Charity-shop and children spending
UK parents are turning to charity shops in order to clothe their children as recession takes its toll on the country.
According to the research from VoucherCodes.co.uk’s most recent Parent Poll, a quarter of parents shop from charity shops and an increasing number of people suffer from ‘post natal recession’ – cutting down on the amount they spend on their children due to rising costs of living.
A third of parents say they are spending less this year than the previous with the average parent using £60 each month to clothe and entertain children. Over two-thirds of the lowest income families say that the rising costs of the weekly shop have been the primary cause of the cut backs on children spending.
Duncan Jennings, co-founder of VoucherCodes.co.uk, said: “Our research shows that any perceived stigma around thrifty shopping is disappearing as parents are forced to find affordable clothes and toys for their children during this difficult economic period”.
Nevertheless, UK charity shops are welcoming fifty per cent more parents than they did five years ago. One in five are planning to buy birthday gifts for other children from charity shops to cut costs and nearly a quarter of parents intend to buy Christmas gifts from charity shops this year.
Jennings added: “The increased reliance on charity shops coupled with the growing popularity of online deals and high street discounts, means that by making just a few small changes to the way they shop, parents can really cut back on what they spend without cutting back on what they give”.
VoucherCodes.co.uk’s Parent Poll revealed Birmingham to be the charity shop capital with more than a third of British children dressed in charity shops items and over a third of parents take advantage of discount deals and vouchers to reduce spending money on children.
One in five parents are content with buying a charity shop item as a birthday gift and just under a third of low-income households are cutting back on child-related spending to save up money for a family holiday during the summer period.
