Mum-of-four may have to tell children truth about Santa as she can't afford presents

A mum says she might have to tell her kids the truth about Santa because she can't afford to buy them presents.

Rachel, from Scotland, has four young children and has been struggling to make ends meet in the midst of the cost of living crisis.

The 30-year-old opened up about her situation in a post to TikTok, in which she explained that she was out of work.

While people may think she's lazy, she said that she can't afford to go back to work due to the massive cost of childcare.

"If I had family to help me I'd go back to work," she said. "People say I'm sitting on my backside all day, but I've been a working mum and now I'm a stay-at-home mum and feel like I'm doing the job of ten people.

"At least being at work I'd be able to have a cup of tea and a sit down.

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"I used to be a manager for Samsung when I'd had my son, who's now eight, and worked up the ladder so I could afford nursery fees and have a living wage, but then I got pregnant with my daughter who is now five, and I had every intention of going back, as I loved my job.

"When I started looking at nursery places and the cost of nursery and after school care for two, it was costing around £1,800 which understandably ruined my salary."

Adding: "I could work 50 hours a week and be lucky to have £50 a month left, or I could stay at home and be the one to raise my kids rather than someone else, whilst in the same financial position."

The situation is so bad that Rachel's left playing 'bill roulette' as she can't afford to pay them all.

She said: "We're just surviving! We play roulette with our direct debits, whoever comes to us first can have the money. Will it be the gas and electric or the car finance?

"I don't feel like we're built to just survive and have no enjoyment, I should be able to buy my kids clothes without stressing.

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"People who say they don't understand and have never been in this position, I tell them, if I got a job, who would look after my kids? I can't return them or leave them in the house."

And now, she's terrified of what Christmas will bring, with her children expecting presents.

"I just want to make my kids happy," she said. "I don't want them to feel embarrassed and as a parent you'll do anything. I'm always thinking of ways.

"It's horrific leading up to Christmas, it makes me physically ill. My daughter has her birthday just before Christmas as well so I'm essentially Christmas shopping for four and birthday shopping as well which then feels like I'm shopping for five.

"I've never bought my husband a gift and he hasn't for me, not even chocolate, everything goes to the kids!

"I know I'm not the only one in this situation, and I know there are people who are in worse positions, but I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy."