More than half of people in the UK expect family arguments this Christmas — with the majority centring on the cost-of living-crisis, a survey suggests. A poll of 2,033 adults questioned on behalf of relationships charity Relate found that 53 per cent were anticipating family arguments over the festive season, with 73 per cent saying it would be down to soaring energy prices and money.
Turning the heating on is expected to be the top source of conflict (20 per cent), followed by how much to spend on gifts (18 per cent) and the cost of electricity used for Christmas lights (15 per cent), the survey found. More than a third (34 per cent) said they expected the cost-of-living crisis to have a negative impact on their relationships with loved ones this winter.
This rose to almost half (47 per cent) for those in the age groups 16-24 and 25-39. The cost of gifts was also a concern, with 36 per cent saying they felt pressure to buy gifts they could not really afford. Relate counsellor Holly Roberts said: “Money is often a concern around Christmas time, but this year it’s on our minds even more due to the cost-of-living crisis.
“When we’re worried about whether we’ll be able to pay the bills in January, we might get triggered and react angrily to somebody turning the heating on. For the person on the receiving end, their first response may be to act defensively and, before you know it, there’s a full-blown argument.
“If somebody wants to turn the heating on or off and you don’t agree, try to understand what fear or un-met need is behind this. Acknowledge that you can see this is important to them and use ‘I’ statements to express how you’re feeling without placing blame on the other person.
Relate is launching an online service called The Christmas Sanctuary, which features self-help articles, escapism and relaxation tools to support people during what they believe is likely to be a challenging time for many.
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