Debt warning young about too much credit
Tuesday, April 8th 2008
Young people are being forced into debt because of the ease with which they can get credit, research suggests.
A Scottish Widows study shows that, while credit firms are tightening their criteria for lending, existing debt is already having a negative effect on young people's finances.
This will impact upon their future finances, spokesperson Anne Young says.
Its research shows young people are accepting financial help from their parents and grandparents to pay off debt – more than half of older family members had lent or gifted an average of £12,500 to children or grandchildren in need.
Ms Young said: "A lot of children find themselves spending on credit cards up to their limit; I don't think we really do enough in educating our young people to manage their credit."
She added that the figures were surprising even though it was an accepted fact that parents did give financial help to their children.
