Are you financially stressed? A new study by Coinfully.com, which analyzed Google searches tied to money worries, found Florida and Georgia rank among the top states where people are searching for help.

The study tracked more than 150 financial-stress-related terms people look up online—phrases like “debt help,” “cheap car insurance,” “rent help,” “cash advance,” and “how to get out of debt.” The states with the highest search activity included Louisiana, Texas, Florida, Georgia, and Alabama.

Florida ranked third, averaging 424,507 searches per month, which comes out to about 1,877 searches per 100,000 residents. Georgia ranked fourth with 201,088 average monthly searches, or about 1,823 searches per 100,000 residents.

To see how those findings resonate locally, we spoke with people in our area. One parent told us they have searched for financial help “because I have been very broke.”

A college student said keeping up with rent is a constant struggle with only a part-time, minimum-wage job. Another person said they’ve changed spending habits—like choosing the lowest-priced items whenever possible—just to stay ahead.

For people feeling that financial pressure, local organizations may be able to help. Catholic Charities says it assists with essentials like food, rent support, and even help for people behind on their JEA bill.

The group said requests have increased significantly, including from people who have never needed assistance before. And while housing costs were a major driver a year or two ago, they say the need has broadened—more people are struggling with groceries, gas, and other everyday expenses.

Hear more of what Regional Director Eileen Seuter says Catholic Charities can provide for people needing emergency help.

Top Local Resources in Jacksonville

• Downtown Emergency Services (DESC): Located downtown in the First Presbyterian Church basement, this organization offers direct emergency financial assistance, case management, and a food pantry.
• City of Jacksonville Emergency Financial Assistance: The city’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services department offers the Emergency Financial Assistance Program. You can call their social services line for help with rent, utilities, and other urgent needs.
• JEA Hardship Programs: If you are behind on your electric or water bill, JEA can connect you with local Community Resources to assist with utilities, food, and housing.
• Catholic Charities Bureau: Offers free assistance to people in need, regardless of faith, including help with unpaid rent and utility bills. You can reach out via Catholic Charities Instagram page.

County & State-Wide Programs

• 211 United Way: Calling 2-1-1 or visiting the United Way 211 site connects you to a local specialist who has real-time data on bill-paying resources in Duval County.

Mental Health Support

Financial stress takes a heavy toll on mental well-being. NAMI Jacksonville provides free support groups, education, and outreach programs to help individuals and families. You can reach out to them via their local helpline at (904) 323-4723 or by dialing 9-8-8 for immediate crisis care.

For a broader, searchable directory of other localized charities and government programs, you can filter by zip code on FindHelp.org.

If you are located in or moving your focus to Southeast Georgia, extensive regional networks offer free financial counseling, emergency bill assistance, and crisis relief.

Region-Wide Crisis Resolution

• Georgia 211 Helpline: Dial 211 from any phone to reach the United Ways of Georgia 211 Service. Specialists connect callers in the Coastal Empire and Southern regions to local food, housing, and utility funds.

Local Community Action Agencies

These organizations handle the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), emergency rental assistance, and financial literacy programs. Reach the agency managing your specific county:

• Coastal Georgia Area Community Action Authority: Serves Glynn, Camden, McIntosh, and surrounding coastal counties. Contact the main office in Brunswick at (912) 264-3281 or explore services through the Coastal Georgia Area CAA Portal.

• Action Pact: Serves inland Southeast Georgia counties (including Ware, Pierce, and Brantley). Reach the Waycross headquarters at (912) 285-6083 or look up local clinic sites on Action Pact Online.

State and Utility Support Programs

The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) has published a new framework aimed at helping financial institutions make credible plans to work towards the net zero transition.

The new voluntary standard for sustainable finance – ISO 32212 – includes guidelines for strategic transition planning by banking, insurance and investment institutions.

