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Studies show that gains against child hunger were lost after the Child Tax Credit ended<figure id="attachment_144516" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-144516" style="width: 566px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img class=" wp-image-144516" class="lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://i3.wp.com/pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Food-bank-GettyImages-687913260.jpg?w=75&resize=75 75w, https://i3.wp.com/pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Food-bank-GettyImages-687913260.jpg?w=100&resize=100 100w, https://i3.wp.com/pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Food-bank-GettyImages-687913260.jpg?w=150&resize=150 150w, https://i3.wp.com/pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Food-bank-GettyImages-687913260.jpg?w=240&resize=240 240w, https://i3.wp.com/pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Food-bank-GettyImages-687913260.jpg?w=320&resize=320 320w, https://i3.wp.com/pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Food-bank-GettyImages-687913260.jpg?w=500&resize=500 500w, https://i3.wp.com/pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Food-bank-GettyImages-687913260.jpg?w=640&resize=640 640w, https://i3.wp.com/pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Food-bank-GettyImages-687913260.jpg?w=800&resize=800 800w, https://i3.wp.com/pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Food-bank-GettyImages-687913260.jpg?w=1024&resize=1024 1024w, https://i3.wp.com/pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Food-bank-GettyImages-687913260.jpg?w=1280&resize=1280 1280w, https://i3.wp.com/pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Food-bank-GettyImages-687913260.jpg?w=1600&resize=1600 1600w" data-src="https://i3.wp.com/pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Food-bank-GettyImages-687913260.jpg" alt="" width= "566" height="377" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-144516" class="wp-caption-text">Feeding America and the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank host the Hungry to Help Lesson Plan for elementary school students in Ohio. (Photo by Duane Prokop/Getty Images for Feeding America)</figcaption></figure>An article in the Journal of the American Medical Association in October confirmed previous research that food insecurity increased significantly after the federal monthly advanced child tax credits expired on January 15, 2022. The study found examined the period between January and July of this year. in a series of national surveys, and found an almost 25% increase in food insufficiency, affecting black, Hispanic and Indigenous families the most. The article published October 21 in JAMA, “<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2797549?utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=102122" target=" _blank" rel="noopener">Association of the expiration of child tax credit advance payments with food insufficiency in US households</a> involved a cross-sectional study of repeated surveys of a nationally representative sample of 592,044 US households. “The results of this study suggest that loss of monthly payments (child tax credit) was associated with an increased prevalence of households with children in the United States reporting sometimes or often not having enough to eat, a condition associated with adverse health effects across the lifespan,” conclude the paper’s findings. administered to more than 35 million households with children in the United States between July and December 2021. Figures from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities <a href ="https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-tax/american-rescue-plan-act-includes-critical-expansions-of-child-tax-credit-and">show that the credits benefited approximately 2.37 million children in Ohio</a>. [In North Carolina, the number was nearly 2.1 million.] Tax credits were associated with a substantial decrease in food insufficiency, according to the study. Under ARPA, three major changes to the credit have been enacted for the 2021 tax year: an expansion of eligibility to include families with very low or no income; an increase in credit amounts from a maximum credit of $2,000 per child per year previously to $3,000 per child 6-17 per year and $3,600 per child under 6 per year; and provision for half the credit as an advanced monthly payment between July and December 2021. As a result of these changes, approximately 92% of families with children were eligible to receive $250 to $300 per month per child between July and December 2021. December 2021, the study says. National data shows that parents report spending monthly CTC payments on food, utilities, rent, clothing and education costs, according to the article. These monthly payments expired in January 2022 after the US Congress failed to extend the policy.<span id="more-144514"></span> During a series of surveys by researchers, just before the CTC expired, the unadjusted household food gap was 12.7. % among households with children. In late January and early February 2022, following the first missed monthly CTC payment, 13.6% of households with children reported food insufficiency, rising to 16% in late June and early July 2022.” Given the well-documented associations between disability and poor health outcomes across the lifespan, Congress should consider prompt action to reinstate this policy,” the JAMA article recommended. nonpartisan national research from the Brookings Institution and published in April 2022 in a report titled “ <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/04 /Child-Tax-Credit-Report-Final_Updated.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The impacts of the 2021 child tax credit expansion on family employment, nutrition, and financial well-being.</a> Brookings researchers said the temporary tax credit expansion “has unprecedented reach” and lifted 3.7 million children out of poverty by December 2021. CTC significantly improved food security and healthy eating among eligible people,” Brookings found. Moreover, according to this study, about 70% of CTC recipients who were negatively affected by inflation said that the payments helped them better manage rising prices. Besides increasing food security, other areas Brookings said tax credits help families include statistically significant declines in credit card debt compared to those who were not eligible; reducing reliance on expensive financial services such as <a class="wpil_keyword_link " href="https://bcn-stay.com/trust-payday-loan-borrowers-to-make-decisions-for-themselves/" title="payday loans" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">payday loans</a> and pawnbrokers, as well as reducing blood plasma sales rates; increased capacity to manage emergency expenses and strengthened family emergency funds; and a significant drop in evictions. Brookings also found that credit enabled families of color to make significant investments in their children’s long-term educational outcomes. Black, Hispanic and non-white households were more likely to use the credit for child care and education expenses, Brookings found. <em>David DeWitt is the editor of the Ohio Capital Journal, which <a href="https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2022/11/15/studies-show-gains-against-childhood-hunger-were-lost- after-child-tax-credit-ended/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first published</a> this report. </em>

