Sydneysiders struggle with debt

Almost one quarter of Sydney residents say they could not pay their electricity, gas or telephone bills on time compared with 13% in 2006.

According to a survey of people living in Sydney by the Wesley Mission conducted in December 2008, almost half had no savings and one in eight were on the verge of insolvency because they spend more than they earn. Thirty per cent said they would have difficulty raising $2,000 in cash if they needed it.

"More families are doing it tough and struggling to make ends meet," said the Reverend Keith Garner, superintendent of the Wesley Mission. "And they don't have the wherewithal to handle a crisis."Sole parents were worse off than others even though they were the household type most likely to have drawn up a budget.