Debt charity reveals eight steps to get ahead of winter and beat the financial freeze

^{17 September 2025}

The largest provider of debt advice and solutions in the UK, StepChange Debt Charity, is urging consumers to prepare their finances ahead of winter, as new polling reveals the extent of growing pressures facing people across the UK.

YouGov polling commissioned by StepChange reveals that almost one in three UK adults (31%), roughly 17 million people, are worried about their ability to pay their energy bill in the next 6 months.

What's more, one in four UK adults (23%), roughly 12.5 million people, said that the recent rise in Ofgem's energy price cap from October, will make it harder to pay their energy bills. This comes as average energy arrears for StepChange clients in August 2025 stands at £2,554.

StepChange is urging anyone worried about their finances to follow their advice and get ahead of winter:

1. Assess your budget - compare your incomings and outgoings, and where savings can be made to maximise your available funds. Use any funds you have spare to pay down debts with the highest rates of interest, or look to save for a rainy day, or future expense. Template budgets are available on the StepChange website.
2. Check what you're owed - people often do not realise they can access reductions in their bill payments or increases in benefit entitlements. Use a benefits calculator like StepChange's to check you are getting your full allowance. In 2024, StepChange's benefits calculator found over £9 million extra for users in monthly benefits and has already had over 10,000 users this year to date.
3. Fix your energy tariff - as the energy price cap has gone up and prices will increase from October, the best time to fix your rate is now.
4. Plan for the festive period - now is the time to start setting aside small amounts to avoid a debt hangover in January. Budgeting ahead can help you manage costs more easily and reduce the temptation to borrow later. If you do need to borrow, try to pay it off as soon as possible.
5. Seek help from your creditor - your creditor has a legal responsibility to support those in financial difficulty. Many offer temporary payment plans or hardship options, but you need to let them know early.
6. Reach out to your energy company - energy providers have dedicated support for customers who are struggling. This could include payment plans, hardship funds, or access to grants, so contact them as soon as possible to assess your options.
7. Build financial resilience - even small, regular savings can help create a buffer for unexpected costs. Automating savings and building an emergency fund can make you more resilient in the face of future shocks.
8. Don't wait, get help from a debt advisor - people often wait too long to get help, or don't even know what help is available. Free, confidential debt advice from organisations like StepChange can make all the difference.

Vikki Brownridge, CEO of StepChange Debt Charity, said:

"The winter months can be especially tough for our wallets - simply starting to use the heating and turning on the lights earlier quickly adds up, not to mention the festive period and the additional costs that will bring for millions. That's why we're encouraging consumers to get ahead of winter and make plans for what tends to be a tougher period financially. Simply making a budget and assessing your incomings and outgoings each month can be a huge step towards understanding how you can best pay down debts, manage large expenses, or build savings for a rainy day. If you find yourself struggling with your finances, a debt advice charity like StepChange can help with free, confidential and impartial guidance."

Notes to Editors

• More information on StepChange's advice to get ahead of winter can be found here.
• All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,364 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 4th - 5th September 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).
• Population estimates are made by StepChange based on ONS data.
• StepChange's Benefits Calculator is managed in conjunction with EntitledTo, and in 2024 was visited over 22,800 times, and this year to 31st August has been visited over 10,600 times. In total in 2024, we calculated that the calculator found an extra £9,101,422.88 in monthly benefits.
• Internal StepChange data on energy arrears is accurate as of 9/9/25.