A couple with ten children are having to slash their Christmas shopping spending this year – to about £2,000.
“Christmas normally costs us between £3,500 and £4,000, that’s just for presents,” said Lee Hamlin, 39, of Penistone.
He and wife Emma, 37, say they don’t spoil their kids but like to make sure they all get a good Christmas.
“We can’t spend that this year. It’s going to be about half I think. My hours aren’t what they were and we just can’t afford it. We feel the pinch just like everybody else.”
With ten in their flock, they probably feel it harder than most. But Lee says the finances are not the hardest part of having a big family.
“It’s the stigma, and people’s ignorance that’s the hardest part. People can be vile.
“We were in a fish and chip restaurant once. I think it was when we only had the eight, and these old dears were on the next table.
“I heard one of them say ‘look at them with all them kids. It’s disgusting. I bet the state’s paying for them’. I went over and told her we work and we don’t sit at home on benefits.”
Full story in the Chronicle today.
