Variable incomes causing debt problems for 1 million Scots

According to the Debt Advisory Centre, just over 1 million Scots have a job where their income is variable, this includes those on zero hours contracts, variable hours contracts, those whose overtime hours fluctuate and those who are self-employed.

Overall just over a quarter of adults in Scotland (26 per cent) say that their earnings can vary week to week and month to month.

For those whose incomes vary, making regular monthly payments such as the rent or mortgage, credit card repayments and utilities can be a struggle. Of those who have a variable income in Scotland, more than half (51 per cent) find it difficult to keep up with bills such as rent, utilities and council tax and a similar number (47 per cent) also struggle to keep up with regular credit commitments such as credit card and loan repayments.

Across the UK, Scotland has one of the highest percentage of those who have a variable income, as a result many struggle with their monthly payments. In contrast, Northern Ireland has the fewest number of people who have a variable income. Interestingly of those who have a variable income in Northern Ireland, fewer struggle to pay their monthly bills.

Regions

% of those with a variable income

% of those who struggle with essential bills

% of those who struggle with credit repayments

London

27%

55%

49%

Scotland

26%

51%

47%

Northern Ireland

16%

27%

29%

Debt Expert, Melanie Taylor for Debt Advisory Centre, said: “The flexible workforce is on the rise, with more Scots becoming self-employed and an increase in zero-hours contracts.

“Whilst employers may love the flexibility this type of working brings, for the employees the end result can be financial hardship. Budgeting for essential bills and debt repayments becomes much harder when you don’t know what you’ll bring home next week or next month.

“Ideally, people need to put money aside as savings in the good months to tide them over during the learner times – but this isn’t always possible.

”Even worse, we’ve seen people resort to using short term credit to get them through in leaner times, which often just stores up a bigger problem further down the line.”