Frugal festivities or making merry?

RISING energy bills, falling house prices, stock market collapse — the credit crunch is really biting in Britain now.

A recent survey has revealed that four in five businesses are cutting back on everything from hiring new staff to paying for the office Christmas party.

Local shops are predicting a fall in profits as Oldhamers batten down the hatches and prepare for a pared down Christmas.

But will the credit crunch affect the way Oldhamers celebrate and what, if any, changes will they have to make in the run up to December 25?

Reporter DAWN ECKERSLEY headed to Uppermill to find out.


FOR teacher Jim Riley (56), from Shaw, Christmas 2008 will not be a case of “Bah, humbug”.

The festive season will be no different to any other year, as far as he is concerned, adding: “I am not going to make any kind of changes at all as I don’t have to worry about moving house or changing jobs and I don’t have any financial investments.

“I won’t have to cut back on presents or food so it will be business as usual. I have three grandchildren and they will be getting their presents as usual. I blame the media for blowing the whole credit crunch thing wildly out of proportion.”

However, it’s a different story for Grasscroft marketing manager Anna Lancashire, who will be making cut backs this year in preparation for the birth of her second child in February.

The 34-year-old said: “It won’t be the same as usual this year and there will be fewer presents, but I think it will feel good to be a bit more frugal and just get the things that you really want rather than splashing out on lots of unnecessary things.

“Everyone else is doing it so it doesn’t feel like we’re missing out and we will still have a lovely Christmas. We will be making strict lists and sticking to them and realising what is actually important.”

Teacher Sarah Chandler, from Uppermill, said her job is not totally secure so she needs to think about the future.

The 34-year-old added: “It is only natural that everyone is economising. I have two children aged seven and one and we will have to be mindful of the future and just get what we need to get to make sure it is a good Christmas without the frills of previous years.”

Pensioner Brian Burns, from Austerlands, has three grandchildren and says he will be budgeting this Christmas.

The 68-year-old added: “We can’t give away what we haven’t got so I think Christmas will be a lot quieter this year.

“My wife Pauline and I have had to curb our spending so we are socialising less and this will be reflected when we give our family presents this year.

“We have cut back in all areas of our lives, as have a lot of people.

“Cutting back does not mean that we won’t have a fantastic Christmas, though.”

Alex Balmforth (55), from Dobcross, said: “I am single and I don’t have a mortgage so I have not been affected by the credit crunch at all. Financial problems aren’t really bothering me but I have a great deal of sympathy for everyone affected.

“I feel this has been coming for such a long time and it is only to be expected that property prices would crash like this. People got greedy and we have brought it on ourselves.

“I will be a bit more careful this Christmas but I am not worried.”

Muriel Ramsker, also from Dobcross, said it will be business as usual for her on December 25.

The 78-year-old added: “My main worry is my energy bills which have almost doubled.

“I have three grandchildren and I have worked hard all my life so I will be making sure that Christmas is going to be the same as always this year.”