Half of Scots are struggling to stay on top of their game

Almost half of Scots are struggling to keep up with their regular bills and other financial commitments, writes Jeff Salway.

A landmark study carried out by government-backed Money Advice Service found that 48 per cent of people in Scotland are having difficulties staying in control of their household costs and debt repayments.

Of the Scots questioned in a major survey by the service, 44 per cent said they were concerned about their current financial situation.

And while eight in ten people in Scotland claimed they were confident in their ability to manage their finances, a fifth – above the UK average -– admitted they were “not very organised” in their day-to-day money management.

Caroline Rookes, chief executive of the Money Advice Service, said: “In theory, money management is easy – spend less than you earn and consider your future. But the difficulty comes when applying this in the real world.

“This report reveals just how difficult it is at the moment for so many of us, but also highlights ways we are adapting to manage financially.”