A new study released by UK trade body R3 says four out of ten people admit to being worried about the amount of debt they currently have. Roughly 40% of UK consumers are concerned about the debt they’ve racked up with 13% saying they’re extremely or very worried. Of those surveyed, they say their main concern is with credit cards which are biggest source of worry. Fifty-one percent of people said they were worried about the amount they currently owe to credit card companies.

Another big worry among consumers? About one in three say they are most concerned with overdrafting accounts. Another one in five say their biggest concern is meeting their mortgage payments. About 19% say their top worry has to do with loans they’ve taken out. When it comes to meeting monthly obligations, one in ten say it’s a constant struggle and they regularly have a difficult time making ends meet until their next payday. About one in three say they often run out of cash towards the end of the month.

Budgeting credit card payments is also proving to be a struggle with more than a third admitting that that’s often what pushes them over the edge each month. But many of those surveyed admitted to being a big part of the problem. Twenty-five percent say they are spending money on non-essential items which is ruining their budget.

Many of those surveyed are trying to do the right thing, although a fourth say they’re saving less than they used to. The president of the company behind the study says he’s not surprised that debt is causing people to worry. “It is alarming, but not surprising that so many people are worried about their debt,” Steven Law told reporters. “The research shows how debt has become a fact of adult life – starting with a student loan and eventually graduating to a mortgage, credit cards and loans. However, seeing debt as a way of life can lead to years of worries about financial stability.”

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