Most parents of children under 10 say they will have less to spend on presents this year
While people may have been looking forward to the first fully post-pandemic Christmas, the latest YouGov data suggests that many are already making plans for a scaled-back celebration as the rising cost of living impacts their wallets.
Six in ten (60%) say they will spend less on Christmas this year than they usually would, compared to just 2% who say they will spend more than usual. Fewer than a third (28%) expect to have a ‘normal’ Christmas, although this rises to 36% amongst the over 65s.
It could be lonely, this Christmas
This data also suggests that Christmas this year will be less socially-driven than it has been previously. A third of adults say they will cut back on gatherings such as meals with family, friends and colleagues (34%), or Christmas outings such as trips to see a pantomime or visiting a Christmas market (33%).
A further 21% say they will reduce the amount of travelling they do to visit family and friends further afield over the festive period. This will be a worry for charities that support the elderly, as loneliness amongst the older generations at Christmas is already a big area of concern.
It isn’t just the social aspect of Christmas that may be different this year – a third of Britons (33%) say they will reduce food expenditure, and half (51%) of Britons are planning to cut the amount they spend on gifts. Heartbreakingly, children’s Christmas stockings look set to be less full this year, with 55% of parents with children under 10 saying they will have to spend less on presents this year, and 40% will forego festive outings.
It could also be a bleak time for charities – November and December are usually a peak time for charity donations, but more than a fifth (22%) say they will limit the amount they donate to charities in response to the rising cost of living.
Picture: Getty
