Families ‘consider cancelling expensive Christmas’

Some families are considering cancelling Christmas because of the expense associated with the festive period.

Research conducted by Family Action has discovered mums and dads do not know how they will finance the purchasing of presents.

Part of the problem is they feel under pressure to meet the expectations of their children, despite the fact that the typical low-income family would have to save their whole disposable income for 15 weeks to afford an average family Christmas.

This statistic highlights how so many people end up needing a debt management plan after the festive period, as they are overstretching themselves financially.

Family Action chief executive Helen Dent noted it is "intolerable" that the poorest children will not get any gifts on December 25th.

However, she added it is possible for adults in the UK to provide a "positive festive experience" for their kids – such as by socialising with the extended family – without leaving themselves in a perilous financial situation.

By James Francis