Making ends meet: Third of parents likely to take on extra work to afford Christmas
Video report by ITV Wales' Kelsey Redmore
Almost a third of working parents across Wales are likely to take on extra work to afford Christmas this year.
The research by Action for Children found parents will also avoid taking time off over the festive season as living costs continue to soar.
More than 80% of families are worried about the rising energy bills with almost a third planning to take on extra work or avoid time off to pay for Christmas.
It means many will miss out on important family moments such as unwrapping presents together or attending a school nativity play.
According to the charity's research, some of the top money worries for Welsh families this Christmas include:
As a consequence, some parents have admitted that they will be gifting their children everyday basics such as school books and school shoes as presents this year.
Working parents on Universal Credit in particular plan to cut back on heating (38%) and eating (24%) with some saying they are likely to replace some meals with breakfast cereal.
As the Covid pandemic edges closer to it's two-year anniversary, working parents feel the pressure to make sure their children have a happy Christmas this year.
Further researches showed that the majority of children feel as thought their mums and dads are worried about making it a happy time and over half admit they are concerned about keeping their family safe from Covid.
Action for Children's Pembrokeshire Young Carers service supports Roxy Davies, 12, who looks after her younger sister who is in the process of being diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Condition.
Roxy's mum, Francesca Davies, said: "Covid and the rising cost of living is a real challenge for us.
"My husband, Lee, works full time as a forklift truck driver, but the energy bills seem to rise on a weekly basis on our smart meter and is alarming with the cold weather and Christmas coming.
"Lee doesn't have the opportunity of extra shifts at this time of year and with four children in the house, we have to ensure everyone is warm."
Roxy's Action for Children support worker, Vikki Phillips, said she sees families struggling on a daily basis.
She added: "Parents are worried about Christmas and concerned about how they're going to provide for their children with rising costs."
National Director for Wales at Action for Children, Brigitte Gater, said: "For most of us the festive season is a happy time but there are children all over Wales and the UK who face a very different Christmas.
"After almost two years of worry, isolation and poverty, many families are now struggling to afford the basics like food, heating and clothes.
"Our frontline workers see the impact the pandemic and cost of living crisis is having on children and families who are under pressure every day, but we also see the difference that can be made - that's why we're asking people to donate to help us make a life-changing difference to vulnerable children this Christmas and beyond.
"With your help this Christmas we can be a vital lifeline for even more UK children. We can make sure they have the basics, like hot meals and proper winter clothes and offer emergency support to keep homes warm and help families pay the bills."