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The cost of living is usually discussed in financial terms: higher bills, flat wages, a weekly shop that costs more than it used to. Headline inflation has eased from its October 2022 peak of 11.1 percent, but the cumulative rise in prices means many households are still paying far more than they were a few years ago. Recent UK research suggests the effects now reach well beyond budgets, into people’s mental health and their relationships, and that men are often affected in particular ways.
The cost of living and mental health
The scale of the mental health impact is set out in recent surveys. St. James’s Place’s 2026 Financial Health Report, carried out by the pollster Opinium, found that almost half of UK adults said their financial situation had affected their mental or physical health over the previous year. According to the same research, one in seven said money worries had caused serious stress or anxiety, nearly one in five reported losing sleep, and around a quarter said their mood had been affected. Around one in six said money worries had made them anxious about going out or seeing other people, and roughly one in five said they had considered taking time off work because of the strain. The report also found that 15 percent had experienced a stress-related condition and 13 percent had experienced depression over the same period, and that around half of those surveyed said they had felt more worried about money over the past year than in previous years.
A Cigna Healthcare study reported in early 2026 pointed in the same direction, finding that 70 percent of UK adults described money as a weekly source of stress, that persistent price rises were the single biggest stressor named by UK respondents, and that only around three in ten felt they had the financial freedom to support themselves comfortably. Earlier polling by the Mental Health Foundation found that almost a third of UK adults had felt anxious in a single month because of their finances, and its research notes that sustained financial strain raises the risk of anxiety and that people under pressure often cut back on the activities that protect mental health, such as sleep, exercise and seeing other people.
Why men are often affected differently
Research and men’s health organisations highlight particular pressures on men. Studies note that many men still associate their sense of worth with being an earner or provider, which can make financial difficulty feel personal rather than purely practical. Men are also, on average, less likely than women to seek help for money problems or for their mental health. The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute has found that only around one in seven people with mental health problems disclose them to their bank or financial provider, and fewer still to their energy or telecoms company, which can leave both financial and emotional strain building without support. Organisations working in men’s health encourage earlier conversations about money and wellbeing as a way to reduce that isolation.
Money and relationships
Financial pressure also appears to affect relationships. The St. James’s Place 2026 research found that around one in five people said money worries had affected their relationship with those close to them over the past year. Separate research from Money Wellness found the strain was sharper among younger couples in particular, with a majority of 25-to-34-year-olds saying rising costs had caused tension with their partner, compared with a much smaller share of over-55s. Relationship charities such as Relate, drawing on surveys of thousands of UK adults, have reported that finances are among the most common sources of strain for couples. Research also suggests that financial stress can make couples less likely to talk about money openly rather than more, which counsellors say can allow tension to build instead of being worked through. Wider surveys have found that a significant share of couples argue about money at least occasionally, and that many find the subject difficult to raise at all.
Practical steps people can take
Alongside emotional support, money guidance often focuses on the areas people are able to control. One commonly suggested step is to avoid overpaying on everyday purchases by comparing prices before buying. A UK price comparison site such as Compiral lets shoppers see the price of the same product across different retailers in one place, so they can find where an item is cheapest before they buy it. Tools of this kind will not change the wider cost of living, but they can help households cut avoidable spending on things they were going to purchase anyway. Reviewing regular outgoings, such as subscriptions and utilities, is another step advice services commonly recommend. Setting a monthly budget and checking bank statements for recurring charges are among their other common suggestions. Free debt and money advice is also widely available: in the UK, organisations such as Citizens Advice, StepChange and National Debtline provide budgeting help and confidential guidance at no charge for anyone who is struggling.
Talking about money and mental health
A recurring theme across the research is the value of talking. Mental health and relationship organisations note that discussing money worries, whether with a partner, a friend or a GP, tends to reduce their impact, and that couples who talk openly about finances generally manage them better than those who avoid the subject. The Mental Health Foundation has also pointed out that keeping active, sleeping well and staying connected to other people all help protect mental health during periods of financial pressure. Support is available for anyone finding things difficult: in the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted free at any time on 116 123, and the debt advice charities above offer confidential help with money problems.
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