People putting their health at risk
Published on 29 May 2012 10:30 AM
Many consumers are risking their health as they cut back on trips to the dentist and the opticians in a bid to save money, according to research by HPI.
A survey of more than 1,000 people found that 19% are having dental checks less often, while 17% are getting their eyes tested less frequently.
Juliet Strachan, the author of the study, described this trend as 'worrying' and stated that people who do so 'could store up problems for the future'.
A total of 67% of respondents admitted to making sacrifices in order to save money, while just less than half (49%) say they now haggle more often for the things which they want.
Over a quarter (27%) now eat less healthily, with 34% delaying buying items which they would have previously not hesitated in purchasing before the slowdown.
On the findings, Juliet Strachan commented: 'Our tracking study suggests there are a growing number of people that feel squeezed and living on the edge.'
As well as making cutbacks, there has also been a significant rise in people delving into their savings to support day-to-day expenditure.
Copyright Press Association 2012