PEOPLE in Kent and the South East are losing £149 million a year as they struggle with their maths skills.

A new report by skills provider learndirect shows that the region is the most confused in the country when it comes to every day sums, with simple tasks such as checking bills, calculating tips or negotiating good deals for mobile phones costing consumers dearly.

Results for the South East found that 29 per cent of people find it difficult to work out the best value for money on things such as electricity, gas and mobile tariffs, 13 per cent have over-spent due to incorrectly calculating something’s cost and 12 per cent still use their fingers to add up.

Across the UK, almost 100,000 people admitted to losing more than £1,000 last year due to basic skills issues like bill miscalculations; adding or taking away VAT or the multiplication/division involved in working out foreign currency when abroad.

In response to the findings, learndirect is urging the estimated seven million people across the UK with a basic skills need to make a change.

learndirect spokesperson Sally Coady said: “‘This research demonstrates the effects of the skills gap in the UK very clearly with the huge financial cost.

“A lack of maths and English skills can really hit you in the pocket but there is also a cost to people’s confidence.

“We are urging people to spend a few hours a week on improving their skills.”