A mum told of her heartbreak at having to tell her children Santa isn't real because she can't afford to buy them Christmas presents.
Rachel, 30, desperately searched for advice online and asked others how they are coping financially, especially in the run-up to Christmas.
She is having to decide whether to reduce her food shopping to save extra money or pay her bills in a "bill roulette" in the cost-of-living crisis.
"It's horrific leading up to Christmas, it makes me physically ill," she said.
"My daughter has her birthday just before Christmas as well so I'm essentially Christmas shopping for four and birthday shopping as well which then feels like I'm shopping for five.
"We're fighting an impossible battle."
Rachel, who is a mum to four children under the age of ten, highlighted how bad it is getting for families and said she might have to tell her children that Santa Claus isn't real due to her money struggles.
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@mamacameronx / CATERS NEWS)With childcare costs at an all-time high, Rachel doesn't work as it would be too crippling financially, she said.
Instead, she is surviving off Universal Credit but this only covers people with a maximum of two children.
"If I had family to help me, I'd go back to work," Rachel said.
"People say I'm sitting on my backside all day but I've been a working mum and now I'm a stay at home mum and feel like I'm doing the job of ten people.
"At least being at work, I'd be able to have a cup of tea and a sit down.
"I used to be a manager for Samsung when I'd had my son, who's now eight, and worked up the ladder so could afford nursery fees and have a living wage.
"Then I got pregnant with my daughter, who's now five, and I had every intention of going back as I loved my job.
"When I started looking at nursery places and the cost of nursery and after school care for two, it was costing around £1,800 which understandably ruined my salary.
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@mamacameronx / CATERS NEWS)"I could work 50 hours a week and be lucky to have £50 a month left, or I could be a stay at home and be the one to raise my kids rather than someone else, whilst in the same financial position.
Rachel, from Scotland, has been inundated with messages from trolls telling her she shouldn't have had so many children, and how she spends her days "sitting around".
She added: "People assume I don't want to work but I would love to. No one in their right mind would work 50 hours a week for nothing.
"I feel trapped because my youngest is 19 months old, so he isn't close to starting school yet. We're raising four kids on the money given to raise two kids."
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The family includes Rachel's husband's child from a previous relationship, her child from a previous relationship, and their two children together.
"We didn't discuss having any more as I was on the pill when I fell pregnant," she said.
"I then fell pregnant with my youngest whilst on the coil so it's not like we hadn't tried to not have any more.
"But to be honest, it's no one's business about my contraception. I hate the assumption people have telling me I shouldn't have popped out kids I can't afford.
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@mamacameronx / CATERS NEWS)"We're just surviving. We play roulette with our direct debits, whoever comes to us first can have the money. Will it be the gas and electric or the car finance?
"I don't feel like we're built to just survive and have no enjoyment. I should be able to buy my kids clothes without stressing.
"I've been sewing up the same pair of my own leggings for four years.
"People who say they don't understand and have never been in this position, I tell them 'if I got a job, who would look after my kids?'
"I can't return them or leave them in the house.
"Someone even said I should work night shifts, but what do I do with my 18-month-old? I wouldn't survive."
Rachel said some people want to offer solutions "without thinking if it's even possible" and said she has heard every option under the sun.
Struggling financially is making the pressure of Christmas even harder for her and the family, to the point where she does not know if she can afford anything for the festive period.
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Getty Images)"When I'm doing a food shop, I try to buy one thing each week so instead of having chicken we will have sausages and that takes £3 off the food shop," she said.
"Or instead of buying so many snacks, I'll reduce it and then save £5.
"I also go to charity shops, and I look on Facebook market place to see if anyone is selling anything of use.
"My husband and I have even taken out phone contracts and sold the phone for extra money, but will still be paying off the phone.
"I just want to make my kids happy. I don't want them to feel embarrassed and as a parent you'll do anything. I'm always thinking of ways.
"I've never bought my husband a gift and he hasn't for me, not even chocolate, everything goes to the kids.
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Getty Images)"What do I do when the kids get older and want more expensive clothes as their friends are wearing it?
"If no one speaks out, nothing will change and people will feel alone.
"I know I'm not the only one in this situation, and I know there are people who are in worse positions, but I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.
"Other opinions don't matter to me but when people think I'm lazy and don't work hard, it's not fair. I wish I could work.
"If people lived my life, I'd love them to tell me where you can fit a job in?"
