Working parents in the East Midlands worried about the cost of Christmas
It follows a survey by Action for Children
As the country battles with the highest rate of inflation in almost ten years, new research by Action for Children today reveals soaring energy bills and rising prices are the top financial concerns among working parents in the East Midlands this Christmas.
Over a third (34%) said they plan to take on extra work or avoid taking time off over the festive period to cover the cost of Christmas. Of these, more than eight in ten (86%) say they are likely to miss out on at least one key family moment like waking up on Christmas morning together, unwrapping presents together on Christmas Day or attending a school nativity play.
The charity worked with Opinium on a survey of 2,500 working parents and 1,000 children (aged 8-17) across the UK to explore the financial burden facing families in the run-up to Christmas.
The survey found the top five money worries among working parents in the East Midlands this Christmas were:
- the rise in energy bills (78%)
- rising prices (78%)
- car fuel costs (68%)
- price of food (64%) and
- affording warm winter clothing for their family (44%).
Nearly two in five (39%) working parents in our region said they are likely to gift their children everyday basics, such as school books, school shoes or a school coat for their main Christmas present this year. The poll also found over a third (36%) plan to cut back on celebrations and parties and save on presents for their partner (35%) and almost a quarter (23%) will spend less on Christmas food and travelling to visit friends and family (24%).
This Christmas looks especially challenging for working parents on Universal Credit across the UK following the £20-a-week cut in October. Of these parents:
• nearly two in five (38%) are likely to cut back on heating
• almost a third (30%) are likely to skip meals
• nearly a quarter (24%) are likely to replace some meals with breakfast cereal or cut back on hot meals to save on energy costs (23%), and
• one in five (20%) said they will likely need to seek help from a foodbank over the break
With last year’s Christmas seen by many as having been “cancelled” due to the pandemic and lockdown restrictions, the poll also found a third (33%) of East Midlands parents said they feel under more pressure to give their children a happy Christmas this year.
When asked about their parents’ biggest fears this Christmas, most children (63%) thought their mums and dads would be worried about making Christmas a happy time for their family, over half (53%) said they would be concerned about keeping their family safe and healthy from Covid-19, and a similar figure (49%) said they would be anxious about making sure everyone has presents and that they were able to afford everything they need to celebrate Christmas (47%).
Director of policy and campaigns at Action for Children, Imran Hussain, said: ‘For most of us the festive season is a happy time but there are children all over the UK who face a very different Christmas. After almost two years of worry, isolation and poverty, many families are now at breaking point, struggling to afford the basics like food, heating and clothes.
‘Our frontline workers see the impact the pandemic and cost of living crisis is having on children and families who are under pressure every day, but we also see the difference that can be made – that’s why we’re asking people to donate to help us make a life-changing difference to vulnerable children this Christmas and beyond.
‘With your help this Christmas we can be a vital lifeline for even more UK children. We can make sure they have the basics, like hot meals and proper winter clothes and offer emergency support to keep homes warm and help families pay the bills.’
Operational director at Action for Children in the East Midlands, Claire Cahill, said: ‘Day in, day out we're seeing families struggling to make ends meet. Parents are worried about Christmas but more concerned about how they’re going to provide for their children with rising costs. They feel they’re letting their children down and sometimes it’s more about making sure their child has what they need, but then they themselves go without. Parents are embarrassed and too proud about asking for help when they’re struggling but they know this is the only way they’ll manage through these difficult times.’