By Sarah Anderson | –

(Otherwords.org) – This fall, in the run-up to the midterm elections, a group of Catholic nuns, Protestant ministers and other religious leaders caravanned in South Dakota as part of what they called it a “Love Your Neighbor Tour”.

They stopped at grocery stores, restaurants, senior centers, libraries and other community gathering places to start conversations about health insurance. They heard story after story of family members, friends and neighbors struggling to afford quality health care.

The purpose of this tour: to build support for a ballot initiative to help more South Dakotans get the care they need.

Through such initiatives, citizens can circumvent elected officials who have become disconnected from their constituents.

In this year’s elections, voters in more than 30 states committed to this form of direct democracy. These voters enshrined abortion rights in states like Michigan, funded universal kindergarten and child care in New Mexico, and clamped down on medical debt in Arizona.

In South Dakota, the “Love Your Neighbor” campaign won big. By a margin of 56 to 44, voters approved a proposal to force their state government to expand Medicaid eligibility, a move that will help about 42,500 working-class people get treatment.

These people earn too much to qualify for the state’s existing Medicaid program, but too little to access private insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Since 2010, the federal government has covered 90% of the costs when states expand Medicaid, but political leaders in South Dakota and 11 other states declined to do so.

This isn’t the first time South Dakotans have used effective strategies of people-to-people organizing and ballot initiatives for the good of their neighbors.

In 2016, a bipartisan coalition with strong support from the faith community won a stunning victory against financial predators, winning 76% support for an election measure to impose a 36% cap on loan interest rates. on salary. Previously, those rates averaged around 600% in South Dakota, trapping many low-income families in a downward spiral of debt.

In this midterm election season, Nebraska offers another inspiring example of citizen action to circumvent out-of-touch politicians.

For 13 years now, Republicans in Congress have blocked efforts to raise the federal minimum wage, leaving it stuck at $7.25 since 2009. Nebraska’s entire congressional delegation — all Republicans — has always opposed the hikes minimum wage. Rep. Adrian Smith, for example, recently attacked President Biden’s $15 federal minimum proposal as “economically harmful.”

Nebraskans see the issue differently.

Voters there approved an increase in the state minimum wage to the same level Biden has proposed — $15 an hour — by 2026. The measure, which was accepted with 58% support, will mean larger paychecks for approximately 150,000 Nebraskans.

Election measures like these can send a healthy wake-up call to political leaders who aren’t listening to their constituents. But some special interests, especially those with deep pockets and driven by narrow profit motives, don’t necessarily want ordinary Americans to be heard.

State legislatures across the country have seen a slew of bills aimed at restricting or eliminating the ballot measurement process. According to the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, the number of such bills increased by 500% between 2017 and 2021. Dozens more were introduced in 2022, including efforts to raise the threshold to pass a ballot measure in the beyond a simple majority vote.

The purpose of these restrictions? To undermine the will of the people.

At a time when more and more Americans are worried about the future of our democracy, we should applaud the advocates in South Dakota, Nebraska and elsewhere who engage their fellow citizens in the political decisions that affect their lives. .

We need more democracy. Not less.

Sarah Anderson directs the Global Economy Project and co-edits Inequality.org at the Institute for Policy Studies.

Otherwords.org

A single mother of two struggles to keep her family housed in the midst of a provincial housing crisis.

Currently living in a small one-bedroom apartment, Kandace Sztepanacz is getting deeper into debt every month.

