LV= survey reveals how millions of Brits have become forced savers during the coronavirus pandemic

LV= survey reveals how millions of Brits have become forced savers during the coronavirus pandemic

• 72% (38m) UK adults said that in the last 12 months their household saved money as a result of reduced spending due to Covid-19 (E.g. reduced commuting costs, childcare costs, eating out costs
• Those that saved money saved on average nearly £5,500 during the last 12 months, but one in five wealthier households that saved money saved over £10,000

(PRESS RELEASE) BOURNEMOUTH, 14-Apr-2021 — /EuropaWire/ — Savings and retirement specialist LV= reveals finding of its new research on how millions of people have become forced savers during the coronavirus pandemic.

The LV= Wealth and Wellbeing Monitor* – a quarterly survey 4,000+ UK consumers – reveals that reduced spending on commuting, childcare, eating out and going on holiday has enabled 72% (38m) people to say their household has saved money as a consequence of the pandemic.

How people have been saving**

• Nearly three-quarters (72%) of UK adults surveyed say their household has saved money as a result of reduced spending due to covid restrictions (E.g. reduced commuting costs, childcare costs, eating out costs, etc.). Those that did save saved on average nearly £5,500 during the past 12 months.
• 8% (4.4m) say their household saved over £10,000 as a result of reduced spending due to covid restrictions.
• 79% of parents with young children say their household has saved money, and those that saved money saved on average over £8,000 because of reduced childcare costs
• One in five (1.4m) mass affluent people – those with assets of between £100,000 and £500,000 excluding property – say their household has saved over £10,000.

Savings & Cash ISAs are most popular:

UK consumers are split on what they are doing with these savings: 28% (10.6m) have put it in savings or cash ISAs. One in five (8.2m) are spending their savings on a holiday. 19% (7.4m) are using it for home improvements.

Longer term savings are proving less popular. Only 5% are saving extra into a pension and only 8% are saving into an investment or stocks & shares ISA.

Mass affluent people – those with assets of between £100,000 and £500,000 excluding property – are twice as likely as the general population to have put their savings into long-term investments (16% vs 8%),  invested for their children or grandchildren (11% vs 6%) or saved into a pension (8% vs 5% overall).

Clive Bolton, Managing Director of Savings and Retirement at LV=, said:

“LV=’s research indicates that much of the accumulated saving has been concentrated among relatively well-off households. The UK has been divided into two groups: those who are struggling on reduced incomes, and those whose income has remained stable and whose costs have been greatly reduced.

“The past 12 months has been tough for many, especially for those who have been put on furlough, made redundant or who are self-employed. However, those people who have remained in work have been able to save large sums as large expenses such as holidays, commuting costs, childcare and entertainment have vanished.

“LV=’s next wave of research will give an indication about how the end of lockdown will change spending and saving patterns.”

Notes to Editors

*LV= surveyed 4,000 nationally representative UK adults via an online omnibus conducted by Opinium in March 2021.

**UK population stats from ONS. Total UK adult population is 52.7m (aged 18+).

Media contacts:

David Gwyer
Media Relations Manager – Life and Pensions
david.gwyer@lv.com
07798 796907

Candice South, Press Officer, Life & Pensions
Candice South
Press Officer, Life & Pensions
Candice.South@lv.com
07867 141547

SOURCE: Liverpool Victoria