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?

'At the idea people would get into debt at Christmas'

Seriously

Isn't it new? I guess it depends how far back you go. I have timetravelled from the 1800's when there were no credit cards and people had to live within their means or starve.

It was shitter back then. In fact whoever said debt wasn't evil - I just changed my mind. You are right.

Op -you have a pre-school child who hardly understands what Christmas is.Come back and talk to us when you have a child of 8,9,10 who wakes up on Christmas morning to nothing.

No. Sitestuff is one topic and Campaigns is another, both within Mumsnet Stuff Talk Topics. There's every chance MNHQ haven't even seen it unless you reported it to them.

If you need any ideas of what to do with your next 'chocolate orange' Op ....I'd be beyond happy to offer suggestions.

100 years ago children got 1 toy (if they were lucky), an apple, an orange and not much else. Christmas is thrust into people's faces and parents are made to feel inadequate if they don't spend enough/buy enough. The facebook posts of the presents people buy for their children is disgusting to be honest. It is far too commercialised, as are other celebrations (Mother's Day etc). It's another excuse for the shops to encourage spending, but I'd never belittle someone for their choices. Some people get heavily into debt buying a child thousands of pounds worth of stuff, some people scrimp and save for the basics and still have to borrow just to put a meal on the table and a few bits around the tree. The last I get, the first I don't.

Prose that every poster on this thread gives their child a chocolate orange in addition to everything they would usually receive at Christmas and ask the child if they were most blown away by chocolate orange or main Christmas gift.

All in the name of research of course. Please post results to ShakyTheStork by Boxing Day.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Well you're very lucky to live a life where the idea of getting into debt to pay for Christmas is so 'startling' op. You clearly have no idea of everyday life for some families.

If it's that much of a shock to you that life is like this for some people, then why not share some of your god fortune with people whose circumstances are not as good as yours? Foodbanks need plenty of donations at this time of year, including Christmas treats for families who would otherwise go into more debt to buy them.

Okay - I was surprised. I don't know why I was surprised. I really was though. People were talking about all the things they 'needed' including 100 quids worth of presents for each kid. And how screwed they would be after xmas.

I think with hindsight these people are not really going into serious debt (with respect to their incomes) and are just bitching.

The people who really have debt problems over xmas aren't banging on about ipads etc.

It probably is when you choose a emotive subject and then appear to sneer at those less fortunate than yourself.
doesn't tend to go down well. Especially when debt problems seem to be overwhelming at christmas time for some

rally I already pledged to give to a foodbank.

I do get how lucky/sheltered I am.

If you'd posted in a busier place you'd have had more replies, site stuff is slow. I can't even find your thread.

It's in Mumsnet Campaigns Dame, MNHQ won't have seen it.

No I don't mean to sound rude and patronising

Fuck me...I'd hate to see you in action when you do

I will genuinely try to be less of a dickhead in future

Perhaps you could start now, because you clearly aren't trying very hard at the moment.

dame I know but I already had a birth trauma thread in AIBU. This was more of a wondering if I can raise the profile of a gap in MH treatment thing. The answer is apparently no.

I am really really good at pissing people off though.

Probably I should not in any sense combine these two issues....and I should leave the important stuff to people who don't piss everyone off.

Of course there was debt in the 1800s.

Madame Bovary 1856?

The debtors prison and so on.

Of course media has made xmas more prevalent in every ones faces but so has every new development over time.

I get what you're trying to say, Ice, I just don't think you said it too well. Sorry. AIBU isn't an easy place to start a conversation

I haven't read all of the thread and normally I would apologies if I've missed anything, but I've just spent the last hour consoling my 9 year old as Ive had to tell him he can choose what he wants to celebrate, his 10th birthday or Xmas, a week between them and I can't afford both. Could blame his waste of space dad who thinks it clever to avoid paying any maintenance or having any involvement, or my boss who knows he has me over a barrow and thinks changing the goal post to save paying commissions is "just business". Could blame TV for creating all the expectations.

So what do I do, feel like a crap mum or try desperately to magic some money from somewhere

wyrd you have no idea how hard I am trying. You only know that you think I am not succeeding.

lady yes I know. I haven't been on MN much recently - and apparently AIBU is even more ferocious than I remembered.

I have had AIBU topic hidden for about 2 months because I got a bit fed up with all the bonkers threads.
I keep pondering unhiding it by having a look every now and again. It's not going well.

really, I am sure I have seen your name around quite frequently.

So perhaps if you are genuinely trying and not succeeding it might be time to step away for a bit?

I think maybe I will take another break - its not like the hall is even open these days....