Britons ‘turning to food vouchers’ this Christmas

Consumers are set to rely on food vouchers this Christmas as their debt worries mount.
 
Research by Citizens Advice has discovered the charity is on course to hand out over 100,000 food vouchers in 2013, which represents a 24 per cent increase over the past six months.
 
The main reasons for the stark situation are a drop in benefits and a shortfall in income. If people are struggling to afford food shopping costs, it's safe to assume clearing debts will prove very tricky indeed.
 
Chief executive of the organisation Gillian Guy described the situation as "extremely worrying" as it is clear plenty of families are struggling to make their budgets last.
 
"The combined impact of welfare upheaval, low wages and the high cost of living is putting unbearable pressure on many households. Some families will be facing a bleak Christmas this year, struggling to put food on the table," she added.
 
On top of this, Ms Guy revealed there has been a 46 per cent swell in the number of queries they have received about Jobseeker's Allowance in the past year.
 
The expert is calling on the government to put measures in place to protect those who are facing financial problems, such as helping them develop the skills to budget effectively and manage changes in their lives.
 
By doing so, she hopes it is possible to assist consumers in the fight to avoid debt and rent arrears. This is a particularly topical issue, as a recent report by the Centre for Social Justice discovered hundreds of people are being made homeless every month because they cannot afford their mortgage or rent repayments.
 
Years of unsustainable borrowing has left consumers in a perilous situation and so people need to make sure they are competent when it comes to money management if they are to get out of the red.
 
By Amy White