MORE than 40 per cent of adults in Britain expect their financial situation to worsen this year — and energy bills will be the cause.

The StepChange Debt Charity, which helps people manage their debts, said that of the 41 per cent who expected to be worse off, 59 per cent blamed higher energy bills.

Since the energy crisis began in 2021, 20 energy companies in Britain made a staggering £457 billion in profits by August last year, according to the End Fuel Poverty Coalition.

A survey by StepChange found that 17 per cent of adults said they always worried about money and 59 per cent said they often or sometimes worried about money.

Women in particular said they were worrying more about money now than a year ago — 58 per cent compared with 48 per cent of men.

StepChange said that nearly 4,000 people visited its website looking for debt advice on Christmas Day alone.

Chief executive Vikki Brownridge said: “It’s clear that millions of people are feeling the weight of financial uncertainty.

“The cost of living, including stubbornly high energy bills, continues to impact families, individuals and communities, with particular strain being felt by women and those with parental responsibilities.

“What’s concerning is how many are facing worries about their finances going into 2025, even more so than this time last year.

“These challenges are not temporary. They reflect the long-term financial pressures many are facing and without the right support, it’s only going to get harder for people to manage their finances.”