives.
“At this time of year, it’s important we try to strive towards a healthy balance of mental stimulation, physical activity and positive relationships – all which deliver a significant boost to how we feel about ourselves.
“Christmas should be seen as an opportunity to improve our wellbeing – reconnecting with relatives and friends, where we can, and encouraging those positive and healthy relationships.”
A lot of things can cause stress and reduce our overall wellbeing, but money doesn’t need to one of them.
An important part of the service we offer clients is removing stress about money by offering a clear explanation of your choices and options.
If taking control over your personal finances and reducing worries about money are your goals in 2017, please do get in touch.