“I’m sinking financially,” she said. “I even had to take out payday loans. I live in fear that we’ll end up living in my car, and in January there’s a rent increase.

Sztepanacz doesn’t know from month to month whether she’ll be able to afford to continue living in her apartment, and between shifts as a nursing unit clerk at the Penticton Regional Hospital, she is looking for cheaper accommodation.

She is far from finding one in her price range, and the current stressful situation is having an impact on her mental health.

“The prices are amazing,” she said. “Even properties that claim to be low-income cost $1,600 or more for a bedroom, and then they require rental insurance, parking fees, and add utilities on top of that.

“There are a few properties that have units in the lower price range, but they require you to have a certain credit score.”

READ MORE: Governments must take ‘serious action’ to tackle housing crisis: accountants

Last year, Sztepanacz was receiving employment insurance benefits to supplement his salary, but is no longer eligible after moving into a full-time position a few months ago.

“Even with full-time hours, I’m barely getting by,” she says. “I don’t get child support, so I work overtime whenever possible.”

This year, she applied for shelter allowance through BC Housing.

“They’re basing it on last year’s taxes and I had EI topped me up, which was too much to qualify for their low income bracket of $40,000 gross, not home, raw, to support three people,” she said. “So I reapplied asking them to use what I’m currently making.

“They wanted three current pay stubs which I submitted, but the stubs reflected an unusually high period of overtime which I was able to enter when many of my colleagues were away. I explained it was higher than normal and showed them normal stubs but they used my overtime stubs and decided I was earning too much for the low income bracket and told me refused.

Sztepanacz asked to go back to school to become a nurse so she could earn more money, but had to put the plan on hold because she couldn’t support her children at the same time.

She even tried to find a second job, but her rotating schedule as a hospital clerk prevented her from doing so.

Sztepanacz wants the government to step in and help families who desperately need affordable housing.

“My grandmother worked in the hospital running the radiology department for years and was able to afford a big, nice house where I grew up, but my generation can’t afford to live. Something has to be done, the cost of living is way too high. I have a great job, one with a pension, but I live in fear that we will end up on the streets.

READ MORE: HOUSING CRISIS: Kamloops mom and kids in tough spot after losing their home

Sztepanacz has a family member who lives in Penticton who doesn’t have room for all three of them.

“I know people my age and in their 40s who have had to move back in with their parents and others who work full time while living in their car.”

As Sztepanacz takes each day one day at a time, she struggles with anxiety, fear and a sense of hopelessness that her family will one day feel financially stable and well housed.

According to Statistics Canada data from the 2021 census released in September, residents of British Columbia spent an average of 25.6% of their income on housing last year.

43.7% of Kelowna renters spent more than 30% of their income on housing last year.

36.1% of Kamloops renters paid more than 30% last year.

The data published by Statistics Canada does not include a breakdown for small communities.

READ MORE: Renters in Kamloops and Kelowna find it harder to find housing than homeowners: StatsCan

– This story was corrected at 8:56 to change the title as the woman is not a nurse.

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In 2019, Intuit’s MintLife surveyed Americans to determine exactly what people hope to receive for Christmas. The results were quite interesting!

According to Mint, 61% of Americans would rather receive cash or a gift card than a traditional gift during the holidays. Few of these people stand up and say that to the people who buy them, because… it sounds selfish, even though it’s not.

Last year we realized that our apartment had reached critical mass. There was no more room for “things” so we politely asked for Christmas gift cards as they wouldn’t take up much space and could be used for things we actually needed around the house.

Of course, this conversation was with our parents, which made it a little awkward because it’s super cute that they always want to buy their adult children gifts on Christmas when they don’t need them. Fortunately, it was well received. We ended up receiving a small purse the perfect size for concerts and sporting events, filled with gift cards.

Trust us when we say many of the people you shop for feel the same way. They would love this little gift that they could put in their purse and use for something they really want or need. You just have to make sure you pick the right one, so we’ve done a little homework for you.

After polling our listeners, we found out that these are the 15 most requested gift cards in Treasure Valley this holiday season!

Of course, if you receive a gift card that you can’t use… there’s a way to get some of that money back! Check it out!

A rapid increase in the use of ride-sharing apps like Lyft and Uber has provided many job opportunities for people who want to generate income on their own schedule.

The best part? These people only need a valid driver’s license and a car to start making money!