“The requirements and recommendations are designed to enable financial institutions to develop and maintain transition planning objectives and targets that advance the temperature and resilience goals of the Paris Agreement, and establish robust policies and processes to integrate these into their financial activities,” the ISO said.

ISO said the framework encourages institutions to assess climate-related impacts and dependencies associated with their activities, and to develop objectives and targets to better manage risks and opportunities. It includes guidelines on monitoring and reporting internally and externally, and on establishing guardrails and controls to ensure transition planning is credible.

A new report shows that the world’s biggest banks increased their funding to fossil fuel companies by 8% in 2025, although some, particularly in Europe, are cutting financing due to climate risk concerns and regulation.

The UK’s national standards agency, the BSI, welcomed the new ISO framework, noting that it had input from a broad coalition including representatives of finance sector organisations and experts from national standards bodies from around the world. 

“The framework will help institutions move from ambition to implementation through transparent and credible transition planning. We encourage financial institutions worldwide to pick up the standard, benefit their businesses and support the global adoption of credible transition planning,” said Scott Steedman, BSI director general of standards.

The BSI said research shows that 91% of UK businesses want help to accelerate their transition, with a focus on financial incentives and practical, skills-based guidance.

Sara Hall, co-executive director at advocacy group Positive Money, welcomed the new standards but said regulation had to be made binding, especially given the departure of many US banks from voluntary initiatives like the Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) since Donald Trump became US President.

“Private financial institutions are not changing their behaviour at the scale or speed necessary to meet global climate targets,” Hall said. 

“Any measures short of mandatory simply won’t cut it. That’s why binding regulation and supervisory standards enforced by central banks and financial regulators at the national level, with penalisation for transgression, are vital to drive transition”.

The European Union has removed the obligation for companies to adopt a climate transition plan under revisions to the corporate sustainability due diligence directive (CSDDD). However, companies still need to submit a transition plan under the corporate sustainability reporting directive (CSRD).

Only 41% of EU banks had published their transition plans in 2024, despite being required to do so, while very few have a Paris-aligned pathway, according to a report from Finance Watch.

Written by

Emma Thomasson is a British journalist, consultant and trainer based in Berlin. She is an expert in economics, politics, business and technology. She previously worked for Reuters as a correspondent and bureau chief in Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, South Africa and the UK.

Some motorists are continuing to pay high interest rates when spreading the cost of their car insurance, according to analysis by Which?

The consumer group said some firms are charging annual percentage rates (APRs) comparable to expensive credit cards.

Some firms are still charging APRs of close to 30% on monthly motor insurance payments, Which? said.

Which? said it had found that between February and March 2026, several firms were charging APRs above 25% and some were charging as much as 29.9%.

It said that paying monthly is often the only realistic option for households facing financial pressure, creating a “poverty premium”.

Two years ago, some firms were charging rates above 35% APR, according to Which?

It said that while some providers have lowered their rates since then, it believes that progress has been too slow.

Which? said that between February and March, it attempted to contact 61 car insurance brands, asking about the representative APRs charged to their customers who pay monthly.

Some 48 responded with their rates, or said they did not charge extra for paying in instalments

Rocio Concha, director of policy and advocacy at Which? said: “Millions of motorists rely on monthly payments to afford essential car insurance cover, yet many are still being charged interest rates comparable to an expensive credit card.”

A spokesperson for the Association of British Insurers (ABI) said: “The industry recognises that many households are under financial pressure, and it understands why spreading the cost of cover is essential for many motorists.

Premium finance is widely used across the market with charges that can differ between insurers and by product.

“Our members remain committed to improving outcomes, and this includes being open about the fact that providing this service involves genuine operational costs – including keeping cover in place for a period even when payments are delayed or missed.

“Our premium finance principles make clear that any charges must be fair, transparent, and reflective of the costs incurred by insurers. The FCA’s (Financial Conduct Authority’s) own market study found that premium finance can deliver fair value for consumers and that the overall cost of premium finance has fallen since 2022.”