count your blessings

Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Christmas is always a time for saying thanks and receiving presents, but that's only if you're lucky. I was listening to the radio earlier today and it said that in Manchester, where I live, there's around 150,000 families that earn 60% less than the national average. I literally couldn't believe it. Hundreds of thousands of children living in child poverty, struggling to live really upsets me.

Image from WeHeartIt - edited by me

These families (often with young children) receive less than £17 a day. That £17 we usually spend on ONE MAC blush or even more than ONE new Benefit mascara, but for those people, it needs to pay for food, rent, heating and electricity. Food which they need, rent that they need to pay, heating that they need to keep warm and electricity for simple things like lighting. 

I'm a high-end makeup lover, but this does really put things into perspective. When buying makeup, I think "Oh, it's only a tenner - it's a bargain!" but that's over half of these people's daily budgets. It's strange to think that a 10 minute drive from my house could be like this and the parents are struggling to pay for their kid's Christmas presents.

When you're next shopping, try and pick up just one spare toy, as little as £1 or £2 and donate it to one of Key 103's donation drop-off points. There's even one in the Trafford Centre where you can drop off any donations whilst you're Christmas shopping. All of the toys can be donated from the 28th November and all of the toys you donate will go to disadvantaged children in Manchester and will just help to make their Christmas a little bit better. To read more about donating toys, please click here.

Elise

15 comments :

  1. This is such a beautiful post. You're completely right, it's important to keep things in perspective. :)

    life-of-libby.blogspot.co.uk xx

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  2. Such a great post and so true! Thank you for sharing & reminding! xxx

    www.stylapetite.blogspot.co.uk

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  3. This is such a great post- you don't really think about what the money one mac lipstick is worth could be used for and this really puts things into perspective. :) xx

    theprettyseason.blogspot.com

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  4. This is such a lovely post. It's hard to think about those that are quite less well off as we are. I don't live in England so it'd be kind of hard to donate to this particular cause. Instead there is an Australian version which I donate to every year. It's sad to think there are kids out there whose parents couldn't afford to buy them Christmas presents. Maybe one day no one will have to miss out, at least we can dream anyway. Looking forward to future posts :)

    Debra Bros Blog

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  5. such a lovely post! the festive season is definitely about giving and appreciating the smaller things in life

    http://mkstyleramblings.blogspot.com.au/

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  6. I'm glad you wrote a post like this, it's fabulous and a harsh smack in the face for shopaholics and spenders like myself, I honestly dont think we count our blessings enough! Most of us are happy and healthy with great families around us, we should be thankful for that!
    Ffion x
    thepoorgirlsguideto.blogspot.com

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  7. This is so true and such an awesome idea! Particularly around this time a year when it's easy to get wrapped up in material things.

    wwww.amadhattersteaparty.blogspot.co.uk

    Xx

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