Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1500237
12 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 MAY 2023 JAMES DEBONO INFLATION is leaving its toll with 121,000 people not making it to the end of the month or struggling to do so, a MaltaToday survey shows. The survey found that 13%, or 58,000 people, are not making it till the end of the month and a further 14%, or 63,000 peo- ple, are struggling to make ends meet. A further 139,000 people (31%) said they are managing to live comfortably and making ends meet but unable to save any money. But the survey also found that 37%, or 166,000 people, have enough money left at the end of the month to save for holidays and emergencies. It is only 4%, or 18,000 people, who are riding the wave and hav- ing enough disposable income to save for the future and be able to invest. The population figures in each instance represent people aged 16 and over, which means the actual numbers are higher. Pop- ulation figures for those aged 16 and over were sourced from the Census 2021. Respondents were asked about the state of their finances at the end of the month and were given five options ranging from having enough money to invest their sav- ings to not having enough money to make ends meet. The picture emerging from the survey is that while one in four are experienc- ing financial hardships and are either left with a shortfall (13%) or are struggling to make ends meet (14%), just over three in ten (31%) live sufficiently well but have no money left to save. The remaining four in ten live a good life and have enough money either to save for holidays and emergencies (37%) or to in- vest their savings (4%). Young most likely to save The survey also shows that younger re- spondents aged between 16 and 35 are the most likely to have enough disposable in- come at the end of the month to save for holidays and emergencies (48%) while old- er respondents are more likely not to make ends meet. While only 7% of 35- to 50-year-olds and 9% of under 35-year-olds do not make ends meet at the end of the month, the percentage of respondents in the same predicament rises to 18% among 51 to 65 years old and to 16% among over 65-year- olds. Both age groups also include a higher percentage of those who struggle to make ends meet; 20% among 51- to 65-year-olds and 17% among over 65-year-olds. Surprisingly over 65-year-olds are more likely to have more money to save for hol- idays and emergencies (37%) than 51- to 65-year-olds (28%). In fact, the survey suggests that those aged between 51 and 65 are the hardest pressed, possibly because they are likeli- er to still have dependents living at home than older people, or to be experiencing marital separations which leave a toll on household incomes. The survey also shows that men are more likely to invest their savings than women or to save money for holidays and emer- gencies. Fifth in Southern Harbour do not make ends meet The survey shows that the percentage of those who do not make ends meet is high- est in the Southern Harbour region, where nearly one in five (19%) ends with a short- fall in finances at the end of the month. This region includes the Cottonera area and comprises electoral districts that form the Labour Party's heartland. Inflation's hard bite: 121,000 struggling MaltaToday survey people can save money for investment purposes 139,000 166,000 18,000 people live comfortably but unable to save money have enough money left to save for holidays, emergencies