A heartbroken mum has warned her 10-year-old son not to expect any Christmas presents this year as the family struggles to make ends meet amid the cost-of-living crisis. Christine Borton says her son Dayjanta Samuels 'already knew' that there wouldn't be any gifts under the Christmas tree due to the family's 'desperate' financial situation.
As fuel bills continue to soar and everyday essentials become increasingly more expensive, she added that the youngster was 'disappointed but not surprised' to be told that the family couldn't afford to buy him any toys during the festive season. Last year, the family were flooded with gifts from kind strangers in the days before Christmas after telling the heartbreaking story of their financial struggles.
However, the mum-of-three says the family have been left in the 'same situation' again this year - with the additional burden of rising gas, electric and food bills. Christine, from the Midlands, lost her job as a support worker last year and says she is "very worried" about the significant cut backs she is going to have to make over the next few months.
Dayjanta was also 'stressed' about money and would not ask his mum to buy him things - even if he really wanted them, she said. "It’s very difficult at the minute," Christine told BirminghamLive.
"I’m in pretty much the same situation I was in last year. I am very worried about the next few months. Dayjanta looks at the electric meter and keeps telling me how much we’ve used - he’s obsessed about our finances all the time.
"He’s been looking forward to a Christmas present this year but he realises now it won’t happen. I explained this to him recently but he’s used to it by now - it wasn’t a surprise.
"I really appreciate all that happened for us last year, it gave us a break. But we’re in the same situation again, and with everything going up even more, it’s like the icing on the cake."
Last Christmas, the football-mad lad was sent some Arsenal pyjamas and duvet cover in the days before Christmas by kindhearted strangers. He said the generosity of the public had made him forget 'everything bad that had been happening.'
Christine, who relies heavily on her local foodbank in West Bromwich, has called on the government to better support struggling families during the cost of living crisis this winter.
"I don’t think the government cares - they’re not taking the situation seriously. They’ve given a bit of money to help with energy - but what about gas? What about food?
“Sometimes I just wanna scream and pack up and leave - but where am I going to go?”
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