The Big Conversation: Forty percent of people in Wakefield will be spending less this Christmas because of the pandemic

What would normally be a joyful, family occasion now has now handed people a lot more to grapple with

Families may be feeling the financial pinch as jobs are lost, hours reduced, and the government’s furlough scheme is set to conclude at the end of this month.

Those work Christmas parties are looking very unlikely.

And it’s unclear what kind of gatherings of households will be allowed.

Current national rules dictate that no more than six people from different households can gather in a home or garden.

But in other areas with additional local restrictions it is illegal to have anyone in your house or garden.

These restrictions were not in place in Wakefield at the time the Express went to print but the other four local authority areas of West Yorkshire – Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees and Leeds – are all under those restrictions.

But the pandemic hasn’t stopped people looking forward to the festive season.

A total of 45 per cent of readers who responded to the survey said they either agreed with or agreed strongly with the statement “It’s important to really make an effort with Christmas this year”.

Thirty-five per cent neither agreed nor disagreed and 19 per cent disagreed.

The amount of money that people said they expected to spend this Christmas varied but the largest proportion expected to spend less than previous years.

Thirty-two per cent of people said they either agreed or strongly agreed with the statement “I expect to spend as much or more on Christmas this year compared to last year”.

Twenty-seven per cent said they neither agreed nor disagreed and 40 per cent said they disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement.

This may be tied to people’s current employment situation or worries about their household finances.

More than half of people who responded – 57 per cent – said they were currently in paid work, 31 per cent said they were not working, and 3 per cent remained on furlough.

Forty per cent of people were concerned about their job security or income from paid work, 35 per cent said they were not concerned at all, and 26 per cent said they did know or the statement did not apply to them.

Forty-nine per cent were concerned about their personal or household finances, and 45 per cent were not concerned at all.

Half of people who responded said they had cut down on their spending since the pandemic began and 43 per cent said they were using local businesses more.

A majority of readers who responded said they saw Christmas as a good time to support local.

Asked about the statement “The Christmas period will be a good opportunity to support local businesses” 73 per cent agreed or strongly agreed.

Seventeen per cent neither agreed nor disagreed and just 6 per cent disagreed.