- Tuesday, 30 March 2010New research has revealed that 17 million shoppers across the country feel guilty after making purchases and many subsequently return the items to avoid
debt management problems.
That is according to new research conducted by uSwitch.
Almost half of those for whom a trip to the high street is followed by guilt said that their feelings came about as they felt they should be saving.
Just under a third worried that they should have set the money aside for bills or mortgage repayments.
A third of shoppers have hidden purchases from friends or family and roughly the same amount have lied about an item's cost.
Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch, said: "Financial constraints, feelings of guilt and a return to frugality mean that consumers are no longer in thrall to the High Street."
"Worryingly, many consumers are still splashing their cash or buying on credit even though they cannot afford it."
New figures from the Bank of England show that total net lending to individuals rose by £2.1 billion in February, with a £0.5 billion rise in consumer credit.
Robinson's concerns are shared by many experts, who advise that
debt management advice should be sought as early as possible by those struggling with financial difficulties.
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