People in debt are spending the majority of their monthly income on repayments, according to a charity.
The Consumer Credit Counselling Service found the average person was spending 58% of their earnings on repaying credit cards, loans and overdrafts each month.
The charity, which was contacted by 418,000 people for help last year, warned that this left people with just under £500 to cover all other costs such as mortgage or rent, bills and food.
The average debt owed was £22,476, with monthly repayments costing £676, the charity said.
Delroy Corinaldi, external affairs director at CCCS, said: "With rising prices continuing to push up the cost of living, household budgets are under increasing pressure, and these figures show how difficult it can be to escape from debt once it builds up.
"Our advice to anyone struggling to cope with their repayments is to seek free advice as early as possible."
