The Cost of Not Knowing: Money Ready launches new flagship campaign

Why this matters

Our new research shows the average person loses over £640 every year to confusion and indecision. That’s more than £18,000 over several decades – money that could have gone towards savings, security, and opportunity.

Further research from the campaign highlights a costly knowledge gap:

• Almost half of Brits (43%) believe they could have saved more if they had better budgeting skills.
• Nearly three-quarters (74%) believe schools provide insufficient financial education, and 71% call on the government to do more.
• 70% of Brits rate money literacy as important as learning to drive.
• A third (34%) admit they have actively avoided major financial decisions because they didn’t know where to start.
• 27% of UK adults feel ashamed of their financial knowledge.
• Financial stress affects almost 4 in 10 adults, impacting sleep, relationships, and decision-making.
• 83% of adults reported feeling confident managing their finances, but substantial knowledge gaps remain: 46% incorrectly believe all debt negatively affects credit scores, 37% think all debt is inherently bad, and 23% wrongly assume debit card use prevents debt.

Read the full report here.

Financial confusion doesn’t just affect numbers on a bank statement. It influences mental health, relationships, and opportunities for growth. When people aren’t equipped with the right knowledge, small decisions can cascade into bigger challenges, limiting their ability to save, invest, and plan for life’s milestones. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Better education and a fairer system would give Brits more confidence, control, and spending power – which is good for them, and good for our economy.

And this isn’t just a personal issue; it’s a national one. Without the right financial education, people can’t fully participate in the economy. Confidence and opportunity shrink. Inequality grows. And the cycle continues.

That’s why Money Ready is launching The Cost of Not Knowing campaign: to make financial education a right, not a privilege, and to call for a fairer system that gives everyone the tools, confidence and knowledge to understand, act and thrive.

Because the cost of not knowing is higher than it looks.

Leon Ward, Money Ready’s CEO, says: “We rely on financial literacy every day, often without realising it. Yet too often, people aren’t taught how the system works. Early and consistent teaching throughout key life stages doesn’t just prevent costly mistakes, it empowers people to build healthy habits, make confident choices, and strengthen their long-term stability. This issue is not a personal one, but a systemic one. You learn to drive before getting on the motorway. The same should be the case with finances.”

Thank you for your support

When people aren’t equipped with the right tools, even small financial challenges can add up, affecting both personal finances and the broader economy. The Government wants more people to save and invest to strengthen the UK economy, but without the knowledge and confidence to do so, many are being left behind.

We believe that everyone, at every stage of life, deserves the right to understand money.

The cost of not knowing is higher than it looks.
Let’s change that, together.

With thanks
This campaign would not have been possible without the generous pro bono support of Teamspirit (now VCCP Roar), whose expertise made our research possible and who continue to support the campaign’s development and delivery. We’re also grateful to Digital Footprints for creating the animated film that brings The Cost of Not Knowing to life and helps tell this story in a powerful, human way.