Family cant afford Christmas

annandale

What a crass remark! It was dripping with sarcasm. If you look further above you'll see that someone else on here thought that would be acceptable

Cloudydaze

Poor_Single_lady wrote: »

Assume that is a joke Owain. It must be. Are you secretly scrooge.

Actually more people said don't give them anything than buy kids something so that made me think that people must think it (kids having no presents at Christmas) doesn't happen. But if people know it does happen and they are not bothered I think that's actually worse.

I would imagine that children who don't get presents at Christmas have an awful lot more heartache going on than just the lack of material possessions on that one day.

If you have no money but shower shower your children with love and time, I would imagine that's it's perfect possible to make their Christmas magical. There are so many festive things that you can do that you don't need to spend money on - carol services, snuggling on the sofa watching Christmas films, making Christmas decorations.

If children feel loved and safe and secure, then they will have happy Christmas memories even without masses of presents.

Bogalot

annandale wrote: »

I read last night that rio ferdinand gave 500k of a donation so that kids in Manchester who would be waking up with nothing on Xmas day would get a present. That's a lot of families who don't have much.

He also donated 11500 sleeping bags for Manchesters homeless community.

Maybe in the midst of all this shock horror !!!!less benefit claimants it might be worth considering that some people really do have nothing.

And I'd be very surprised if it was the fault of every single person who has hit hard times.

In my local area there's a baby bank. Gives items and support to families with kids who are struggling. A year ago it gave a cot to a young mother whose baby was sleeping in a chest of drawers!

Sanctions do cause some people real hardship.

Even if their JSA is sanctioned they will have hardship payments, tax credits, child benefit. Plus housing benefit, council tax benefit, free prescriptions.

There are people that genuinely have nothing - the OP's acquaintances are not them.

Poor_Single_lady

cloudy where do you live exactly. I'm not sure if your post is a joke as well. I don't think this can be serious. If it is I would love to be In Your world. Do you know any 11 year olds that live in for example London or Surrey. I love your idea but it's not how the world is.
11 year olds go to school and mix with other kids. So no- love is not enough at Christmas

Kaye1

I would suggest that they chose a gift for each child and your wife could lend the money for that- that way they would each get a gift. (Around £30 per child)
£500 quid- not likely!

annandale

How do any of us know what this family have or don't have! What circumstances have led them to where they are now.

It's not automatic that you get hardship benefit after a sanction.

There have been cases in the news recently where people have been left without benefits, tax credits due to faults in administration.

We don't know enough about this family to say well even if this has stopped they'll have that that and that.

The OP regularly posts about how he feels about those who claim benefits. It's obvious if he started a thread about people on benefits they'd be of the !!!!less kind and not people who have fallen on tough times.

They drink, they smoke,they claim multiple benefits etc etc etc

AylesburyDuck

I might have had more sympathy if it wasnt this close to Christmas and neither of them smoked or drank.
As it stands, if their children have hurt faces on Christmas day then maybe this is the kick up the !!!! thats needed to make appropriate changes and put the children before there own wants!

Cloudydaze

Poor_Single_lady wrote: »

cloudy where do you live exactly. I'm not sure if your post is a joke as well. I don't think this can be serious. If it is I would love to be In Your world. Do you know any 11 year olds that live in for example London or Surrey. I love your idea but it's not how the world is.
11 year olds go to school and mix with other kids. So no- love is not enough at Christmas

Not prepared to tell you where I live EXACTLY for obvious reasons. I do live in London and no my post wasn't a joke. I'm perfectly serious.

annandale

He didn't say they had asked for 500 quid. He said that his wife was willing to lend them 500 quid. That could have been her suggestion. There wasn't enough info in the opening post apart from them being drinking smoking !!!!less clampitts

He has zero interest in helping them anyway. So it's all moot really

lippy1923

If the OP has observed them drinking and smoking then clearly they are not putting their kids Christmas needs first. Begging so close before xmas is another red flag. Surely they knew it was coming. It happens the same time every year. And if they are on benefits, then smokes/booze is not what the tax payers money should be paying for so I wouldn't give them a penny in cash.


Cheap Asda food shop for £20 is a decent thing to do. As for presents, if these parents really wanted to I'm certain at least one of them could come up with something. Selling anything that's not essential if they have to.