to think there is an inverse relationship between how little money people have and how much they are willing to spend on presents for their children

[Twiglett]

am truly gobsmacked at some of the things that people I know are buying for their children

truly and utterly, spoilt bastard, gobsmacked

why spend that much money? why?

lol Soapbox - I tend to work on the principle that once you get above a certain figure, the amount of money people have is in inverse proportion to their general level of intelligence. Just look at Relocation, Relocation for example.

That's shite HMC.

My 'self-esteem' (dreadful word)is sky high.

I just know that emptying my wallet doesn't guarantee instant happiness.

Ah! I think you are wrong on that one TBH.

These people are fearsomely intelligent! They just live the work hard, play hard life!

I've only read the first hundred or so posts and then skipped to the end but I like the last one the best .

OK time for a reminder of the Ditchling Carol:

And all remember, gentles gay:
For you who bask in fortune's ray
The year is all a holiday.
The poor have only Christmas.

Hence the extravagance at christmas. Which I maintain, is a drop in the ocean compared to the extravagance of the middle-classes throughout the rest of the year. Yes you get the brain dead and the idiots, but most people spend extravagantly at christmas because they don't do so for the rest of the year. And as someone else said, many people save all year for those £600 bikes and WII's.

improving middle class christmas present

Yes well I know there is nothing wrong with your self esteem Moondog!

But I'm too slow for hmc to realise my appreciation.

Ooh they get less than that Kerry!
ASnd they'll be digging turnips and plucking a goose on Christmas Eve whilst their father and I enjoy fine wines and violet creams.

Oh shucks LaDi

Oh but Soapbox, some of them are seriously dim or certainly lacking in basic common sense. Actually I think that's what I meant.

see, moony's such a poser!

i mean, the real extremists have nut loaf for Christmas dinner.

Will you be sticking forks in their legs as they slog, Moondog?

No, turnips

Oh LittleSleigh, my friend a bloke I know has bought one of those for his PFB.
It was all dh and I could do not to snort uncontrollable when he showed it to us.

Indeed - it's not about you moondog. Well, not to everyone else

Starlight - I've just realised that you are quite near me

I know.
Madness.
They have incorporated fur (or whatever they call it) from one of their dead horses mane into it. It doesn't even rock very well.
He was proud of the fact that it took four men to carry it upstairs.

LOL, wierd about the horses hair.

mumsnetters at christmas

thanks for that stunning visual, Sleigh.

i'm going to have nightmares tonight.

rofl

That's me with the cap on!