75% of parents have cut back on luxuries

Three quarters of parents have cut back on luxuries in the last six months, but are most likely to reduce spending on themselves rather than on their children, according to a www.workingmums.co.uk survey.

The survey of 1,650 working mums found that socialising and clothes were the main areas people had made cutbacks - 73% were going out less, and 62% admitted to cutting back on clothing purchases. Almost 50% had reduced spending on holidays and personal grooming, and had cut back the amount they were saving. However, fewer had cut back on spending on their children - only 26% spending less on treats and days out, 18% cutting back on clothes and toys and 15% on children's activities.

The majority questioned were also less likely to charge things to a credit card in the current economic climate, although 23% claimed they were more likely to use a credit card during the recession.

Some 65% of the working mums surveyed said they had holidayed in the UK in the last 12 months, with a smaller percentage - 46% - visiting Europe and a mere 25% other countries in the world. For UK holidays, hotels seemed most popular, followed by self-catering properties, caravans, camping and holiday villages. Of those holidaying abroad 30% used the major holiday firms - the rest arranged their holidays independently using the internet or independent agents.

Working parents seem to also be making significant use of the internet for their shopping requirements - 99% had use of a PC or laptop at home and 72% buy clothes and shoes online. Some 58% purchase books via the internet, 57% purchase toys online, and 50% buy groceries via the internet.