Feeling the impact of rising costs at Christmas

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Voting was almost evenly split in responses to this week's web poll.

The question was “Has the rise in the cost of living affected your Christmas plans?.

A total of 263 people responded. Of those, 135(or 51 percent) said they had felt the impact of rising prices on their Christmas spend.

But not far behind were 123 people (47 percent) who felt it had not.

The rest were unsure.

Among the “yes” voters was this comment: “Everyday items are expensive and it's getting worse.”

“Absolutely affected this Xmas,” said another. “Not enough dollars for the same value presents, or the same trimmings or the same cooking, or the same travelling. It's all less everything this year, pity, and supermarket costs are unreal.”

From this respondent: “Yes — struggling to pay bills as well.”

From another: “Family members cannot afford the airfares to get home to Gisborne for Christmas.”

“Everything is expensive,” commented one.

Another said,“We are lucky we are able to grow our own meat and I get given a ham by my work. If we didn't I can't imagine having to buy it at the prices now. I think a lot of people will be really struggling.”

Then there were those who do not feel the cost of living is an issue this festive season.

“I'd say not really because I'm possibly still spending as much on pressies and on Christmas as I've always done and I think that's even in a cost-of-living crisis,” commented one.

Another charitable soul said, “Christmas is a time of giving, so I honestly don't think it's affected my spending or plans. But perhaps the cost-of-living crisis has made me more aware of how much money I'm spending and how far my money is going, more than in years gone by.”

“No,” said one. “We will continue to be careful with our money though, as we always have been.”

Then there was this response: “We don't celebrate Christmas, which makes life so calm and peaceful.”