Why is the UK having a cost of living crisis?
People affected by the cost-of-living crisis in the UK have seen prices of rent, energy and food increase dramatically, while their income, such as housing benefit, has not increased proportionally. This has made it harder for people to make ends meet.
While the cost-of-living crisis is being felt by many, it is disproportionately affecting people who are already on the breadline, creating a perfect storm for people who were already struggling with unrelenting pressure.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the ongoing cost of living crisis has led to an increasing number of people cutting back on spending on food and fuel, not just on the non-essentials. The latest figures show that 46 million people say that they have had to change their spending habits and 13% people in England are thought to be using credit (credit cards, loans or overdrafts) more than usual to cope with rising costs.
This crisis may well be forcing unhappy couples and families to stay together against their wishes because people are worried that they cannot afford the costs of either living alone or as a single parent not to mention the cost of the divorce itself.
Are unhappy couples staying together because they cannot afford to leave?
This year, a staggering 272,000 couples have been delayed from splitting due to the cost of living crisis. Research from Legal & General found that financial concerns delayed 19% of recent divorces – with income concerns, cost of living pressures and the price of divorce all cited as reasons to postpone.
35% of people say the cost of living crisis has prevented them from starting divorce proceedings, and it’s now the most common reason – ahead of concerns for the children – preventing people from going their separate ways.
These figures lead to an obvious conclusion, particularly in the context of the current soar in divorce enquiries: many couples and/or families who should not be together within the same household are still living together.
Not just a problem for low or average income families
The recession poses major concerns not just for divorcing couples in low/average-income households, but also for those people who could be classed as high earners. For most people contemplating divorce, they may be hoping to keep the family home and take on the responsibility for their children.
Higher earners contemplating divorce/separation may well be looking at taking on responsibility for a large mortgage or more than one mortgage. Those people have reason to be worried that ever-increasing interest rates will make it impossible to keep up payments in the future. Division of family finances will have to take into account the impending rise in energy bills.
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There are always options. It is vital that those people reach out and seek specialist advice from a family solicitor, such as Lund Bennett because there are always options and a way in which to resolve the situation. We can offer some family law services that can help make the whole process of your divorce as simple and stress free as possible.