Mothers skip meals for sake of hungry children, says study

MORE than 70 per cent of families are financially “on the edge”, with one in five mothers regularly missing meals so their children can eat, according to new research.

The survey of more than 2,000 mothers by parenting site Netmums found a quarter of families are living on credit cards, 5 per cent take regular payday loans and one in 100 has turned to loan sharks to stay afloat.

The poll also found that almost half of families have sold or pawned goods to make money to live, while 16 per cent are being treated for a stress-related illness because of lack of cash.

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Almost two-thirds (64 per cent) have less money coming in than this time last year, and 61 per cent are short of money every week.

Almost a third (30 per cent) have borrowed money from friends and family.