Early Christmas push from retailers is 'putting huge pressure on Donegal families'

The early promotional push for Christmas is making life difficult for families, it has been claimed.

Mary T Sweeney, Aontú’s Donegal Representative, believes the push is too early and families have enough to worry about in the current cost-of-living crisis, especially with children having only returned to school in the past few weeks.

“Donegal families are trying to make ends meet and shouldn’t be faced with shelves groaning with Christmas goodies in September,” she said. “They shouldn’t have to deal with mince pies filling supermarket shelves as early as September.

“We’re not even near Halloween yet and the supermarkets are laden down with tins of Christmas sweets, puddings and mince pies. It’s putting huge pressure on families who are still trying to get back on their feet after shelling out huge sums to get their kids back to school.

READ NEXT: Balance called for with none of Ireland's 600 professors from above Dublin-Galway

“I was doing the shopping recently and the shelves were stacked high with mince pies and Christmas puddings, and much as I love them, I don’t want to see them yet.

“This dash towards Christmas is getting earlier and earlier each year, and this is putting inordinate and unnecessary pressure on families who feel obliged to start spending for Christmas months in advance. I really feel for these families who are already having to cope with the ever-tightening, serious cost-of-living crisis.

“Many of them end up going into debt just to try and keep up with the escalating costs of Christmas. We see families in the supermarkets with little kids in tow and they naturally become very excited on seeing the lovely Christmas goodies. It’s not fair, it really isn’t.

“I understand that supermarkets need to make profits, but I do believe it is vital that commercial interests do not override the well-being of families. I am urging retailers to consider holding off on displaying Christmas goods until a little bit closer to Christmas and give families space to enjoy the lead-up to Christmas as it was meant to be — with excitement and joy, not stress and fatigue. Let’s keep the magic in Christmas and let autumn be a time of anticipation and excitement”.