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Aspiring social climbers in the UK have spent £35 billion to try and move up a social class.

In their attempt to keep up with the ‘upper middle class', middle class Brits are supplementing their income with a combination of secured and unsecured loans totalling nearly £35 billion.

According to the comparison website, 2.7 million social climbers in the UK are using unsecured debt to finance private schools, second homes and household staff - at an average of £13,000 of debt per person.

Moneysupermarket.com has revealed that more than 6 million of the ‘wannabe middle class' households bring in less than £15,000 a year - well below the national average.

Interestingly, 25% of supposed ‘working class’ households on incomes of £50K or more.

Sue Hayward, a consultant to moneysupermarket.com, says: "This research will really drive home to people that if they want to get their hands on the luxuries the true middle class are enjoying then they need to save money where they can, and look at better ways of managing their money and not relying on credit cards to get them through.”

Richard Mason, managing director of Insurance and Home Services at moneysupermarket.com, says: "With the credit crunch taking hold and the housing market faltering it's worrying to see that so many people are spending and borrowing beyond their means to try to keep up with the lifestyles of others.”

The clash of earning power and social class means people are relying on credit cards and bank loans to finance their monthly spending - but around 18,000 credit card applications rejected every day, warns MoneyExpert.com.

The money website has revealed credit card companies have turned down applications from more than 3.24 million people in the past six months as they continue to curb risky lending.

The figures show around one in 14 people, or 7% of adults, have been card rejects during the past six months. MoneyExpert.com says more people have been rejected for credit cards than for any other financial product.

Sean Gardner, chief executive of MoneyExpert.com, says: "For years borrowers have had the upper hand in the credit card game but the rules have now changed. People with debts who thought they could keep shuffling their cards to stay ahead are now running into trouble.

"Card applicants need to be confident that they are going to be accepted in the current lending environment as a rejection could lead to black marks on credit reports - a credit rejection could have knock on effects for borrowers when it comes to taking out all kinds financial products including a mortgage.

"Given the turmoil in the mortgage markets the options are running out for people with problem debts.”

MoneyExpert.com says young adults are most likely to have a credit card application refused - the research showed that 10% of people aged between 25 and 34 were turned down in the last six months.

Mason concludes: “Consumers need to take immediate stock of their household budgets to identify the pressure points and seek money saving opportunities."

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