AIBU to think it is REALLY daft to get into debt buying xmas presents etc.

[IceBeing]

Do people really go into debt over christmas and if so, why?

I will get into debt over Xmas. I earn just enough to get me through each month.

I either go into debt or DS has not presents. I lose hours of sleep over it hours and hours.

Nice to know I'm daft.

No way will I get into debt for Xmas in any way shape or form. If you don't have the money, don't go there!!

Because they want their children to have a nice day, usually. Does that make someone a bad person? No.

Sadly so - and don't pay essential bills but don't class that as xmas debt....
Too many adverts saying that for the perfect Christmas you must have x,y &z and wanting to make it so for the children esp if other areas of life are crap. Also it's a time when parents know children will talk about everything they got - and don't want their child to think/look that they are poor.

I'm going to have to hide this thread.

Why the fuck do you think people do it? You seriously don't get it? I get into debt or my son gets fuck all.

Simple as that.

I don't go into debt and woukdnt, but I get that there is pressure to make it "perfect". Apparently the average spend per child is about £300. I don't spend anything like that (about £100) but mine are young so are cheaper AND I could afford to spend more, which I think is crucial. It's easy to be "restrained" when you know you could spend it if you wanted to - choice gives you perspective.

I don't really get the argument that children 'need' presents. Surely most kids would prefer their parents not suffering financial anxiety then get a nice big box of plastic tat under the tree.....

I mean they don't know that it will be better....but the adults should!

I can say in all honesty I would not buy presents if it put me into debt.

I would weigh up no presents as the lesser of two evils.

Don't be daft. If your little DC weren't going to have a tree and thought Santa wasn't bringing anything, you'd be fine with that?

So don't do Christmas then?!?!

I don't do hanukkah, so why do I have to do xmas?

If I wasn't going to be able to buy presents I probably wouldn't prime my kids to expect them to be delivered by a non-existent entity.

We won't get into debt this year, but I have in the past. If hadn't, my children wouldn't have had any presents. At all!

Do you actually not realise that there are people out there living hand to mouth? Choosing between heating and a proper meal? Thats an incredibly narrow minded and pompous view you have there.... YABVU!

Everybody would agree it is daft as a logical thing but add in the pressure of all the advertising, expectations and not wanting children to miss out and it becomes more understandable. We have done this once when DCs were little and, only then because we knew we could pay it off by Feb

And you'd keep them hidden from the rest of the world too then? No tv, no going out shopping and seeing everything in shops, no catalogues coming through the doors.

And no school either. No teachers and no Christmas parties and no stories about Santa and no Nativity?

So your children don't watch tv, speak to their friends or take part in festive activities at school????

ahhhh adverts.

Of course....how would we all know what failures we are without adverts.

My DD hates the 'hoho man' as she calls santa. She would cry if she thought he was actually coming anywhere near her.

I don't really know what to say. Parents can actually influence their children's expectations you know?

Not that simple IceBeing,

Did you ever have Christmas cancelled as a child?

More than 1 year?

We're not talking parents insisting on buying Ipads, we're talking a few nice toys and surprise surprise - CLOTHES.

Who are you to say only anyone above a certain income has a right to celebrate Christmas?

It's sad to hear that people are getting into debt for what is essentially just one day.
I had nothing growing up and what little money I did get for Christmas my mum took it away to feed us
I remember getting bars of soap and smelly things off my grandparents which didn't cost a lot but meant so much ,,, because for a short time I could have things that smelt lovely and made me feel special , even bubble bath was lovely as during the year we never really had much in the way of really lovely smellies
The best gifts I ever got
Kids don't "need" £300 games consoles spent on them
Ask any mnetter on here and I bet the majority would have a story like mine to tell
I never felt left out or disappointed

Thing is, spending thousands you don't have and taking the next year to pay it off would be daft. Owing a couple of hundred on a credit card that you can pay back quickly, not that awful.

No-we don't have TV....it costs money for one thing....I mean you get that you're are paying money in order to be brainwashed into spending yet more money right?

Kids do loads about lots of different celebrations from different religions at nursery...DD has yet to demand presents on account of any of them.

YABVU and obviously in the position to not have to go in to debt for Christmas. Jog on!

There is nothing wrong with wanting your children to have one nice day and to join in the Christmas spirit. Influencing expectations is explaining that Santa is not bringing you a pony rather than being a total Grinch.

But well done you for being so perfect!

Depends what getting into debt means. Putting a couple hundred pounds on a credit card knowing that you can pay it back within a couple of months is a small price to pay for giving your kids a special day. Borrowing the same amount from a loan shark with no prospects of paying it back for a very long time can get you into a whole load of financial trouble - I wouldn't do it myself.