The Nation’s Nest Egg

A report by Yorkshire Building Society on how the pandemic has affected our nation's savings

How we worked out our findings

We asked the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) to study national economic data and survey 2,000 people to create our nest egg score. The nest egg score assesses people’s financial safety nets across the nation and how the pandemic has impacted these. We looked at people from different places and backgrounds, as well as asking how money affects their choices.

Our main findings

Savings shortfall

As a nation, we’ve calculated that we’re facing a £371 billion savings shortfall to feel resilient. That’s the difference between people’s current savings and the amount they’d need to feel like they have a strong financial safety net.

Saving in a pandemic

However, a large increase in saving has meant our collective nest egg has grown during the pandemic and the UK’s overall financial nest egg score* has improved from 44 out of 100 to 57.

Employment

While the pandemic raised the chance of losing jobs or income across the board, it hit households in regions which were already struggling the hardest and harmed the finances of young people and single parents most.

Changing habits

The pandemic and its impacts appears to have changed how we think about money. A third of adults (35%) say the pandemic has made them more likely to save, which is good news as a quarter (25%) have no one to turn to in a financial emergency.

Mental health

Financial security is good for people’s health too. A third of men (32%) and two-fifths of women (41%) said greater financial security would make them feel less anxious or depressed.

Regional variations

When we rank regions across the UK for the average household nest egg score, the East of England emerges as the most financially secure area during 2020 (61). Meanwhile, the North East was the least financially secure region, with a nest egg score of just 40.

Financial shocks can come from anywhere, at any time

From a global pandemic to a broken boiler, events large and small can turn our finances upside down. That’s why having a nest egg of savings as part of our financial safety net can be beneficial. A nest egg of cash savings is crucial to financial wellbeing, so that when the unexpected happens, we are able to pay the bills without needing others to help.

Download the full report and find out how prepared people across the UK really are.

Download the report