Mum who can't afford Christmas worried she may have to tell children truth about Santa
A mum-of-four has taken to TikTok to express her concern about the cost of living crisis, which may mean she is forced to tell her children the truth about Santa.
Christmas is supposed to be the season of joy, but this year, millions of people will struggle to enjoy it due to the strain from the current financial crisis.
Rachel Cameron, who goes by the name of @mamacameronx on TikTok, told her followers back in September that she is struggling with her finances and even referred to the current financial climate as 'the cost of surviving crisis' because she is 'not living'.
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She said: "We've got four kids and I can't even buy clothes for myself to be warm.
"Can't afford to put my heating on - really need a winter wardrobe - but it is so expensive."
The Scottish mum adds that she 'can't begin to make Christmas happen' and is worried it will not look like it normally does for her family.
Rachel adds: "Is it going to get to a point where we have to tell our kids the truth about Christmas and where these things come from - are we going to have to say that mum and dad are in control of this and we can't make it happen this year?
"Because I don't want my kids thinking, 'have I not been good'.
"We do tell the kids that we send money to Santa for the toys, but I know everyone approaches that differently."
The mum continues by saying it is difficult 'once you have set the bar', despite presents not being everything.
She said: "Your kids are already writing Santa lists and I'm looking at them thinking where is it [the money] going to come from."
Like so many across the country, Rachel says that everything has gone up in price from the cost of her rent, petrol, and the food shop going up £20 a week.
She concludes: "How are we supposed to do the extra stuff that makes us actually live and make memories - money doesn't buy happiness, but it does buy opportunities."
Many people have taken to the comments on the TikTok, with a lot in a similar position to Rachel.
One person said: "Christmas at this rate is going to consist of turning the Heating on for the day."
A second added: "I'm cancelling Christmas, my 4 children and 13 grandchildren will have to understand."
And a third offered some advice: "I start in January couple of things a month buy Christmas I have everything in."
Callum Jones