2023 has been the year of the cost-of-living crisis, with the RBA cash rate sitting at 4.35 per cent, inflation has surged to 7 per cent and we are still in the middle of a very unforgiving rental crisis.

According to an assessment from national housing campaign Everybody’s Home, residents in Sydney’s eastern suburbs have seen rents soar by 48.6 per cent over the past 12 months.

As we head into Christmas, the impacts of the year are being felt – particularly by parents who want to create festive cheer for their children but can’t afford it.

According to Finder, 51 per cent of Australians are buying less this year, and Aussie parents need help navigating Christmas on a firm budget.

Nothing highlights the plight of Aussie parents more than the posts filling Facebook groups from concerned mums with fears they simply can’t “afford” Christmas this year.

There are numerous posts on the subject, with one coming from an anonymous mum who shared she felt “bad” when it dawned on her she couldn’t afford the silly season.

“I feel so bad, I haven’t started Christmas shopping – I’ve got nothing. I can’t even afford it. I’m struggling so bad. What are some cheap toys please?” she asked.

The comment section was filled with mothers sharing their tips on how to get through Christmas without breaking their shrinking bank accounts and, while it’s comforting to know there are cheaper options such as heading to Kmart or trying second-hand stores, the issue is overwhelmingly sad.

Financial expert Alex Jamieson said the Christmas trend of 2023 is seeing people cut back.

“People are definitely more nervous around spending and feeling under pressure. We are seeing increased anxiety around day-to-day living costs – and how quickly they are moving upwards. It is becoming more challenging to balance the household expense budget,” he said.

Aussies are clearly grappling with these cut backs and it is playing out across people’s social media.

Another honest mum posted in the same group and asked if she was the only one feeling “guilty” that she couldn’t afford Christmas this year.

“Am I the only parent that is feeling guilty about not being able to afford much for my kids for Christmas this year?” she asked.

The comment section was filled with overwhelming support from fellow mums assuring her that Christmas isn’t just about the gifts and plenty of women shared they were in similar financial positions.

“Don’t feel bad at all. To tell you the truth we are struggling so bad and can’t afford Xmas this year,” one wrote.

Another shared her child was getting “nowhere” near as much this year thanks to the cost of living, and one mum shared she could only afford to give her son two presents this year, but she knew he’d still be “excited.”

Another mum revealed she was on a tight $150 budget but added that spending time with “loved” ones was most important, while another shared their kids would only get one toy this Christmas and a big one to share.

In that same group one mum shared that she was feeling heartbroken because she couldn’t afford to give her child the Christmas he’d been asking for.

She explained her son was two and this would be the first Christmas he can actually understand and enjoy.

“He keeps saying Santa is coming. It is breaking my damn heart to think I won’t be able to afford much for him because we have bills due a week before Christmas,” she revealed.

The sheer number of these mum call-outs in Facebook groups highlights how difficult it is for Aussie families this year.

Sarah Megginson, personal finance expert at Finder, said that the rising cost of living would impact everyone’s Aussie Christmas.

“Rising costs mean there may be less gifts under the tree this year and with mortgage repayments now costing thousands of dollars more per year than they did this time last year, Australian households have to look really closely at their budgets and they’re having to make sacrifices to save on the cost of Christmas,” she said.

Ms Megginson added that taking care of your finances was more important than going on a spending spree.

“The festive season is notorious for being an expensive time of year, but soaring inflation has made it even harder to manage financially in 2023,” she said.