Independent Age, the older people’s charity, has launched its first ever online Christmas Calculator to help older people and their families budget for Christmas.
For older people on a fixed income, the festive season can be a difficult time of year. Many people want to be able to buy gifts for their loved ones, but may struggle to save enough money. According to the Money Advice Trust, around a third of Brits borrow money to pay for Christmas presents and almost a quarter feel under pressure to spend more than they can afford[1].
The Christmas Calculator is an easy-to-use online tool, which allows savers to put in how much they’d like to spend on each present and how much they need to allow for things like food, drink, decorations, and other expenses. The calculator then works out how much you’d need to save each day, week or month to be able to afford everything.
By planning early and starting to save now, older people and their families may be able to have a worry-free Christmas, without going into debt by having to use credit cards or borrowing money.
The Independent Age Christmas Calculator is free and available to all at independentage.org/christmas-calculator.
The charity is also relaunching its popular Winter Wise advice guide, which offers advice on how to keep well and stay safe during the winter months. The free guide provides practical advice and tips to older people, their families and carers on how to look after themselves during the coldest months. The advice spans from eating well and staying healthy to coping with loneliness and making winter more affordable, including keeping your home warm. Winter Wise is free to order and download from independentage.org/winter or call 0800 319 6789 to order a copy.
Older people who would like more advice about what benefits they may be entitled to can call the free Independent Age helpline on 0800 319 6789.
To make a donation or find out more about how you can support the work of Independent Age and help older people stay independent, please visit independentage.org.
[1] Money Advice Trust: http://www.moneyadvicetrust.org/media/news/Pages/Borrowing-up-this-Christmas-as-one-in-four-feel-pressure-to-overspend.aspx, accessed 12.10.2017