Facing the squeeze 2011: A qualitative study of household finances and access to credit

This qualitative study explored the range of ways in which households on low and middle incomes have been affected by the recent macro-economic climate and how they have adjusted to cope with changing situations. The study had a particular interest in the role of attitudes towards spending, borrowing and patterns of money management and credit use as well as the perceived availability of unsecured and mortgage borrowing. It examined the range and severity of signs of financial strain that households evidenced and examined participants' experiences and perceptions of money and debt advice. The research involved 30 depth interviews with credit users aged 18 to 55 who did not self-report being in financial difficulty. The report follows on from the first Facing the Squeeze report conducted in 2009 and demonstrates the depth of the effects of the economic crisis and the diverse strategies households have used to cope with it.