Unfortunately, there are a few expenses associated with the role, and maintaining a vehicle to company standards and policies can be a bit costly. This is when Lyft and Uber drivers can consider outside sources of income to supplement their work, such as a Lyft driver payday loan.

Here are some other financing options to consider.

Why Rideshare Drivers Need Funding

Here are three of the most common reasons a Lift or Uber driver may need additional financial assistance:

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For emergency funds

Being a driver for Lyft or Uber usually comes with a good financial package, but the job doesn’t come without its own set of significant expenses. For example, owning a car that can then be used for commuting can be quite expensive.

If you consider the cost of car upgrades and maintenance, gas, parking fees and accessories, money can quickly add up and become an unmanageable sum!

Debt Consolidation

This is a common strategy for paying off debt with a single financing solution. It is an ideal solution that helps borrowers to repay a loan amount in full. For a rideshare driver who may have balances with interest rates, debt consolidation may be a good idea.

Buy a new car

Using a loan to buy a new car can be a good way to solve a pretty big problem. After all, having a quality car is an asset as a Lyft or Uber driver. Taking out a loan allows drivers to have a solid source of income without having to dip into their savings or shell out hefty up-front payments.

Are they eligible for loans?

The simple answer is yes, Lyft and Uber drivers are eligible for certain loans.

Unfortunately, unlike contractors, Lyft and Uber drivers may have a harder time qualifying for any type of loan. This is largely due to the unpredictability of the ridesharing industry, stringent documentation requirements, poor credit history, and even employment status.

Types of loans available

There are different types of loans available for Lyft and Uber drivers to choose from and apply for, depending on specific circumstances. We have described some of the most suitable options below.

Payday loans

One of the main buffers to ensure that a car stays in pristine condition is a payday loan. Although this can be a practical solution if they are in a difficult situation, it often comes with higher interest rates which can make repayments much more expensive than they should be.

Secured loans

These have lower interest rates in exchange for collateral types of items. It’s one of the best types of loan a Lyft or Uber driver can get, and it’s good for improving credit scores. Yet, if a loan is not repaid on time, the car may be lost as collateral.

Unsecured Loans

It’s another good option for Lyft and Uber drivers to consider, but it’s much harder to qualify than other types of loans. If they don’t want to put their car under warranty, this is a great alternative.

Loans for bad credit

If rideshare drivers have a bad credit history and are not eligible for secured loans, this is a good alternative. However, it has stricter repayment terms and much higher interest charges as they pose more risk to lenders.

Credit card

It’s the best option for Lyft and Uber drivers looking to fund some bills from time to time. It’s a pretty straightforward route to a line of credit that can be used to make purchases for the car, buy gas, and even pay for needed repairs. However, they must repay the minimum amount before the delegated due date.

Personal loans

Lyft and Uber drivers can apply for personal loans in any situation. If they have collateral or decent credit, they can receive much lower rates on whatever loan they get. Whether they want to finance car repairs or buy months worth of fuel for the car, a personal loan can be a very useful tool!

Other financing options to consider

Instead of resorting to quick cash loans or payday loans with high interest rates and fees, here we have listed the various alternative funds that drivers can apply for.

Credit line

Sometimes a borrower does not need to take out a loan but still does not have enough money should an emergency arise. This is where a strong line of credit will come in handy. It provides Lift and Uber drivers with a comfortable cushion of funds to cover maintenance costs and other relevant purchases.

Cash advance

If a Lyft or Uber driver has bad credit, a cash advance may be the answer. It is not a loan, but rather a calculated cash amount that is given to the driver based on all of their future earnings.

Alternative Small Business Lending Platforms

There are many companies that might be willing to offer more suitable loans for small businesses operating in the economy, such as Lift and Uber drivers.

Depending on which lender they choose to go with, drivers could receive a loan of $10,000 and an additional $15,000 in the form of a line of credit.

These lenders usually charge higher interest rates, which can put anyone in a more difficult financial situation.

Summary

There is no doubt that being a Lyft or Uber driver can sometimes be quite an expensive task. Fortunately, drivers no longer have to shell out money out of pocket to cover work-related expenses. This is because there are many suitable financial alternatives.

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“We re-imagine, recreate and redeem cultural omissions and misrepresentations of blackness, for culture….” This post is made in Partnership with British pathe.

