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Ahead of Britain鈥檚 first online-only Black Friday, new research from聽Hastee聽uncovers the increasing impact high-cost credit is having on British young workers in 2020

• Over half (58%)聽of those aged between 18 and 24 have experienced issues with paying back on buy-now-pay-later schemes
• 57%聽feel these schemes encourage them to spend more than they have
• Nearly half (48%)聽think they encourage them to buy things that they don鈥檛 really want upon later reflection
• 57%听said they鈥檝e used at least one loan, credit or overdraft more than they did before the pandemic (average across all ages was 39%)
• Well over half (55%)聽would like to be paid more frequently to have greater control over their finances

Hastee, the earnings on demand technology provider, has released new findings from their recent research report* which outlines the new credit behaviours and financial concerns of young British workers ahead of the UK鈥檚 first online-only Black Friday.

At a time when many retailers are aiming to boost online sales with the availability of more buy-now-pay-later deals, Hastee鈥檚 new findings reveal聽nearly three in five (58%)聽18 to 24-year-olds have experienced issues keeping up with repayments.聽57 per cent聽of this age group feel buy-now-pay-later schemes encourage them to spend more money than they have and聽49 per cent聽say they encourage them to buy more than what they need to. Further,聽nearly half (48%)聽think they encourage them to buy things that they don鈥檛 really want upon later reflection.

In fact,聽59 per cent聽of those aged between 18 and 24 say they have 鈥榬egularly鈥� or 鈥榤ore than once鈥� applied for high-cost credit (such as buy-now-pay-later schemes, credit cards, overdrafts or payday loans) knowing they鈥檇 struggle with repayments but felt they had no other choice. This compares to the 37 per cent average across all ages. Additionally,聽38 per cent聽of Britain鈥檚 youngest workers said they source high-cost credit at least monthly, the average across all ages doing the same being 23 per cent. While聽28 per cent聽of young workers said they never clear their personal debts monthly.

And the pandemic has clearly made an even greater negative financial impact on an already struggling generation;聽42 per cent聽of young workers have been unable to make an essential purchase due to lack of readily available cash. In some cases, this age group is regularly going without basic food / meals听(16%)聽and heating听(8%)听to make ends meet.聽Nearly half (47%)聽of 18 to 24-year-olds – the highest percentage of all age demographics surveyed – said they live paycheck-to-paycheck, and聽57 per cent聽said they鈥檝e sought at least one loan, credit or overdraft more than they did before COVID-19 broke out (this is compared to the average across all age groups of 39 per cent).

When asked why they access high-cost credit,聽over half (53%)聽of the young and working said it was to pay for everyday expenditure – to bridge to the time when they get paid.聽Well over half (55%)聽of 18 to 24-year-olds – the greatest proportion of any age demographic – would like to be paid more frequently in order to have increased control over their finances.聽65 per cent聽of the UK鈥檚 youngest workers said how regularly they will get paid is a consideration in accepting a job offer, nearly a third (30%) said it鈥檚 a significant one. Additionally,聽64 per cent聽of this age group would be more likely to stay with an employer that offers a flexible pay system.

Hastee CEO James Herbert said:聽鈥淭his year marks the first ever online-only Black Friday, which means retailers are going to be offering even more buy-now-pay-later deals to try and boost sales. While buy-now-pay-later can be an effective means to grab a great deal, it can also have a really negative effect on a person鈥檚 financial health if they were to fall behind with the repayments. Our research shows that many of Britain鈥檚 youngest workers are already heavily reliant on high cost credit, and we know that many people are under greater financial pressure than ever before.

鈥淚n order to help, employers should be considering ways in which they can help to reduce employee perception that they 鈥渉ave no other choice鈥� but to opt for borrowing. Earnings on demand gives employees greater visibility and ownership of their money, and such tools are often free to the employer, require minimal time and effort to integrate with existing payroll systems and do not impact cash flow. At a time where financial concerns are heightened, employers stepping in to give staff access to their money as they earn it can make all the difference, relieving poor financial habits that soon become impossible to break free from.鈥�

For more information on Hastee鈥檚 award-winning earnings on demand technology, please head to:聽www.hastee.com