Latest news with #householdfinances
Japan Times
04-07-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
80% of lower-income families in Japan say financial situation getting worse
Around 80% of lower-income families with children in Japan said that their household finances are much worse than last year, a survey by nonprofit group Kidsdoor has shown. A Kidsdoor official has called on the government to create a system in which people can raise children with a sense of security, amid pledges by political parties to tackle inflation in the lead-up to the July 20 Upper House election. The survey was conducted online from late May to early June, covering 3,227 households including single-parent families and others registered for a Kidsdoor aid project. Valid responses came from 2,033 households, or 63%. Respondents saying that their household finances have become much worse than a year before accounted for 82% of the total, while 17% said finances have become somewhat worse, highlighting tougher economic conditions due to persisting inflation. Fully 90% said that food expenses have increased, with 27% of children and 81% of parents saying that the amount of food they eat has decreased. The survey also asked about specific food items lacking in meals due to economic reasons. Amid an extreme spike in prices, over 90% mentioned rice, with 64% saying they are strongly lacking the staple in their diet. In a comment section of the survey, one respondent complained of tough conditions as "many things such as foods and electricity bills are expensive." "We're cutting costs by reducing the frequency of bathing and eating," another commenter said. "I sometimes can't make bento (lunch boxes) for my child because (rice) is too expensive," another wrote. Kidsdoor head Yumiko Watanabe argued that Japan should not ignore families struggling to put dinner on the table. In the Upper House race, the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito has pledged to hand out ¥20,000 ($138) per citizen as well as an additional ¥20,000 to all children and adults in resident tax-exempt households. "Redistributive measures providing generous aid for children who don't have adequate food, clothing and housing are needed, not uniform handouts," Watanabe said.
The Sun
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Huge shake-up to council tax payments planned by government – how it could affect YOU explained
MILLIONS of households could pay council tax bills over 12 months rather than 10 under a huge shake-up to payments planned by the government. Ministers are proposing to change the way households pay for the essential bill to help households manage their finances better. 1 The change comes as part of a consultation launched by the Government today. The consultation has also laid out plans to change the way council tax debt, or arrears, is recovered. Under the plans, councils will have to wait longer before demanding a bill is paid in full. Currently, if you miss a single payment your local authority can demand you pay the bill for the entire year and use bailiffs to enforce this.
Daily Mail
17-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Financial meltdown looms for one in ten as soaring cost of living continues to bite into household finances
One in ten adults are on the brink of a financial crisis as the soaring cost of living continues to bite into household finances, new research reveals. Surging mortgage costs and hikes to bills has left 9 per cent of adults facing a financial crisis, according to a report from pension and investment firm Royal London. Those aged between 30 and 49 are most affected – some 16 per cent are either in or close to an emergency money situation. Meanwhile, only two in five of this group are satisfied with their standard of living. There are some signs of improvement to household finances, says the report, as 59 per cent of those surveyed say they have money left over at the end of the month compared to 49 per cent last year. Plus, there was a small rise in the average amount people have saved in cash – £15,864 this year compared to £15,549 in 2024. Sarah Pennells, of Royal London, says: 'While it's encouraging that some people have been able to start to build up their savings, it's very concerning that one in five have less than £100 in savings – the same percentage as in March 2023, when we first asked this question. 'It's been unchanged for the past two years.' She advises reviewing direct debits and subscriptions to see if you can save money in small ways, which will build up over time. You can also create a savings buffer to account for an unexpected bill or take advantage of cheaper energy deals if you want to build your financial resilience.
