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Summer 2025 hits hard: 81% of UK parents feel financial strain
Tuesday, August 05, 2025 — 15:02:12 (UTC)
Bristol, UK. 5 August 2025: Summer 2025 is proving even tougher for UK families, with 81% of parents feeling financially stressed and 52% worse off than last summer, according to new research from Loqbox, the UK’s leading credit-building business.
The insights come from The 2025 Loqbox Parents’ Planner: Navigating Summer and Back-to-School Costs, based on surveys of UK adults aged 18 to 45. The data shows households feeling the squeeze, driven by pricier holidays, rising childcare costs, and mounting back-to-school expenses.
Key insights for journalists:
81% of UK parents feel financially strained this summer 52% feel worse off than in summer 2024 Budgeting is down, with only 26% actively budgeting this year (down from 34% in 2024) 8.4% use Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) to fund summer travel – rising to 17% among higher-income households 23% of parents are turning to credit cards or loans to fund summer, up from 17% last year
Additional research from MyVoucherCodes found UK parents spend an average of £108.59 per child on back-to-school clothing alone, not including tech, lunch gear, or extracurricular costs. One parent said, “It’s terrifying. It’s all so expensive,” while another described feeling “stressed [about] how much it’s all going to cost this year.”
Tom Eyre, CEO and Co-Founder of Loqbox, commented: UK parents are under real financial pressure right now, it’s not down to poor planning. It’s the cost of everyday life outpacing people’s ability to keep up. Over half of UK parents feel worse off than this time last year. That tells you everything. From childcare and travel to school supplies, it’s all adding up, and families feel the squeeze from every direction. This research shines a light on what households are really facing this summer. But it also offers support for practical ways to stretch budgets, travel smarter, and ease the back-to-school fees. It’s not about doing without, it’s about making every penny go further.
Tom added: We’re seeing a shift in how families use credit. Tools like Buy Now Pay Later are no longer just a last resort, they’re becoming part of everyday money management. People across income levels are using them to take control of rising costs and protect the things that matter most.
But there’s a flip side. Juggling multiple repayments can quickly become overwhelming. That’s the challenge now, making sure families feel confident and in control when using credit. Because when used wisely, these tools can help, not hinder, financial wellbeing.
At Loqbox, we want to give families the confidence and knowledge to take control of their money- not just today, but long term. The 2025 Loqbox Parents’ Planner takes a closer look at how UK families are coping with the financial pressures of the summer. It explores everything from the practical ways families manage costs to the trade-offs they’re being forced to make. Blending financial strategies with emotional insights, the data offers a powerful snapshot of life behind the numbers.
To read the full report and access all of Loqbox’s expert tips, visit: here. ENDS
About Loqbox
Loqbox is the UK’s leading credit-building business based in Bristol. Committed to fostering a healthier relationship with money, Loqbox provides individuals with tools to improve their credit scores, grow savings, and enhance their overall financial situation. For more information, visit www.loqbox.com.
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Source: Company press release. 
Categories: Reports and research
