Phil Wilson MP, is urging his constituents to back a campaign encouraging people to start opening up about their concerns about money.
The MP made the plea after attending an event at the Houses of Parliament hosted by the Money Advice Service, the independent organisation set up by the Government to give people free, unbiased money guidance.
The call comes as new research shows UK adults are hiding more than £96 billion of debt from their friends and family, with the average amount of hidden debt in the UK at £4,1643 per person.
The findings come from new research by the Money Advice Service for Talk Money Week which is designed to improve people’s money management skills and financial wellbeing.
Previous research has also shown that overindebtedness in Sedgefield is 17.05% compared to a national average of 15.9%.
Of those in a relationship, almost a third (29%) say their other half does not know about all the money they owe. And five per cent admit that their partner is completely in the dark about their debts.
However, it’s not just our partners we are keeping this secret from. Almost half (47%) say their close friends don’t know they have any debts at all. Men are less likely than women to open up about it. Half (50%) of men admit that their close friends don’t have a clue about their debts, which is seven percentage points higher than women (43%).
The research finds that credit cards account for the largest quantity of hidden debt (48%). Personal loans from a bank or building society (17%), an overdraft (16%), money owed to friends and family (12%) and store cards (11%) follow. Meanwhile, eight per cent of all those with debt hide payday loan debt.
Many of those with debt say that they don’t want to burden others with their financial issues. For example, 51 per cent say they would prefer not to talk to their friends and family about it because they don’t want them to worry. Almost a quarter (23%) say they don’t have the confidence to speak to their loved ones about their finances.
Phil Wilson MP said: “This is a campaign that I feel very strongly about. It’s incredibly important that people open up to friends and family about issues with money so they can start dealing with it together.
I encourage everyone in the Sedgefield constituency to start Talking Money this week, and to remember that if you are struggling with debt or money issues, the Money Advice Service offers free, unbiased money guidance online or via free phone.”