Home insurance: Five sacrifices people made to afford premiums

An Insurify survey found 59% of homeowners saw their insurance premiums rise in 2025, and many reported cutting nonessentials, delaying repairs, borrowing or taking on debt to cover higher costs.

Home insurance costs have risen for many homeowners, and a recent Insurify survey reports that 59% saw premiums increase in 2025. The change has prompted a range of financial trade-offs that respondents said they made to manage higher bills. State-level risk and market shifts have been cited as contributing factors to rising premiums. The discussion centers on how households adjust budgets when insurance expenses grow. Key findings: - 59% of homeowners reported higher insurance premiums in 2025, according to the Insurify survey. - 30% said they cut back on nonessential spending, such as dining out or travel, to afford higher premiums. - 22% reported delaying home maintenance or repairs, rising to 37% among those who said they struggled to afford insurance. - 15% said they took on debt to cover insurance costs, with that share rising to about 25% for homeowners who struggled to pay. - 12% reported borrowing from friends or family, and 28% said they would drop protection altogether if possible; about 10% said they skipped meals to manage higher premiums. Summary: The survey indicates that rising home insurance costs are leading households to change spending, delay upkeep, and increase borrowing, which may affect home upkeep and household finances. Undetermined at this time.