40% cannot pay bills on time

But its latest What’s Left tracker revealed the amount of disposal income has improved since May, when 20,000 more workers said they had no cash left.

Kieron Brennan, ILCU chief executive, said: “Once again we see further and continued signs of disposable income stabilisation into the second half of 2013.

“However, this does not mean that many others around the country are stretched to their limits trying to manage the household budgets.

“This round of research shows us that nearly 40% are still struggling to pay their bills on time and have to sacrifice spending in other ways to get back on top of things.”

The September tracker showed that since May:

:: the average net income per household has increased to 2,604 euro.

:: 493,800 people – including 192,200 working adults – have no money left at the end of the month, a drop of 24,200.

:: 1.18 million adults have 50 euro or less left at the end of the month, down 20,700 people.

:: those left with 100 euro or less at the end of the month increased by 20,000.

:: four out of ten households put off paying a bill on time because they cannot afford it.

:: 98% of those sacrificed spending in other areas to pay for utilities.

:: six in 10 adults were still not in a position to save money month on month.

Mr Brennan said there is a long way to go in terms of building confidence in the economy.

“It will be interesting to see where the Government has made cuts in the upcoming budget and how this in return will impact disposable income levels and indeed the finances of families around the country,” he added.

More than 1,000 adults were questioned for the survey which examined disposable income, monthly family income and expenditure, savings, insurance and value for money.

The tracker found that of those who had switched to pre-paid electricity 20% believed that it was more expensive, 57% thought it cost the same but felt they had more control over usage, and 23% felt that it was cheaper.

Elsewhere, nine out of ten adults has some sort of insurance but more than a third have had to give up at least one insurance product in the last 12 months. The largest proportion cancelled health (64%) and life (35%) policies.

Five out of ten have also switched their insurance provider in the last 12 months for a better price or service.

John Lowe, who runs the Money Doctor site, advised consumers to shop around for insurance.

“You could be over insured and you could also require cover where you don’t have it,” he said.

“Do a full review on all your insurance policies.”