Christmas- Is it just me?

skint_spice

kimevans wrote: »

You are of course assuming that people are using credit cards to pay for their shopping.
I haven't once used either of my CC this Xmas, nor do I intend to.

I think the OP's point was more that the person was about to spend £30 on something "that would do". I saw people rushing around yesterday and one couple having an arguement in Boots because they just "had" to spend more on her mother and she was getting all stressed. at that point the exercise becomes just to spend the money (on plastic or cash) to meet the budget rather than choosing something special or thoughtful.

Merry christmas anyway - I'm enjoying it but it's not all about the stuff!

ZTD

skint_spice wrote: »

I think the OP's point was more that the person was about to spend £30 on something "that would do". I saw people rushing around yesterday and one couple having an arguement in Boots because they just "had" to spend more on her mother and she was getting all stressed. at that point the exercise becomes just to spend the money (on plastic or cash) to meet the budget rather than choosing something special or thoughtful.

Yes, the "never mind the thought, feel the price-tag" thing.

kiwigirl

My family and I have a rule of £20 maybe £25 max if present (and we take it from next b-day / Christmas if overspent). £10 for friends - which we all agree too and I've not got many friends I buy for anyway.

My ex family (who were deep in debt) wanted or should I say expected each present to be at least £100 from everyone. This was Christmas and Birthdays and having OH and 2 of his brother's birthday's in December and January too it wasn't cheap. :eek:

x-OH needed me to spend £200 on him every birthday - last one I bought presents for him was spent on his CC, and after a few arguments around that time I never did pay for his present - nor his family's presents (he never paid for my lot either). He wanted me to use "the £1000 you have in Lloyds" this I later found was my overdraft which I didn't want to use!

The more I think about it I had a very lucky escape with him and his family! He wanted me to buy a house and then his family could come over and move in and he would quit his job, leaving me to feed and mortgage a house that my friends / family weren't allowed to go to, but his family were residents there and I had to feed them all.

always_amazed

I'm lucky, living in a small non-tescofied village; and most of my mates and family are pretty normal about the whole thing (christmas is a time for us to get drunk and slur 'Mate I luuurve you youbest matein world hugme shllllllosh *falls over* '; and that's kind of all we need!!!)

but when I lived in the city, and worked in 'the high street (a well known american clothes shop; baby section)', I would be bemused when people would rush in and spend £100 ++ on xmas themed baby clothes. I wanted to scream 'People, these will be 50P IN TWO DAYS ARRRGGHHHHHHH'.

and I have mates down south for whom christmas must look like the m&s/home&garden perfect christmas spread; and then they won't eat anything because they are on a diet. They are insane.

Turtle

Hello everyone

I agree that people spend far too much on presents and buy food as if they've no idea where their next meal might be coming from once Boxing Day is over. We spend a max of £15 on everybody, friends less, about £50 on each other. Don't asume that people paying by credit card can't afford it though. I buy EVERYTHING on my card - we've got an offset mortgage so like to keep hold of my cash as long as I can. I've never not paid it off in full in the 14 years of having a card, yet everytime I use it I feel like everyone's thinking I'm up to my eyeballs in debt!

tealady

What really gets me is that people assume cos I'm a veggie that I will struggle for something to eat Xmas day.
Let me say it LOUD and PROUD "There is more to life than stuffed turkey!"

bank_of_slate

It doesn't help that the likes of Curry's, Comet and PC World show a huge plasma TV and announce excitedly that with £300 off it's ONLY £599!!!! etc and then my favourite phrase that follows..." At that price it'd make the ideal Christmas gift!"
WARNING...RANT COMING...

Well of course I've got £600 f**king quid to spend on each person haven't I?
I think I'll really slum it for the secret santa gift at work though by choosing the special offer laptop from PC world for £299
God, I'm so cheap.
...Linda xx

ZTD

bank_of_slate wrote: »

It doesn't help that the likes of Curry's, Comet and PC World show a huge plasma TV and announce excitedly that with £300 off it's ONLY £599!!!! etc and then my favourite phrase that follows..." At that price it'd make the ideal Christmas gift!"
WARNING...RANT COMING...

Well of course I've got £600 f**king quid to spend on each person haven't I?
I think I'll really slum it for the secret santa gift at work though by choosing the special offer laptop from PC world for £299
God, I'm so cheap.
...Linda xx

But that's a worse deal because it doesn't have £300 off. Even for a Secret Santa - you have to try to get the best deal...

bank_of_slate

Don't even get me started.......
...Linda xx

Mozette

Three days and it'll all be over!!!!!!
Fantastic!