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Britons refuse
to be Scrooges this Christmas
A poll of 2000 Britons in
the run up to Christmas has found that Briton's have refused to be
Scrooges this year and cut their spending, yet they don't want to
get into debt either.
The survey found that more people want to pay for Christmas by
avoiding getting into Christmas debt this year and instead will pay
for it by moonlighting in their spare time, the survey was
undertaken by Freelancer, the UK and the world's largest
online jobs marketplace.
The survey found that 56% of respondents had earned more money by
moonlighting or taking on part time jobs in order to avoid going
into debt.
The survey found that more people are now able to work from home in
the evenings for employers across the whole of the UK and even the
world by finding part-time jobs online at sites like
Freelancer. In the last quarter, businesses posted more than a
quarter of a million jobs.
Traditionally, surveys at this time of year find that a third of
people will get into unsustainable debt, yet this survey shows that
more people are taking advice to avoid debt this Christmas. Yet they
don't want to spend less either.
The advice to earn more has paid off as figures for
Freelancer.co.uk
shows a 64% rise in earnings from people looking to earn extra money
using the site in the last 2 months of 2012, compared with the
last 2 months of 2011.
"It's the time of year when people get into unsustainable
debt. Yet it seems lessons have been learnt and people want to avoid
getting into debt this festive season, yet they don't want to spend
less. Our survey has found
that more people have earned extra money by moonlighting in their
spare time from their homes. More of them are finding work via the
internet, work that they can do for a couple of hours a night.
As Christmas approaches even more people are going online to find
extra work and even more jobs are available as businesses try to
take advantage of the extra spending this festive season." said Matt Barrie, CEO of Freelancer.co.uk,
the world's largest online jobs site.
SAMARITANS
SURVEY - NORTH WEST WORRIES ARE GROWING
CONCERNS about money, family, health and jobs
in the North West have increased since last year, according to
Samaritans' annual worries survey for 2012.
The exclusive YouGov poll for Samaritans shows that those putting
money and debt in their top 5 worries were at 55%, up 1% from last
year, and 6% higher than the national average of 49%. Family and
relationship issues were 2nd at 42%, up a full 10% from 2011's total
of 32%.
Those most worried about physical health have also risen noticeably
at 36%, up from 27% a year ago. The national average is 35%. 25% of
people in the North West, said they were most worried about their
appearance or getting older, a 3%rise from 2011.
Those people in the North West who had worries in 2012 were
considerably less likely to have a social drink to deal with their
problems than people in the North East (23% compared with 38%) and
are also below the national average of 26%.
On the other hand, the North West has a higher reliance on
prescription drugs than the North East; 7% compared with 2%. Both
regions are well below the national average of 11%.
Those who had worries in 2012 in the region were more likely than
anyone else in the UK to rely on their religious or spiritual
beliefs in times of worry (13%) except for Northern Ireland (22%)
The national average is just 9%.
Catherine Johnstone, Samaritans Chief Executive said:- "It's
clear that people in the North West are more worried about money,
family and health issues, than last year. People struggling to cope
should know that our branches across the region, and the rest of the
country, will continue to be there for anyone who needs someone to
listen to them." |
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Business lobby
group urges local Councils to help small business by scrapping car
parking charges
THE Forum of Private
Business is urging local authorities across the country to do their
bit for retailers by scrapping town centre car parking charges.
With Councils starting to put together their budget plans for the
2013/14 year; which are traditionally announced in the last week of
February (2012), the Forum is urging authorities to spare a thought for
struggling retailers and make car parking free for shoppers.
This, it says, would increase footfall in town centres, make them
more attractive places for firms to do business, and reduce the
number of vacant commercial premises.
The not-for-profit small business support group described any such
move as ‘one of the most business-friendly concessions' a
Council could make for small retailers in what is promising to be
another challenging trading year for the sector.
The Forum's Head of Policy, Alex Jackman, said:- "There are so
many good reasons why all Councils should be considering something
along these lines, but first and foremost would be to help retailers
through another tough trading year.
High streets across the country are under threat and have been for
many years now from the likes of out-of-town shopping centres where
parking is universally free. Then there's the internet and the rise
of e-tailers taking an increasingly bigger slice of a shrinking
consumer pie.
It doesn't take a genius to work out that Councils charging people
ever more for the privilege of coming in to their town centres to
spend their hard earned cash is not the best plan to grow footfall.
Set it against a backdrop of spiralling motoring costs and it's a
recipe for disaster."
The Forum says national research shows an alarming number of shops
closing down. Between 2000 and 2009 some 15,000 retailers rolled
down the shutters in town centres, but a further 10,000 closed in
2010 and 2011 suggesting failure rates are gaining pace.
Jackman continued:- "If Councils want to see fewer empty
properties blighting their high streets, then axing car parking
charges is something they must look at. It's no longer acceptable to
just offer free parking at Christmas to help traders during the
festive period, a tactic in itself which shows Councils do
understand the link between free parking and increased trade.
If Councils want thriving town centres with improved occupancy
levels then they need to take drastic action without delay."
The Forum has pointed to Lancashire's Pendle Council where free
parking is offered right across the borough in all 45 of the
authority's car parks for the 1st 2˝ hours.
Councillor Paul White, the Council's Executive Councillor for
Business, said:- "Free parking's not just for Christmas here,
it's all year round! We pride ourselves on our support for
private enterprise, and recognise that it's a great thing for
business, and encourages people to visit our local shops and
services.
We have 45 car parks in the borough and we celebrate free parking
365 days of the year. People who come to shop and enjoy our leisure
facilities in Pendle often comment on it."
The Forum says Pendle's model, which offers two and half hours of
free parking with a disk controlled system, is a great example of a
Council doing its bit for local business.
Interestingly, Pendle was also highlighted in Forum research earlier
this year for making it into the top 10 of English authorities which
paid a high proportion of its supplier invoices in under 10 days;
again underling the small business friendly culture there.
Jackman added:- "There's no doubt that Pendle's example should
be looked at by other Councils, and sooner rather than later,
because to stem the tide of retail closures in 2013 will require
swift action.
It doesn't look like trading conditions are going to get much better
for retailers next year: weak growth, rising business costs, reduced
returns for investors and consumer spending that is now the same as
2002 levels. And the internet is only going to get stronger.
The Government has done its bit by extending Small Business Rate
Relief in the Autumn Statement, now it's the turn of Councils to do
likewise with free car parking, or any kind of concession for
motorists that entices shoppers in to their local Town Centre." |
