UK families rely on charity and community support to manage Christmas expenses

This year, 39 per cent of Brits are fretting about the cost of Christmas, with sourcing money for food and drink being the primary worry. However, others are also anxious about the price of heating bills and the cost of securing presents.

On average, respondents believe it will set them back £700 to cover Christmas for their family this year. Yet, some Brits estimate they will be short by £150 to meet all the expenses this month.

A study of 2,000 adults has discovered that a quarter of households who celebrate Christmas have received financial assistance with presents. Nearly a fifth have accepted pre-loved toys and 36 per cent have been given a helping hand with the food.

Almost half of Brits have felt the pinch of financial stress caused by Christmas in the past and alarmingly, 20% are likely to plunge into debt to navigate Christmas payments in 2024.

To help survive the festive period, 27 per cent scale back on savings contributions, while 19 per cent cut back on the number of everyday groceries they purchase. For some 20 per cent they have even contemplated selling personal belongings to help afford to pay for items.

The research was commissioned by Skipton Building Society to kick off its Christmas toy donations collection for various charities, including Cash for Kids Mission Christmas, with its branches nationwide accepting contributions.

One mother who relies on the kindness of strangers to get through the festive season is Sarah Reid, 44, from Bristol, whose budget for this year's festivities is £100 - for food and gifts for her entire family-of-four.

Sarah, who suffers from 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. However, with £1,800 to pay each month in rent and bills her and her husband, Mark, are left £3,600 in debt per year.

Sarah said she wouldn't be able to do Christmas without the goodwill of charities and relatives. However, she expressed it's "heart-breaking" to watch her youngest child make a Christmas list, knowing they won't be able to afford anything on it.

But with the help of local organisations offering gifts, Sarah is able to give her children some toys. She added: "It's nice to be able to give the kids something for Christmas - we've previously got ourselves into debt, trying to buy them things brand new."

"We've used buy-now-pay-later and credit cards on our children's gifts before."

The Skipton Building Society is donating £50,000 to Cash for Kids to support up to 1,000 children living in poverty this Christmas. Kenny Stewart, director of branches and money direct, said: "Christmas can be a particularly difficult time for families already struggling to make ends meet."

"The colder months bring rising costs for essentials like heating and food, and the pressure to create a special day can push many to their limits. For some, the only way to cope is by seeking help from their loved ones and charities to ensure their children don't miss out."

"We want to give back to the communities in which we operate and hope the toy collections taking place across our branch network and the Christmas charity donation we've made supports the families who need it most helping to ease the financial burden and bring a little joy during what can be a challenging time of year."

9 in 10 Brits are always on the hunt for the best deals to save on Christmas expenses. But 57 per cent feel under pressure to spend more than they can afford at 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 anticipating a huge level of demand for support."

"Every contribution plays a part in ensuring struggling families can still create special moments, no matter their circumstances."