Paying the bills tops list of worries for hard-pressed Brits in 2012

Having enough money to pay the bills is the number one concern for hard-pressed Brits in 2012, according to new research from Bacs, the people behind Direct Debit.

One in four British adults said that keeping up with bill payments is the thing that worries them most, ahead of the general economic situation, the state of their own health and keeping their job.

Bacs carried out the research among 2,000 British consumers for the launch of its new campaign The Big Break, which will give bill payers the chance to win a £10,000 ‘big break’ from their household bills.

The results of the study reveal that simply having enough to pay the bills is the main worry for a quarter of people (25 per cent). The general economic situation is also – perhaps unsurprisingly – playing on ‘wallets and minds’, with a similar amount (24 per cent).

There also seems to be a distinct lack of positivity on the work front with only 11 per cent saying they were positive about keeping their job in 2012 while just seven per cent state they are most hopeful about the wider economic situation improving.

The Big Break campaign – which highlights ways Direct Debit can save people time and money as well as provide peace of mind through having their finances organised – is supported by utility companies, local councils and service providers which are offering customers who switch to paying their bills by Direct Debit the chance to win £10,000. On top of that, each Direct Debit signed will trigger a donation to charity. To find out more, visit www.thebigbreak.co.uk.

Mike Hutchinson, The Big Break spokesman for Bacs, says: “We’re all keeping a really close eye on finances at the moment, and the research we carried out shows just how many people are concerned about paying their bills in 2012.

“Of course only one person can win the £10,000, but everybody can be a winner by using Direct Debit to pay their bills, as it can help save both time and money.”

As another part of the campaign, Bacs is giving £1,000 a month to someone who’s gone that extra mile in the community or at work, or who needs help in reaching a goal – nominations are invited on www.thebigbreak.co.uk. And Bacs’ chosen charity will receive a donation for each nomination made.

Mike added: “In a time of economic uncertainty our campaign sets out not only to give one lucky person a big break from their bills but to reward and help people who others feel deserve a break of their own – all at the same time as helping charity through donations.”

The Mood of the Nation
Despite the ‘doom and gloom’ of news headlines and the prospect of yet more economic uncertainty the research has found more than half of Brits (55 per cent) are actually confident that 2012 will be a good year for them. And the findings show a marked contrast in the moods of those aged 18-34 compared to the 35-54 year-olds, with the younger group far more optimistic about life in 2012(63% v 48%). As part of the campaign, throughout the year Bacs is calling on people to find out how their own mood compares to the rest of the nation by taking the MOODometer test. The online interactive MOODometer measures whether people are Miserable, Oblivious, Optimistic or Delighted about life in 2012, and shows how they compare with the rest of the country. To find out your outlook and be in with a chance of winning a £100 ‘little break’ weekly prizes, take the MOODometer test at www.thebigbreak.co.uk or search for ‘MOODometer’ on Facebook. And, everyone taking the test will automatically be triggering a further donation from Bacs to Marie Curie Cancer Care.

The Mood of the Nation

Despite the ‘doom and gloom’ of news headlines and the prospect of yet more economic uncertainty the research has found more than half of Brits (55 per cent) are actually confident that 2012 will be a good year for them.

And the findings show a marked contrast in the moods of those aged 18-34 compared to the 35-54 year-olds, with the younger group far more optimistic about life in 2012(63% v 48%).

As part of the campaign, throughout the year Bacs is calling on people to find out how their own mood compares to the rest of the nation by taking the MOODometer test.

The online interactive MOODometer measures whether people are Miserable, Oblivious, Optimistic or Delighted about life in 2012, and shows how they compare with the rest of the country.

To find out your outlook and be in with a chance of winning a £100 ‘little break’ weekly prizes, take the MOODometer test at www.thebigbreak.co.uk or search for ‘MOODometer’ on Facebook. And, everyone taking the test will automatically be triggering a further donation from Bacs to Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Notes to editors

Media contact:

For further information, please contact Kerris Macauley on: 07974 326373
Or email: kerris.macauely@vocalink.com

The Big Break website

is at: www.thebigbreak.co.uk

About the Big Break

A £10,000 prize draw open to people who switch to Direct Debit to pay their bills from companies and organisations that have signed up to the campaign. Billers taking part will make a donation to charity for every Direct Debit signed.
A nominations programme where people can nominate someone to win a £1,000 cash prize every month between February and October. Each nomination will also trigger a donation to charity.
Sponsorship of two young sportspeople, Clio Cup racing driver Josh Files and elite swimmer Chris Walker-Hebborn. Direct Debit’s support is giving them a ‘big break’ to help them towards their goals.
As part of the campaign, people can also take the MOODometer test, which is a specially designed for users to find out how their mood about life in 2012 compares to the rest of the UK.
To test yourself against the mood of the nation, go to www.thebigbreak.co.uk<http://www.thebigbreak.co.uk, or search for Direct Debit on Facebook. Taking theMOODometer gives people the chance to win a ‘little break’ of £100 as well as triggering a donation to charity.