Nearly half of Canadians in new survey are taking on more debt to cover basics

Spergel’s 2026 Cost of Getting By Survey found 50% of respondents have added debt in the past year to pay for everyday living costs, and the same share have delayed a bill to afford groceries or other necessities. The findings point to growing strain on household budgets as food remains the biggest pressure point.

Why it matters: - Everyday costs are no longer just forcing Canadians to trim spending; the survey suggests they are pushing some households into debt, bill delays and depleted savings. - The pressure is showing up in food security, with many respondents saying they are cutting meal quality or worrying they will run out of food before they can buy more. - Spergel says the pattern can turn an affordability problem into a debt problem quickly.

What happened: - Spergel’s 2026 Cost of Getting By Survey polled 325 people across Canada’s 10 provinces. - Half of respondents said they are carrying more debt than 12 months ago because of everyday living expenses. - Half said they had delayed paying a bill so they could buy groceries or other necessities. - 48% said their household at least occasionally struggles to cover regular monthly expenses. - Current and former Spergel clients were excluded from the research. - Paid research-panel recruitment was used.

The details: - Groceries were the leading source of financial pressure for 76% of respondents, making food the most commonly reported expense squeeze. - Transportation followed at 46%, then rent or mortgage payments at 38% and utilities at 37%. - When asked which expense put the greatest pressure on the household budget, groceries ranked first at 38% and rent or mortgage payments came second at 22%. - 61% switched to lower-cost brands. - 46% bought more items only when they were on sale. - 33% bought less meat. - 23% bought fewer fresh fruits or vegetables. - 19% skipped meals. - 17% reduced portion sizes. - 70% said higher grocery prices sometimes or frequently forced them to compromise the nutritional quality or variety of the food they buy. - 52% said they often or sometimes worried their household would run out of food before they had enough money to buy more. - Over the previous six months, 45% reduced or stopped contributing to general savings. - 34% reduced or stopped contributing to emergency savings. - 31% used savings to cover regular household expenses. - 28% used credit to pay for everyday expenses. - 25% borrowed money from family or friends. - 23% delayed paying a bill. - When asked how they would handle an unexpected $500 expense, 14% said they could pay it from regular income without difficulty. - Another 18% said they would use savings. - 51% said they would need to finance the expense, borrow money or would be unable to pay it. - That group included people who would use a credit card and repay over time, a line of credit or overdraft, short-term borrowing or help from family and friends. - More than one in five respondents said they would be unable to cover the expense at all.

Between the lines: - The survey suggests many households have exhausted the easy fixes of trading down brands and chasing sales. - The shift from budgeting tradeoffs to skipped meals, saved money being used for routine bills and debt being used for necessities points to shrinking financial flexibility. - Financial strain is also spilling into well-being, not just spending habits. - 54% said financial pressure had negatively affected their mental health or mood. - 52% said it affected sleep. - Respondents also reported effects on physical health, social lives and relationships with partners and family members. - Nearly half said they had already sought, seriously considered or thought about seeking professional help with debt or finances. - Gillian Goldblatt, Partner and Licensed Insolvency Trustee at Spergel, said households taking on more debt, drawing down savings or delaying bills to pay for groceries are signaling that affordability has become a debt problem.

What’s next: - Spergel is advising Canadians who rely on credit for necessities, carry balances from month to month, use savings for routine expenses or delay bills to seek advice before the situation worsens. - The firm’s survey page is available here.

The bottom line: - The survey paints a picture of Canadian households under broad cost pressure, with groceries at the center and debt, savings and mental health all absorbing the strain.