Inflation and rising costs are forcing some families to forego elaborate presents, holiday invitations, new clothing and gourmet Christmas meals.
Economists confirm what struggling families say: Christmas 2022 will be like no other, with most feeling the pinch of rising costs.
Financial expert Gerald Mwandiambira said increases in the cost of living meant the average household had to survive for 12 months on 11 months’ income.
“Most families will have to give up a lot. Some families are not going to travel home as they normally do.”
More than 320 women who belong to Facebook group 1 Family 1 Stockpile told the Sunday Times gifts, visiting families, extending invitations to lunch and new clothing were not on their Christmas lists.
However, those who still want to make it the most wonderful time of the year for loved ones are following the global trend of purchasing pre-owned gifts.
An OfferUp survey reveals that 78% of Americans are likely to buy pre-owned — or “preloved” — gifts this holiday season to avoid expensive items at retail stores.
Bronwin van Wyk of Milnerton in Cape Town purchased gifts for her children via Facebook and online preloved platform Yaga.
The single mother of three told the Sunday Times she saved “hundreds of rands”.
“My main motivation is cost-cutting and the availability of unique purchases without the time spent driving around to find them. I only buy Christmas gifts for my kids so they don’t care if it’s new or preloved. They just love the idea of receiving gifts on Christmas Day and that I’m able to get what they would like.
“Also I’m able to buy more gifts per child because of cost-cutting. The more gifts under the tree, the bigger the excitement. Preloved gifts and clothing are huge right now as you are able to sell anything because the market is more open than ever before and you have the power to negotiate a good deal if lucky,” Van Wyk said.
Yaga - online preloved buy and sell platform
R500 - South Africans are forking out R500 more a month for basic food items
10% - the 10% increase in cost of living translates into the average household surviving 12 months on income of 11 months
The director of health and charity NGO Choice Trust, Nicola Stuart-Thompson, said hospice shops were experiencing high volumes of customers and increased sales over the past year, especially this December.
“The hospices said they experienced some changes in the type of customers who access their shops.
"While it used to be mostly people with lower household income, they are now also finding individuals from middle to higher income groups looking to purchase second hand items.
“The types of goods which sell best depends on the quality of the items which are donated to the hospice. Furniture is always quickly scooped up, and clothing and bric-a-brac also do very well,” she said.
Durban & Coast SPCA’s Tanya Fleischer said the organisation’s charity shops had seen an increased demand for pre-owned Christmas decorations, serving platters and wine glasses.
Alesha Naidoo of Witbank in Mpumalanga is recycling and foregoing gifts for her family.
“As a family we are saving as much as possible. We have opted out of gift giving and decided to put that money back into the community. We are preparing much less for Christmas lunch. I am not using gift wrap. I have discovered that newspaper is a beautiful, inexpensive wrapping. We are saving the planet and helping our pockets. We are donating hygiene packs that we have made by collecting and purchasing hygiene items,” she said.
Meanwhile Mapitso Sebiloane’s family is not cancelling December.
The health-care worker from Alberton will join her family in the Free State.
“Christmas is different this year because we have consciously planned it in January as we decided to spend it together as family, unlike before, and it’s because we experienced so much loss and sickness within the family for the past two years.
“Each of us will contribute something. It might be a bowl of salad or a chicken — even ice water — but we planned everything so we have been budgeting and saving for the holiday.
“It’s vital to be together this holiday as my mother is not doing well, and we realised we don’t really have Christmas memories as we never celebrated it before — so now we want to create memories while we are still alive,” she said.
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