28 million Brits say rising bills are their biggest financial fear for 2026
With Christmas now behind us and households turning their attention to 2026, new research shows financial pressure remains widespread across the UK, as 51% say that rising living costs and bills is their biggest financial worry for the year ahead.* This could be as many as 28 million Brits.**
The research from Go.Compare Money also shows that almost a quarter (23%) of Brits reported a fall in their household income in 2025 while a further half say their household income has stayed the same.
More than half (55%) say 2025 was a difficult year financially, underlining the continued impact of the cost-of-living crisis on everyday finances.
Those aged 45 to 54 appear to be under particular strain. Nearly a third (31%) in this age group say their household income fell compared to 2024, eight percentage points higher than the national average. They are also the most likely to say 2025 was financially challenging (65%).
Rhys Jones, spokesperson for Go.Compare Money, explains: “This age category falls into what many call the 'squeezed middle’, balancing mortgages, dependants and higher household costs, while having fewer opportunities to increase income or access additional support.”
Biggest financial worries for 2026
When asked about their concerns for 2026, rising bills and living costs dominate. Over half of respondents (51%) said this was their biggest financial fear, with many also worried about paying monthly bills, not having enough savings, and coping with unexpected expenses.
|
Biggest financial worries for 2026 |
%* |
|
The rising cost of living/bills |
51% |
|
Paying my bills |
30% |
|
Not having enough savings |
22% |
|
Not being able to cover large, unexpected costs (e.g. car or home repairs, vet bills or replacing broken tech) |
21% |
|
Not having any savings |
18% |
|
I have no financial worries for 2026 |
15% |
|
Credit card and other unsecured debts |
14% |
|
Not saving enough for retirement |
12% |
|
Being able to pay rent |
12% |
|
Low income due to falling interest rates |
11% |
|
Not getting a pay rise |
11% |
|
Mortgage interest rate rising |
9% |
|
Not being able to find enough work |
9% |
|
Losing my job |
8% |
|
Not being able to access benefits or benefits being cut |
8% |
|
Maintaining mortgage repayments |
6% |
Uncertainty is also high. More than a third of people (37%) say they are unsure what to expect financially in 2026, while more than a quarter (28%) are bracing for a very difficult year. Just 31% are optimistic that the year ahead will be financially good.
Rhys Jones, adds: “While some Brits have seen their household income rise over the past year, it’s clear that rising bills remain a major concern for millions of households across the country. With so much uncertainty around what 2026 will bring, many people are worried about whether they’ll be able to keep up with everyday costs, let alone handle unexpected expenses.”
The team at Go.Compare has put together some of their top tips on how to save money in 2026.
For more tips on saving money visit here: https://www.gocompare.com/savings/money-saving-tips/
Contact Information
Rubie Barker
Notes to editors
*The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,000 UK Nationally Representative Consumers aged 18+. The data was collected between 19.11.2025 – 21.11.2025. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.
**The 18+ 2024 ONS population figure is 55,022,253. 51% = 28,061,349
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About Go.Compare
Go.Compare is a comparison website that enables people to compare the costs and features of a wide variety of insurance policies, financial products and energy tariffs.
It does not charge people to use its services and does not accept advertising or sponsored listings, so all product comparisons are unbiased. Go.Compare makes its money through fees paid by the providers of products that appear on its various comparison services when a customer buys through the site.
When it launched in 2006, it was the first comparison site to focus on displaying policy details rather than just listing prices, with the aim of helping people to make better-informed decisions when buying their insurance. It is this approach to comparing products that secured the company an invitation to join the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) in 2008, and it is still the only comparison site to be a member of this organisation.
Go.Compare has remained dedicated to helping people choose the most appropriate products rather than just the cheapest and works with Defaqto, the independent financial researcher, to integrate additional policy information into a number of its insurance comparison services. This allows people to compare up to an extra 30 features of cover.
Go.Compare is part of Future Plc and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
More information can be found here www.gocompare.com or here https://www.futureplc.com/brands/.