On October 20, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, seeking public comment on the harms resulting from what it calls “junk fees.” that’s to say, allegedly unnecessary, unavoidable or unexpected charges that inflate costs while adding little value. The term also encompasses “hidden charges”, which are charges for goods or services that are misleading or unfair, including because they are disclosed only at the last stage of the consumer’s purchase process or not everything. Although the FTC has been active in taking enforcement action against alleged “junk fees,” it generally does not have the authority to seek sanctions against first-time offenders or the ability to obtain a financial compensation for consumers in cases where “junk fees” violate the FTC. prohibition of unfair or deceptive practices. This new rule would change that.

According to the FTC, these so-called “junk fees” are prevalent in a variety of industries: “Junk fees manifest themselves in markets ranging from auto financing to international calling cards and payday loans. Examples of fees the FTC is questioning include “mobile cramming” fees, connection and maintenance fees on prepaid phone cards, account fees, fees that decrease the amount a borrower receives from a loan, miscellaneous charges from fuel cards, car dealership fees, undisclosed fees for funeral services, hotel “resort” fees, hidden fees for academic publications, income from poorly disclosed auxiliary insurance and membership programs.

According to the FTC, the fees it plans to regulate fall into the following categories:

• Unnecessary charges for worthless, free or counterfeit products or services.
  • Consumers may be subject to fees for products or services that cost businesses nothing, are available free of charge, or should be included in the purchase price.
• Unavoidable charges imposed on captive consumers.
  • Consumers may be forced to pay unwanted fees because they have no way of avoiding or opting out of them, either because they are dealing with a monopolistic company or because they have already invested money in the product or service and can’t easily walk away.
• Surprise fees that secretly drive up the purchase price.
  • According to the FTC, this happens when companies unexpectedly prey on undisclosed fees, hide fees in the fine print, add fees at the end of a purchase process, or use digital dark models or other deceptions to perceive them.

The FTC invites comment on, among other things, the prevalence of each of the above practices and the costs and benefits of a rule that would require the initial inclusion of all mandatory charges whenever consumers are offered a price for a good or a service. Once the notice is published in the Federal Registerconsumers can submit their comments electronically.

This proposed rule isn’t the only new rule the FTC is considering attacking fees. As discussed here, in June 2022, the FTC issued a proposed motor vehicle dealership regulation rule. The proposed rule would create a host of new compliance challenges for motor vehicle dealers, including a new national standard for advertising prices, disclosure triggers for payments, additional paperwork for selling add-on products, prohibition of “no benefit” additions on products and additional record keeping requirements. The deadline for comments expired on September 12.

The FTC and other regulators have also challenged the charges through enforcement action, and this notice follows the FTC’s announcement of charges against a car dealership for discriminating against certain groups of car buyers in the way he imposed additional charges in the automobile. vehicle sales. We discuss this regulation here.

FTC Chairman Lina Khan explained the reasoning for the proposed new rule in her statement: “These types of additional or redundant fees may mislead consumers or prevent them from knowing the true cost of a purchase as long as ‘they haven’t already invested a lot of time and energy.” Chairman Khan also claimed that the “junk fee” also has negative ramifications for other business owners. “These fees don’t just harm businesses. consumers, they can also force honest businesses to compete on an unfair playing field.A business selling a widget for $25 could lose sales to a business selling a comparable widget for $20 plus a six dollar widget certification added at the end.

Amada Senior Care employees now have access to financial health with ZayZoon

PHOENIX, Oct. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ZayZoon, the provider of access to earned wages for small and medium-sized businesses, today announced a partnership with Amada Senior Care, a company focused on enriching lives by providing nurturing and compassionate home care to ensure their staff have the financial flexibility they deserve. With more than 120 locations, thousands of Amada employees provide home care and assisted living services to seniors in 37 states.

Thirty-one Amada locations have already activated ZayZoon and more than 750 employees have signed up for instant access to their pay as they earn it, without having to wait for their regular paycheck. In addition to ZayZoon’s on-demand salaries, Amada staff also have access to free financial education and retailer rewards, which can save customers hundreds of dollars on everyday purchases.

“We wanted to provide our employees with a benefit that is accessible to all and desired by most. ZayZoon is a fully standalone solution that has proven impact in improving retention, which made it easy to decide to offer this benefit to our staff,” said Rick Basch, COO of Amada Senior Care Franchise.

ZayZoon makes its products available to all employees, whether hourly or salaried. In a world where there are a lot of ticked off benefits that don’t offer much benefit, it’s common for a company to have over 30% of its workforce using ZayZoon on a regular basis. In a survey, 89% of customers said ZayZoon helped them reduce financial stress.

