I’m a mum of seven – I can’t afford Christmas presents this year and I’ve told my kids they’re getting nothing
A STRUGGLING mum-of-seven says she can’t afford to buy Christmas presents this year and has told some of her kids they are getting nothing.
Jackie Hands, 62, from Manchester, faced the agonising decision as the cost-of-living crisis hit their festive celebrations hard.
And the mum says she can only afford to get her youngest children Christmas presents this year whereas she would usually buy for the whole family.
Jackie has now told her family the adults and older kids in the family that they will not be receiving any gifts.
She said that the soaring costs of food and energy were the driving factors behind her tough decision.
Speaking to the M.E.N, the mum said: “It’s hard, but you just have to manage so you find a way. There’s always a way.
“It’s hard to heat and eat but you have to do both no matter what the prices. I’ve used £10 worth of gas in two days. I’ve only had it on for a couple of hours in the morning and the evening.
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“We’re not doing adult presents this year, just the kids. My older kids understand, they know they won’t be getting anything. Normally I buy presents for everyone.
“I just take it a day at a time. The way things are at the moment, you just have to.”
The mum lives in Blackley and Broughton, one of the worst areas affected by the cost of food crisis in England, according to new research by Which?
The consumer group highlighted the places where people were most likely to struggle to get affordable food in a recent study.
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The area was the only ward in Greater Manchester to have made the list, coming in at sixth across the whole country.
And it’s not just Jackie who is suffering, with resident childminder Kelly Broderick also saying that she has been affected.
The 45-year-old mum recently had to take on a second job just to make ends meet.
She said: “It’s hard because I’m a childminder. I haven’t put my prices up because the parents can’t afford it, so it’s coming out of my wages.
“My shopping has gone up, my shop used to be £140. Now it’s £190. I don’t go out as much and I’ve had to take on another job at Sainsbury’s.
“You just have to get on with it. Without my second job, I wouldn’t have any savings. I’m just working to live. I used to have money in the bank before all this started.”
While dad-of-one Damian, who was left disabled after suffering a stroke, faces a choice to either heat his home or freeze
He said: “I’ve not been able to eat all day. It’s either food or putting money on my gas and electric.
“It costs £10 a day to have the heating on. I don’t even have it on for that long. It runs out too quickly. I have anxiety – am I going to get enough money to get by?”
Consumer group Which? has now called on supermarkets to sign up to a 10-point plan to help households through the cost-of-living crisis.
Factors such as low income, poor access to affordable food, having no large supermarkets nearby and a lack of online shopping deliveries have contributed to the winter struggles.
Sue Davies, Which? head of food policy, said: “We know that millions of people are skipping meals through the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades but our new research tells us where around the UK support is most urgently needed.
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“The supermarkets have the ability to take action and make a real difference to communities all around the UK.
“That’s why we’re calling on them to ensure everyone has easy access to budget food ranges that enable healthy choices, can easily compare the price of products to get the best value and that promotions are targeted at supporting people most in need.”