Managing money and health during COVID-19: Financial diaries with individuals living on low incomes

Speaker: Dr Olga Biosca, Reader at the Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health, Glasgow Caledonian University

Abstract

Amongst those hit hardest by COVID-19, and the associated social and economic measures put in place to combat it, are people living in low-income urban settings, and, within that group, seldom-heard individuals continually threatened by financial exclusion. We have explored how financial strain and poor health have reinforced each other in the everyday lives of 23 individuals via a unique combination of financial diary keeping and regular remote interviews during a 6-month period. Our financial diaries show the effects of COVID-19 and associated measures and policies on diarists’ financial portfolios and behaviours, their short-term health and wellbeing, and other wider social determinants of health. They provide a deeper understanding of coping strategies during pandemic times. Public, Third Sector, and social safety nets prove as determinant during recovery as they have been during the pandemic.

FinWell-COVID is funded by the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC), as part of UK Research & Innovation’s rapid response to Covid-19 (ES/V01532X/1).

About the speaker 

Dr Olga Biosca, Reader at the Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health, Glasgow Caledonian University, is the Principal Investigator of the FinWell research programme which explores the connection between financial management and health and wellbeing in vulnerable groups. 

Register 

If you would like to book a place at this Seminar, please register on Eventbrite or email Helen Harris at h.m.a.harris@bham.ac.uk  The Zoom link will be sent to you.