Christmas Day is only two months away and families will gather during the time and expect gifts from one another, but will this year’s Christmas be the same, due to the current economic situation?

According to a survey conducted by Mirror, little girls like dolls, boys like cars and superhero clothes. Mothers go with whatever they can use in their kitchens and sitting rooms, but it is a little different with fathers as most of them do not expect gifts, but they are the ones who must pay for all the gifts.

With the rising fuel prices and the shocking food prices, one would think that this might change the previous routine of exchanging gifts, with the result that gift shops will suffer.

According to the manager of Nictus in Louis Trichardt, Ms Jackie Oosthuizen, they are sure that the economic factor will not change the way people buy gifts every Christmas, and they are expecting a lot of customers to come and buy their ideal Christmas gifts. “Christmas is the time of giving and we are positive that people will buy gifts as usual and that people will be able to squeeze their budgets a little, in order to buy Christmas presents and not spoil this year’s Christmas for their families,” she said.

According to the financial advisor at Makhense Financial Planning at Giyani, Lawrence Mankhense, this year’s Christmas is going to be difficult, because the market is unstable and it is not possible to predict how stable it will be when Christmas arrives. Makhense advises people to plan before they buy. He said that businesses which are not doing well might reduce the prices of their products to attract people.

Makhense further said that the situation could have an impact at the beginning of the year and it will affect children at schools, and this might also drive people to apply for loans.

“We can fix it by drawing up mini-budgets for Christmas and not exclude family members, by sitting down and showing them the situation. If you are used to taking trips at Christmas, try cutting them out and spending your Christmas at home. People must reduce Christmas gifts because it will cost them a lot of money,” emphasised Makhense.

According to Joyce Shirindza from Shitachi, who is self-employed, it is going to be very difficult this year, because people will have to change their annual budget when one looks at how expensive things that people need have become. She said that people should distinguish between what they want and what they need, because they might find themselves under difficult circumstances at the beginning of next year.

“Parents should explain the situation to their children if they see that they will not be able to buy gifts for their families this Christmas. If exchanging gifts every year is their routine, they will get hurt this year if they do not receive any.