‘Forced to play the Grinch’ - 1 in 4 parents are cutting back on buying presents for their kids

When you’re a kid, there’s no better feeling than waking up at the crack of dawn and running to a stack of Christmas presents with your name on them.

But according to new Mozo research the rising cost of living might be putting an end to long wishlists, as 1 in 4 parents are planning to spend less on gifts this Christmas.

“It looks like many parents are being forced to play the unwanted role of the Grinch this Christmas with pressure on family budgets starting to bite for many Australians,” said Mozo Director, Kirsty Lamont.

“It’s not just kids though who’ll be receiving a little less cheer this year with nearly 1 in 3 of us spending less on presents for a partner.”

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Financial stress this festive season was also felt nationwide as 16% of those surveyed said they found the holidays ‘extremely stressful’, 23% were moderately stressed, 32% were a little stressed, while 27% were not stressed at all.

Christmas lunch and end-of-year holidays are also being reconsidered, with Aussies revealing this year they plan to spend 40% and 36% less, respectively.

While it’s not uncommon for the Aussie shoppers to pay for Christmas using their credit card, Lamont says that making slight changes to your plastic habits can help big time.

“Avoiding impulse purchases and effectively managing your credit card can help to reduce the financial strain you’re feeling,” she said.

“For example, if you are carrying a balance forward on your credit card then taking advantage of a low rate balance transfer can ease the repayment burden you’re under. It’s also worth checking your credit card’s interest rate.”

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So if you think a balance transfer card could be right for you, start your search by checking out the five offers down below, or head on over to our credit card comparison tool.

Mozo’s tips for staying financial afloat this Christmas

• Keep it a secret - If you come from a big family, then there’s no doubt that buying presents can often leave your bank account hanging on by a thread. But if you’re determined to cut back this year, suggest a Secret Santa approach to presents this year.

• Stick with digital carts - As much as we don’t like to admit it, some of us tend to go over the top when Christmas shopping in store. Remove the temptation to overspend by strictly doing your Christmas shopping online. This will keep you from jumping from store to store and it will be easier to stick to your list.

• Be honest - Sometimes, honesty really is the best policy and if you’re really feeling the pinch financially this year, it might be worth sitting your family down and opening up. Who knows, with 73% of Aussies feeling at least a little financially stressed this Christmas, they might even be feeling the same way and will be relieved you brought it up.