FOUR IN 10 parents borrowed money in the past year just for essentials for their children.

Barnardos say targeted support vital

- BY CIARA O'LOUGHLIN

FOUR IN 10 parents borrowed money in the past year just for essentials for their children.

That was revealed in Barnardos' Cost of Living 2025 report, which is published today.

It also found of 1,000 parents polled, 19% had to cut back or go without food over the past six months.

And 40% said had skipped meals or reduced portion sizes so their children would have enough to eat, while 28% felt at some point they didn't have enough food to feed their children and 12% used a food bank.

Due to insufficient income, 18% of parents cut back on or went without heating and 17% on electricity.

One third of parents (32%) went into arrears on energy bills.

As the cost of living continues to rise, more than half (52%) cut back or went without social activities and 41% cut back on clothing.

One parent who took part in the survey said: "I have turned the heating down in the house to reduce the bill, meaning the kids now sleep with extra blankets and wear jumpers or hoodies around the house.