To think that Christmas is just a nightmare for a lot of people.

[MrsSlocombesCat]

I have struggled this year to afford presents and as far as I am concerned Christmas is for children. I can’t be arsed with it all. I keep thinking about all of the people who can’t afford to buy presents for their kids and how it distressing it must be. I think parents on UC should get a decent bonus so they can buy presents for their kids. It really upsets me that there are children who might not get presents on the day. Everything is so expensive now that the cost of living crisis has caused. I thought life would be better under Labour but they’re doing nothing to help disabled people. I had never heard of a right wing government getting into people’s hearts and minds like they’re doing today. So many gullible people.

Christmas is what you make it, it's never been a level playing field, presents are not a right they are a luxury.

YABU to say the taxpayer should be funding should be giving out Christmas bonuses to people on benefits,

I mean it would be better if benefits provided a reasonable standard of living, including a few Christmas presents for the 4 million children in the UK living in poverty. But we're not getting there any time soon so a bonus seems sensible.

Unfortunately, poverty is absolutely normal.

The UK is really quite bad at managing it though.

It's become an overhyped commercial mess. Try not to buy into the advertising. And despite what pp says, kids don't go on about what they received for Christmas when they get back to school - it's largely forgotten by then.

So people are not ok with government giving people a bit of help, but are ok with people relying on food banks?

I work in the voluntary sector and have spent plenty of time volunteering at charitable Christmas activities, some very good. But a few days of donated food and cheer won’t make up for systemic failures of the other 360 odd days of the year.

And the vast majority of people would rather not be taking charity.

And normalising people eating frankenchickens and loss-leading vegetables from supermarkets that shaft farmers for profit.

I know I sound a bit 'freedom for Tooting!' but it's all a bit shit really.

People are ok with the government providing a safety net and a bit of help. But they aren't OK with providing a level of luxury on that safety net.

My line is nobody should be relying on food banks but at the same time people in full-time work shouldn't even be relying on benefits.

Christmas is stressful. It's a huge consumer drive. Frantic buying of stuff. Just stuff.

I don't get what that symbolises to people.

The family gathering, the wonderful meals, the shining trees, the rest and recuperation for some is all amazing. I love that part.

The frenzied gift buying is peculiar behaviour.

Christmas has become a whole circus, ramped up by advertisers to tug at the heart strings of people to make them think what Christmas should look like.

Growing up as a child born in 1977 with a deceased father and little money, Christmas was a basic affair. My mum would put a couple of quid into a Christmas club each week to pay for food. It was the only time of year I ever had fizzy pop, for example so maybe what's the norm now were treats back then.

I was grateful for whatever presents I received...myself and friends were all pretty much the same. We kind of knew the life situation of each other and were accepting of that.

I remember my first Christmas years ago with my partners family. They were more affluent and I rang my mum up saying 'OMG, their Christmas is all from M and S'! It was another world to me that people would spend what they did on food alone.

I hate waste too
I hate being bought shite just to have a present. I'd rather something practical I need than just frivolous crap that will sit on a shelf until I get rid somehow. I'd rather nothing than a generic gift set. Gosh I sound a right whinger lol

Unless you have deeply held religious beliefs there is no requirement to celebrate Christmas. The tax payer certainly shouldn't be funding the need to give Christmas tat to kids.

Just do what the royals do and have small token "joke" presents.

I think the royals have a different kind of dilemma….

@Frangywangywoowah
Yes I'd agree with that. It was rare to have fizzy juice in our house.
I wonder if fizzy juice is relatively cheaper than it used to be.

Can I also remind people that labour have only been in power for about six months? Do you realise the damage this country is in under the last 14 years of the Conservative party? It’s going to take absolute years to sort this shit out but people don’t seem to have the patience to understand this.

Lots of joke presents are serious tat that will never be used and very quickly be landfill fodder.

Consumables gifts makes more sense, chocolates, bottles of booze, etc.

I think parents on UC should get a decent bonus so they can buy presents for their kids. It really upsets me that there are children who might not get presents on the day.

I'm sorry but taking more from me would mean that I can't afford things for my child. As if things aren't difficult enough for other families who don't qualify for UC!

Christmas is what you make of it. There's no need for piles of expensive presents. Make it about expeirences, family time, fun and stay off social media.

Kids get two weeks off school, most of them can't even remember what they got by the time they go back! This is more about parent guilt than children actually missing out.

I don't personally know of any children that get massive piles of presents. It's excessive, overwhelming and then where does all this shit go? Don't assume the odd show-off who posts their one hundred presents under the tree is the norm - it's really not.

I think it would be wonderful if EVERYONE just decided to play it down a little. It will NEVER happen but it would be great if it did. It has become such such a consumerist monster, even from when I was a child. It's not just the presents but the social occasions, the kids' activities, Christmas Eve boxes, buying gifts for people at work, the food that gets thrown out, Christmas cards that cost more to send than buy...etc etc. It's all so STRESSFUL and expensive and only getting bigger.
I'd sure as hell enjoy Christmas a lot more if I didn't feel so pressured.

Some people working full time are having to use food banks and you think people on UC should get a bonus at Christmas?

Yes, we’ve brought ours up not to expect very expensive gifts and we have family over and relatives bring the desserts etc and we all share. Ours have always known (1) that they are much better off than probably most DC in this country and (2) we would never tolerate any whining about how X is getting whatever and why can’t I. You have to start off as you mean to go on. When ours were 2 or 3 they got practically nothing from us. I thought the ELC garage at £50 was a big thing. We know families who have spent £200 on a 3 year old. What on earth?

Our council gave out £125 Christmas/winter energy grant. I bet a lot of that went on Christmas gifts

People get too caught up on greed and waste. I get it being awful if you can't even afford a single present, but some parents want to do December boxes, Christmas Eve boxes and the rest of it. It's so gross.

I agree.

I love Christmas but I’m very aware I am privileged to be able to do so. I am also aware that this time can be incredibly difficult for those struggling financially, going through loss/bereavement, break ups and family estrangements… Christmas very much shines a light on those things and can be lonely. Sending strength and light to everyone this Christmas, I am also hoping things improve under new government.

A lot of people working full time are claiming UC.

It's shit op. We live in such an unequal society. It's awful there's so much bloody pressure to spend. I wish everyone would take a step back and just say 'it's got out of hand. A couple of small presents for children is all that is required'.

When my children were small and money was tight from October onwards I used to buy something once a week such as a selection box or cranberry sauce etc . I Also bought a lot of things such as wrapping paper and cards in the January sales . I think Christmas needs to be planned for all year round .