Have cost-of-living pressures made you ignore health concerns?

If you wake up feeling under the weather, you might decide to go to work anyway and power through the day. But cost-of-living worries have led to many people feeling they have no choice but to go to work even when they’re ill.

According to research by Bupa, more than half of Brits (51%) say rising living costs have made it harder for them to prioritise their health and wellbeing.

And among those in work, one in three (33%) worry that taking time off for health reasons could affect their career.

Meanwhile, over half of people in work (56%) have put off seeking medical attention because they didn’t want to take time off.

Neglecting your health has consequences

It might be tempting to just ignore a headache or mild temperature, but ignoring health worries can have an impact later on.

For example, more than one in five adults (22%) have needed urgent medical attention because they ignored early symptoms.

And almost a quarter (24%) said putting off treatment because of money worries made their condition worse.

Getting on top of your money puts you in control

If rising living costs are forcing you to neglect your health, then it’s a sign that you need to take charge of your finances.

That might sound daunting, especially when money’s tight, but there are some easy, practical steps you can take.

Look at your spending

It’s important to know not just how much money you’ve got coming in, but also where it’s going.

So take a close look at your income and outgoings.

You’ll then be able to see where you can make savings and make sure vital expenses are put first.

We’ve put together a guide to how to create a budget to help you get started. 

Find out what benefits you could claim 

Even if you have a job, you might be eligible for some financial support to help with day-to-day costs.

Give us a ring and we can check for you or use our free benefits calculator to see what you’re entitled to.

It might be more than you think.

Ask for debt advice

If you’re dealing with debts that you’re struggling to pay off, contact us for confidential, practical and impartial debt advice.

Don’t ignore mental health worries

Many of us are prepared to seek treatment for physical ailments and injuries, but won’t reach out if we have a mental health issue.

So if you or someone you know needs support, remember there are charities and organisations who can help, such as:

• Samaritans - www.samaritans.org
• SHOUT - text SHOUT to 85258, 24/7
• Mind - www.mind.org.uk or call 0300 102 1234
• Rethink - www.rethink.org or call 0808 801 0525

You can also contact your local NHS urgent mental health helpline or speak to your GP for immediate support. 

Read our tips to help you manage your money and reduce financial stress.

Find out what financial help you can get if you’re on sick leave

If you’re worried about the financial impact of being off work sick, make sure you know what help is available.

Firstly, check if you’re eligible for statutory sick pay.

Your employer may also offer other forms of sick pay, so it’s best to check with them.

Statutory sick pay usually lasts for 28 weeks and is paid at a rate of up to £123.25 a week.

If you're self-employed and temporarily unable to work due to illness, check if you have made enough national insurance contributions to qualify for new style employment and support allowance (ESA).

Check our money saving ideas

We’re regularly updating these pages with handy tips to help you cut costs at home, such as: 

• how to save energy
• how to cut your food bill
• 50 ways to cut your fuel costs
• how to make your money go further

We also share round-ups of standout deals and low-cost recipes that can help you keep costs down.