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Introduction

Have you ever borrowed money to buy something? Many people have to borrow money to make big purchases, like buying a house or a car. When you do this, you have to pay the money back over time – the money you owe is called a debt. With the current cost of living getting increasingly high, some people are having to borrow money even for everyday purchases like bills and food. Sometimes this debt can get out of control, which causes anxiety and stress. Neil and Pippa discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary.

This week's question

According to debt support group The Money Charity, roughly how much is the average British adult in debt through credit cards, overdrafts and personal loans?

a) £2,200
b) £4,200
c) £6,200

Listen to the programme to hear the answer.

Vocabulary

debt
money a person has borrowed and owes to someone
 
pay back / pay off / clear (debt)
give back money you have borrowed
 
make ends meet
(idiom) have just enough money to pay for basic living expenses like food, bills and rent
 
in arrears
(idiom) still owing money that should have been paid already
 
the never-never
(informal) buying something with one large payment followed by smaller regular payments which are made until the debt is repaid
 
financial strain
emotional stress caused by a lack of money to meet basic needs or repay debt

TRANSCRIPT

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript. 

Neil
Hello, this is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Neil.
 
Pippa
And I'm Pippa. Are you good at saving money, Neil? Or do you like to spend it?
 
Neil
Well, actually, a bit of both. I like to spend money on nice things, but I also try to save, mainly because I've got children. How about you?
 
Pippa
Yeah, I'm the same. I like to save money, or I try to, for the future. But I also do spend it. I don't count every penny that I spend and save every single penny that I earn.
 
Neil
Mmm. Well, whether you're a saver or a spender, being in debt is common in the UK. Debt refers to money a person has borrowed to buy something and which they have to pay back, usually to a bank, a credit card company, or another person.
 
Pippa
Many people avoid talking about debt, but it affects us all. In 2025, over 1000 people contacted the UK Citizens Advice Bureau every single day of the year for help with their debt. And when debt gets out of control, it causes stress and worry. BBC Radio 4 programme Thinking Allowed interviewed one young man, Jason, about his debt.
 
Jason
Whatever jobs there are aren't enough to provide for a family. Sometimes you need to take out loans. I've done it a few times, but you can't ever pay it back. You can't see a way out, other than winning the lottery or something. I'd like to think I could clear them all one day, even if it means, like, five years paying them off.

Neil
Jason uses three phrases, pay back, pay off, and cleardebt, all of which mean the same thing – to give back the money you've borrowed.
 
Pippa
In this episode, we'll hear more about living with debt by learning some useful new words and phrases. And remember, you'll find all the vocabulary used, plus a quiz and worksheet, on our website, bbclearningenglish.com.

Neil
But first, I have a question for you, Pippa. According to debt support group The Money Charity, roughly how much is the average British adult in debt through credit cards, overdrafts and personal loans? Is it:
 
a)    £2,200,
b)    £4,200, or
c)    £6,200?
 
Pippa
Hmm. I'm not sure. I'll say £2,200.
 
Neil
OK. Well, we will find out the answer later in the programme. Jason's story features in a new book by sociologist Ryan Davey. Ryan spent months living in a low-income housing estate, which he gave the fictional name Woldham. He talked with residents and listened to their money worries. Here, Ryan explains more to BBC Radio 4's Thinking Allowed:
 
Ryan Davey
My approach was to let people know that I was interested in learning about their lives and how they were making ends meet, so I did some interviews with residents, and I paid attention to where debt came up in everyday conversations. For many people in Woldham, Jason included, debt was an ordinary feature of daily life. And beyond that, being in arrears – so, being behind with one or more monthly payment commitments – was part of daily life.
 
Pippa
The people of Woldham were making ends meet. To make ends meet means having just enough money to pay for basic living expenses like food, bills and rent.
 
Neil
Ryan found that many residents were in arrears, a phrase meaning to still owe money that should have already been repaid. For most residents, debt was a normal part of daily life.
 
Pippa
With a regular income, debt can be managed, but for those who are unemployed or on low incomes, it can cause serious distress. Here, Ryan discusses how the residents he met felt about their debt with BBC Radio 4's Thinking Allowed:
 
Ryan Davey
Jason actually fluctuated between wanting to clear all of his debts on the one hand, and on the other what he described as living on thenever-never and actually questioning the supposed moral obligation to pay his debts. Over the months that I knew him, the financial strain on him and his partner increased. They missed some of their bills. Their internet was disconnected.
 
Neil
Jason was living on thenever-never, an informal phrase for buying the things you need by making regular small payments over a long time. It's called thenever-never because it seems the debt will never be repaid.
 
Pippa
Jason experienced financial strain – emotional stress caused by a lack of money to meet his basic needs or to repay his debt. Debt is a serious issue. It affects many people and there are support groups who can help if you need it. OK. Neil, what was the answer to your question?
 
Neil
I asked what the average amount of debt a British adult has through credit cards, overdrafts and personal loans.
 
Pippa
I said it was around £2,200.
 
Neil
I'm afraid that's not the right answer. In fact, it's £4,232. OK. Let's recap the vocabulary we've learned, starting with debt – money a person has borrowed and needs to give back.
 
Pippa
The phrases to pay back, to pay off, and to clear a debt all mean to give back money you have borrowed.
 
Neil
If someone is making ends meet, they have just enough money to pay for basic living expenses. And if they are in arrears, they still owe money that should have been repaid already.
 
Pippa
If you buy something on thenever-never, you buy it by making small regular payments over a long period.
 
Neil
And finally, financial strain is emotional stress caused by a lack of money to meet your basic needs.
 
Pippa
Once again, our six minutes are up, but if you'd like to know how debt is spelled and all the other words from this episode, visit our website, bbclearningenglish.com, to find a full vocabulary list.
 
Neil
See you again soon. But for now, it's goodbye.
 
Pippa
Bye!

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