Christmas is a particularly hard time for those on low pay who want to provide for their families – and for many, this year has been harder than ever.
A third of young parents expect to get into debt this Christmas, as food costs rise and wages remain low, according to research by Young Women’s Trust.
Young mums especially are finding that money is tight, as many are getting stuck on low pay and zero hours’ contracts – if they’re able to overcome the barriers they still face in finding work in the first place.
In some cases, low pay means an hour’s childcare costs more than an hour’s wages. Insecure jobs mean lots of young women don’t know how many hours they will work each month and whether they will earn enough to pay their bills. As a result, many are failing to make ends meet and are falling into debt.
A report we released earlier this year showed the shocking extent to which many young mums are struggling. 61% aged 16-24 said that they were just about managing financially. Nearly half regularly missed meals in order to provide for their children. A third admitted to being worried about the financial situation in their household, with one in ten being extremely worried.
Shockingly, more than a quarter of young mums currently use foodbanks or have used them in the past. Food banks are now expecting the busiest Christmas ever, according to the Trussell Trust, while the cheapest Christmas dinner will cost 18 per cent more than last year.
It’s not just parents who are struggling either. An estimated five million young people are finding it hard to make ends meet. This is not just having an impact on bank balances but on mental health too. Our surveys show young people are feeling increasingly anxious, with a quarter saying their mental health has got worse over the past year.
Young people want to work, save money and give their families a nice Christmas. But constantly expecting them to live on smaller budgets is not sustainable.
The government must commit to improving their prospects – or even more will be left behind and the economy will suffer.
This means giving young people the right skills and support to find jobs, ensuring decent and flexible jobs are available and paying everyone a proper living wage that doesn’t discriminate against age.
Young people say their lives have gone backwards in many ways in 2017. Let’s ensure the same cannot be said of 2018.
Dr Carole Easton OBE is the chief executive of Young Women’s Trust. The charity tweets here.
To reach hundreds of thousands of new readers and to make the biggest impact we can in the next general election, we need to grow our donor base substantially.
That's why in 2024, we are seeking to generate 150 additional regular donors to support Left Foot Forward's work.
We still need another 124 people to donate to hit the target. You can help. Donate today.
3 Responses to “Too many young parents are struggling to put Christmas dinner on the table”
LordBlagger
No they aren’t strugling.
The put dinner on the table regularly, for other people.
You tax them and take their money first, leaving bugger all for their own needs.
Other people get feed at their expense.
Dulari-Leiylah Markelke
Tory Britain is a disgrace
William
This current load of offal running the country has no empathy for fellow humans at all. The only difference between them and Trumpf is that Trumpf is not afraid to say how he honestly feels towards others while this bunch feel the same but are scared to admit it. We seem to have reached a very low point in humanity.
Let’s hope for a better year and an upwards turn in the quality of life for the many rather than just the few!