Four in ten Britons relied on the generosity of others to get by | United Kingdom | News
Four in ten households relied on the generosity of others to get them through Christmas – from second-hand toys to food.
A study of 2,000 holiday-celebrating adults found that 26% received financial assistance for gifts, nearly a fifth accepted old toys, and 36% received a helping hand with food.
Overall, those surveyed estimate it will cost their family £700 for Christmas this year – including gifts and food, decorations and travel included. But for those who may be struggling, estimate they will be £150 short of covering all costs this month and, worryingly, 20% are likely to fall into debt.
The research was commissioned by Skipton Building Society to launch its Christmas toy donation drive for various charities, including Cash for Kids – Mission Christmas, with its branches across the country accepting contributions.
Sarah Reid, 44, from Bristol, is a mother who relies on the kindness of strangers to get her through Christmas. She has a budget for this year’s festivities of less than £100 for food and gifts for her whole family of four.
Sarah, who has epilepsy, has been unable to work since 2021 and receives £1,500 each month in grants, such as Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Universal Credit. But with £1,800 to pay each month in rent and bills, she and her husband, Mark, 49, are left with a debt of £3,600 a year.
Sarah said she couldn’t celebrate Christmas without the goodwill of charities and loved ones, and said it was “heartbreaking” to see their youngest child making a Christmas list, knowing they wouldn’t could afford nothing.
But with the help of a generous local gift-giving organisation, Sarah added: “It’s lovely to be able to give the children something for Christmas. We’ve already gotten into debt trying to buy them new things. -now-pay-later and credit cards on our kids’ gifts before.
The study also reveals that 39% of those surveyed are worried about the cost of Christmas this year – with the biggest concern being finding money for food and drink (40%). Others are nervous about heating bills in December (39%) and the cost of gifts (34%).
To get through this period, 27% reduced their savings contributions, while 19% reduced the number of daily groceries they purchased. With 20% considering selling their belongings due to the difficulty they are having paying for the festivities.
Kenny Stewart, director of branches and direct money at Skipton Building Society, which is donating £50,000 to Cash for Kids to support up to 1,000 children living in poverty this Christmas, said: “Christmas can be a particularly difficult time for families who are already struggling to survive. make ends meet.”
“The colder months mean higher costs for essentials like heating and food, and the pressure to create a special day can push many people to their limits. For some, the only way to cope is to seek help from loved ones and charities to ensure their children are not left behind,” he added.
“We want to give back to the communities in which we operate and hope that the toy drives taking place across our branch network and the Christmas charitable donation we have made will support families who need it most – helping to ease the burden. financial burden and to bring some joy during what can be a difficult time of year.
The research, carried out via OnePoll, found that 90% of those surveyed are always on the lookout for the best deals to save on Christmas spending. But 57% feel pressured to spend more than they can afford this time of year.
A spokesperson for Cash for Kids said: “Once again, as cost of living pressures continue to hit families across the UK, we are expecting a huge level of demand for support .
“Every contribution helps ensure that struggling families can continue to create special moments, whatever their circumstances. »
