New datasets help researchers uncover how Scotland spends, saves and struggles
At Smart Data Foundry, we believe the best way to understand financial wellbeing is by looking at real-life data – not just surveys or assumptions. That’s why we’ve just added six new datasets to our FINDS data catalogue, providing a richer, more up-to-date picture of how people across Scotland manage their money.
These insights are built from de-identified data from around 580,000 current account holders, covering weekly behaviour from February 2024 to March 2025. They reveal key trends in spending, saving and financial resilience – and are already powering tools like our Economic Wellbeing Explorer (EWE).
What’s new?
Now available to all users of the Economic Wellbeing Explorer:
Low Emergency Resilience
How prepared are people for life’s financial shocks? This dataset highlights those who’ve had multiple low-balance events (below £100) within a five-week period – a warning sign that they might struggle with unexpected expenses.
Use it to: Identify areas where people are most financially vulnerable.
Living Beyond Means
This dataset picks up on overspending – tracking accounts
where outgoings regularly exceed income by 20% or more, over a rolling 13-week
period.
Use it to: Spot signs of mounting financial stress.
Overdrawn Accounts
Frequent overdrafts can be a sign of persistent short-term borrowing. This dataset flags accounts that have been in the red more than once in five weeks.
Use it to: Monitor reliance on overdrafts and short-term credit.
These three datasets are broken down by age band and region (at ITL2 level), making it easier to see where support may be needed most. If you already have access to the Economic Wellbeing Explorer, you can explore them now.
Request access to the Economic Wellbeing Explorer to access these datasets.
Additional research datasets, available by request:
Economic Wellbeing Microdata
This dataset brings together several key indicators – from income to overdrafts – to provide a single, composite view of financial wellbeing over time. It includes both 5-week and 13-week rolling views, smoothing out seasonal spikes while showing real trends beneath the surface.
Use it to: Track the bigger picture of financial health.
This data is available via application to access data in our Trusted Research Environment. Learn more, and download a synthetic sample, here.
Median Yearly Income
Rather than looking at averages (which can be skewed by extremes), this metric gives a fairer view of income using the median, based only on salary, benefits and pension income.
Use it to: Get a clearer understanding of typical household income.
Unspent Income
A new way to measure financial breathing room. This dataset tracks how much income remains after spending, including the proportion of people who are saving at least 10% of what they bring in.
Use it to: Understand how many people are able to put money aside.
Financial Data Service (FINDS)
These six datasets are now all available in our data catalogue as part of our FINDS offering. They are designed to help policymakers, researchers, and organisations across the UK better understand and respond to the real financial challenges people are facing.
FINDS is part of Smart Data Research UK’s family of six data services. By supporting academic research into the root causes of poverty, inequality, and economic wellbeing, FINDS data can uncover insights that inform meaningful solutions to these pressing societal challenges
Access this data, and more, via myFoundry
Explore the data catalogue, learn more about the Trusted Research Environment and access the Economic Wellbeing Explorer via our secure data platform.
Visit the data catalogue