Skip to main content
Saving & Budgeting: The stress signals hiding in plain sight
Saving & Budgeting Dec 20, 2025 2 min read

Saving & Budgeting: The stress signals hiding in plain sight

Household saving ratios, insolvency data, and monthly “money stats” PDFs are not exciting — but they reveal what’s really happening to financial resilience.

Saving & Budgeting: The stress signals hiding in plain sight

When budgets break, it rarely happens all at once.

The warning signs show up in official datasets long before they trend on social media.

1) Individual insolvencies: October 2025 update

The Insolvency Service publishes monthly statistics.

In October 2025, 10,552 individuals entered insolvency in England and Wales (reported as 4% lower than September 2025 and 14% higher than October 2024 in the official release).

Why it matters:

  • Insolvency levels are a lagging indicator of stress — but still a powerful one.
  • If insolvencies rise while headline inflation slows, it suggests that household balance sheets are still fragile.

2) Household saving ratio: elevated versus the pre-pandemic norm

ONS data shows the household saving ratio at 10.7% in Q2 2025, with context in the quarterly sector accounts bulletin.

Why it matters:

  • Higher saving can mean caution and uncertainty.
  • It can also mean households are rebuilding buffers after shocks.

3) “The Money Statistics” (November 2025): a compact monthly snapshot

The Money Charity’s monthly Money Statistics PDF includes headline-style daily rate figures (for debt, lending, and other metrics).

Why it matters:

  • It’s one of the fastest ways to sense direction in the background numbers.

What to do with this information (practical)

  • If you’re budgeting: design a “shock absorber” line item (even £10–£20/week) before you optimise everything else.
  • If you’re saving: prioritise liquidity first (easy-access), then returns.
  • If you’re in difficulty: seek debt advice early (the earlier you act, the more options you usually have).

Sources (accessed December 2025)

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, tax or legal advice and does not take into account individual circumstances.

Was this article helpful?

Comments (0)

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.

Get new articles in your inbox

Occasional, high-signal updates. Unsubscribe any time.

Enter your email address to subscribe to our newsletter

Educational content only — not financial advice.

You might also like

Saving & Budgeting

Why So Many People Are Asking “Should I Move My Savings Right Now?” After New Inflation Data

As new inflation figures show a continued cooling trend, savers across the country are wondering whether to switch accounts, lock in a fixed rate, or stay flexible. This article breaks down the questions people are asking.

Read article
Saving & Budgeting

Can you just give your car back if you cannot afford the finance payments

Many drivers think they can simply hand the car back and walk away when they cannot afford the finance any more. This article explains your legal right to voluntary termination, how the 50 percent rule really works, the difference from voluntary surrender, the impact on your credit file and how the current car finance scandal and compensation scheme fit into all of this.

Read article
Saving & Budgeting

My debt has been sold to a collection agency do I still have to pay

Many people think a debt is wiped when it is sold, or assume letters from a collection agency are a scam. This guide explains what it really means when a lender sells a debt, whether you still have to pay, how statute barred debts work, and what to do if you think the collector is wrong or acting unfairly.

Read article