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PRINTLack of money means 13% of UK would rather spend Christmas alone than visit family and friends empty-handed
Embargoed until: Monday 21 December 2009The festive period is set to lose its sparkle this year, according to research by grant-giving charity Elizabeth Finn Care, which shows many people could be facing a lonely and isolated Christmas.
The GfK NOP/Elizabeth Finn Care study, titled ‘Keeping up Appearances’, released today, shows that faced with financial hardship, 13% of adults in the UK would consider spending the festive period alone rather than visiting family and friends empty-handed.
The research also reveals that 31% are spending less money this Christmas, compared to previous years, with 41% cutting back on socialising with family and friends, 50% spending less on food and 42% reducing their travel costs.
Elizabeth Finn Care knows from experience through the people it helps that social exclusion affects those living in financial difficulty. Over half of the people that seek support from the charity don’t have enough money to visit family and friends, whilst 25% can’t afford public transport*.
Bryan Clover, Director of Casework at Elizabeth Finn Care, said: “Social exclusion is a large part of living in financial hardship and leaves people feeling depressed and vulnerable. Christmas is a time for spending with loved ones and friends, but these results suggest many people in the UK could be facing a lonely Christmas, resulting from financial burden.”
Meanwhile, of those who are celebrating Christmas, 15% are using credit cards (and not paying off the balance in full each month) to cover the costs of the festive period, 61% are using their savings and 12% are relying on overdrafts.
Clover added: “Many people who have lost their jobs this year will be using up all their savings and relying on credit cards to fund Christmas this year, too embarrassed perhaps to seek financial support – keeping up appearances, in effect. It’s never easy to ask for help, but charities such as Elizabeth Finn Care can prevent people from falling into a downward spiral of debt.”
The survey also highlights the health implications of living in financial hardship, with 27% of UK adults, who celebrate Christmas, feeling worried about their current financial situation, and 10% feeling angry.
For further information and interviews, please contact:
Kellie Smith, Senior Press Officer. Telephone: 020 7396 6741. Mobile: 07783 435 746 or email kellie.smith@elizabethfinn.org.uk
Or Laura Johnston, Press Officer. Telephone: 020 7396 6697. Mobile: 07779 011 542 or email laura.johnston@elizabethfinn.org.uk
Kellie Smith, Senior Press Officer. Telephone: 020 7396 6741. Mobile: 07783 435 746 or email kellie.smith@elizabethfinn.org.uk
Or Laura Johnston, Press Officer. Telephone: 020 7396 6697. Mobile: 07779 011 542 or email laura.johnston@elizabethfinn.org.uk
Elizabeth Finn Care, 1 Derry Street, London W8 5HY
Notes to Editors:
- Elizabeth Finn Care is a charity that supports people struggling to cope with sudden or unexpected changes in their circumstances.
- Elizabeth Finn Care provides one-off and ongoing financial help, tailored to individual circumstances, as well as emotional support through our experienced caseworkers and national volunteer network.
- People who seek help from Elizabeth Finn Care are coping with unexpected changes in their life and the resulting financial hardship, typically due to ill health, disability or marital breakdown.
- Since mid 2008, we are increasingly helping people who are struggling financially after redundancy.
- 75% of people who seek help from Elizabeth Finn Care have some level of mental health problems.
- Since Elizabeth Finn Care was founded, we have given £130,000,000 to those in need.
- The research was conducted by GfK NOP amongst 1247 adults aged 16+ in the UK.