Borrowing to soar at Christmas

iolanthe07

It would be interesting to know, not that we ever could, how those who regularly attend church fare in comparison to general poplace on Christmas debt.

Well I am a regular churchgoer and I shall certainly enjoy Christmas, though will spend little more than in a normal month. We have a family pact to spend no more than £10 on each present. This saves embarrassment and debt and inspires some ingenious home made creations.

Harry_Powell

We've volunteered for this:

http://www.mobilexmas.org.uk/index.asp?cat=2-0&page=Xmas2009.htm

Please sign up if you can give a little time around the festive period.

Austin_Allegro

kabayiri wrote: »

The whole concept of Christmas may make sense on a religious front, but it is less watertight on an financial basis.

All the TV advertising is about inducing a short-term feel good factor. There is definitely a feel of "sod it, just enjoy the festivities now, and worry about paying for it later".

Against this backdrop it is little wonder that the harsh realities of budgeting get pushed aside.

Twas ever thus. By the 1840s, Christmas had been pretty much forgotten as a secular festival - it had much the same status as Easter does today. It was only the burgeoning consumer culture, made possible by the railways and mass production, that enabled it to become the buying frenzy we know and love today.

nembot

Bah Humbug, tiz nothing but a capitalist holiday

That said, my little'un still amazes me. Could have pretty much anything she wanted (within reason of course) yet at nine years old, she isn't particularly interested in xmas presents (let's hope that continues in her teenage years, though I'm sure the ladies on here will tell me it's not).

The Easter response a couple of years ago, really cracked me up "I'm not a big fan of chocolate dad"

Pobby

Got my £250 heating allowance this year. We worked out that it will cover all gas, leccy and water rates for the 3 months. And a nice, new crispy tenner left over.

I used to love Christmas as a kid but now my wife is working both Christmas day and Boxing day. People need help even on those days. Being 200 miles away from family it is a very quiet affair.

However, the whole present thing gets me down as we have a huge amount of people, not just blood relatives but we have also collected lots of God kids and I suppose that my wife is right. You can`t buy the God kids something and leave out the brothers and sisters.

What I do object to is my wife insists on buying family members boy friends and girl friends prezzies even if the said parties have only been around a short time. She doesn`t go on the idea that if, during the year, they split up, the gifts should be handed back for recycling to the new army of b/f, g/f recruits.

By the way. Well done all of those that are doing something for others Christmas Day.

LizEstelle

Ok, so people are going to borrow a bit more at Christmas. Tell me news, not history.

I doubt whether it'll make much impact on this:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/6694106/Debt-repayment-reaches-record-levels.html

bo_drinker

Pobby wrote: »

Got my £250 heating allowance this year. We worked out that it will cover all gas, leccy and water rates for the 3 months. And a nice, new crispy tenner left over.

I used to love Christmas as a kid but now my wife is working both Christmas day and Boxing day. People need help even on those days. Being 200 miles away from family it is a very quiet affair.

However, the whole present thing gets me down as we have a huge amount of people, not just blood relatives but we have also collected lots of God kids and I suppose that my wife is right. You can`t buy the God kids something and leave out the brothers and sisters.

What I do object to is my wife insists on buying family members boy friends and girl friends prezzies even if the said parties have only been around a short time. She doesn`t go on the idea that if, during the year, they split up, the gifts should be handed back for recycling to the new army of b/f, g/f recruits.

By the way. Well done all of those that are doing something for others Christmas Day.

Sounds like hook line and sinker to me.

The_White_Horse

stop buying crap you can't afford and then you will have no problems.

if you earn 200 a week, spend 190 a week and you will do ok.

spend 201 and you are a stupid c**t

Generali

Harry_Powell wrote: »

We've volunteered for this:

http://www.mobilexmas.org.uk/index.asp?cat=2-0&page=Xmas2009.htm

Please sign up if you can give a little time around the festive period.

I helped Crisis out a few years back.

Whoever you chose it's good to give something back IMO.

LizEstelle

Generali wrote: »

I helped Crisis out a few years back.

Whoever you chose it's good to give something back IMO.

On the other hand, if you subscribe to the thesis that charities rarely if ever do anything about solving the problems they're set up to tackle but merely give the do-goodery instinct a chance to preen itself....


... oh yes, AND give the people who really could make a difference an excuse to do nothing...