Sorry son, Santa's coming in January: How parents are delaying Christmas because of money

No presents: Some parents aren't planning on shopping until January and hoping that their children don't notice

The holiday cheer may have to wait until after December 25 for some families as the impact of the tough economy is hurting the chances that children will be getting their Christmas presents as scheduled this year.

More families are planning to wait for the after Christmas sales to buy their presents and travel to see relatives to celebrate the holidays.

This comes as children have begun asking for fewer gifts from Santa, or asking for more family-wide presents like heating for their house or a job for their parents.

Kris Kringle is responding in kind, with department store Santas taking into account the financial hardship of many parents by promising less to their hopeful believers.

When it comes down to it, many of the children's gifts- if they get any- will be coming later no matter what.

According to MSNBC, six per cent of respondents in consulting firm Deloitte's annual holiday survey said that they will not be checking off their gift-lists until the new year.

After Christmas sales are common knowledge at this point, with many stores reducing prices by up to 75 per cent.

Online shopping seems to be even more cost effective for the wallet-weary.

Pushing back the date: More people are waiting until post-holiday sales to buy their Christmas presents in order to save during this economically-tough time

IBM's research department claims that in 2010, 22 per cent more people went shopping on the web on December 26, and 56 per cent more clicked their way to presents on December 27, than in 2009.

The hottest items on the wish list this year don't seem to be available in any sale bins, however, as children are asking for fewer gifts for themselves.



With unemployment stubbornly high, more homes in foreclosure and the economic outlook dim, many children who visit Santa are all too aware of the struggle to make ends meet.

'These children understand the conditions around the home when they ask for stuff,' said Richard Holden, a 69-year-old Santa from Gastonia, North Carolina.

'They understand when there are other children in the family, they need to be cautious or thoughtful of them as well and not ask for 10 to 12 items.'

Past prime: Families will be holding on to their trees longer this year as many plan to celebrate in the New Year in hopes of saving cash