About Amada Senior Care
Amada Senior Care, formerly Amada Home Care, was founded in 2007 by college friends Tafa Jefferson and Chad Fotheringham. Today, Amada Senior Care has more than 120 locations across the United States and is committed to enriching lives by providing caring, compassionate home care for seniors and guiding families through the many housing options. for seniors available for assisted living. Healthcare professionals and families turn to Amada to help them navigate the complexities of the senior care system.

About ZayZoon

ZayZoon is on a mission to improve employee health through the use of responsible financial products. Unfortunately, millions of Americans rely on predatory products like payday loans and overdraft fees to bridge the paycheck gap created by predetermined payroll cycles. With their products including on-demand salaries, financial education, and retail rewards, ZayZoon helps break this cycle. ZayZoon’s on-demand access to salaries helps reduce financial stress and improve job satisfaction and productivity.

Contact information:
Shannon Dougall
Senior Vice President, Marketing
[email protected]

This content was posted through the press release distribution service on Newswire.com.

A new study by credit management firm Lowell has found that more than three-quarters of college students (77%) develop personal debt problems while in college. But are students informed of the potential consequences of short-term borrowing?

In the UK, the average annual percentage rate (APR) on a payday loan (a short-term loan) can reach 1,500%, compared to a typical APR of 23% on a credit card. With nearly one in ten students relying on payday loans, Lowell looked at how students finance their college, experience their attitudes toward money in college, and how it might affect them.

The research also found that 76% of students worry about making ends meet and 41% of students have considered dropping out of college at some point due to money worries. [2]

Students rely on credit to fund their education experience

According to the research, the types of debt incurred by students include credit cards (27%), overdrafts (25%), Buy Now Pay Later programs (15%) and payday loans (9%).

A payday loan is usually a short-term loan for small amounts of money with an extremely high APR. For example, if you borrowed £100 with an APR of 50% and agreed to pay it back in a month, you will owe £150 at the end of the month, which is an additional £50 on top of your original loan.

High interest and APR rates like this can have a huge impact on student finances, especially if the students taking out these loans rely on student loans and grants to pay them back. Loans and grants are usually only paid three times a year – not monthly – so students could end up borrowing more than they are able to repay in a short period of time, which could potentially lead to further persistent debt problems.

With 15% of students also relying on Buy Now Pay Later, Lowell wanted to shed some light on this payment method. BNPL can help spread the cost of purchases, sometimes without interest. If managed properly, it can provide a useful way to make larger purchases and manage inflows and outflows.

However, while Buy Now Pay Later products may seem like a solution for students, they may put you at risk of being charged if you are unable to pay. As with any form of borrowing, you must understand the terms and conditions you agree to when making a purchase with Buy Now Pay Later products.

A recent annual survey conducted by save the student also found that 32% of students reported using their overdraft as a source of income, but it should be noted that student account credit limits are increasing year over year, and with 0% overdraft, many students are attracted by what may look like “free money. However, after college, many banks expect students to pay off their overdraft within 1-3 years, putting even more pressure on graduates to find employment in a competitive job market.

It is also noted that students rely on the support of their family (42%) and their savings (36%).

What sources of income do students rely on while in college?

In addition to any student loans or grants you received, what source of income did/do you rely on during your university studies?
Supported by family	42%
Savings	36%
Credit card	27%
Discoveries	25%
disposable income	19%
live at home	17%
Buy now Pay later	15%
Payday loans	9%

Spending Patterns and Student Debt

Similar to most Britons, students’ spending habits prioritize weekly grocery shopping (56%), rent (52%) and bills (44%).

Despite the pressure on finances, more than a third of students (34%) were still likely to spend their money on parties, takeaways or dining out.

The average amount of debt, excluding tuition fees and student loans, that each graduate completed college with was £2,332, taking an average of 3.8 years to pay off in full.

15% of graduates finished university with over £5,000 in extra loans. Additionally, among all respondents, it took 16% of students four years or more to pay off the personal debt they had accumulated in college.

John Pears, CEO of Lowell, commented on the results saying: “University should be an exciting and rewarding experience, but for young people who leave home and cannot depend on family money, it can also be costly.

“Getting into debt while in college can be a cause for concern, especially if you don’t have a regular source of income or a guaranteed job when you graduate. We want students to know that they are not alone when it comes to struggling with college debt.

“If you are concerned about your situation, help and support are available. A list of independent organizations that can offer assistance is available on our website: https://www.lowell.co.uk/help-and-support/independent-support/”