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FemaleMatters/ChristmasMatters
Christmas Matters Every year I vow to make Christmas easier, simpler - less stressful. Have I ever? One year I tried forgetting Christmas here in the UK and spent it in the Canary Islands. It was quite extraordinary really. Christmas day was...
For Baby's First Christmas, A Lump Of Coal? Ten Baby Gifts To Avoid This Holiday Season
What could be worse than a lump of coal in baby's first Christmas stocking?
One of these ten gifts:
1. Any Toy or Product With More Than 10 Pieces That Must Be Put Together
Ever see a new parent on Christmas day? You know why they look so...
Here's What They Really Want for Christmas
According to a new survey carried out by Alliance & where ID_NUM=9270; Leicester, one in five small business owners view tax as their greatest concern. The Chancellor has announced in his last budget that companies with profits below œ10,000...
Planning a Spectacular Christmas Party
Planning a Spectacular Christmas Party The holiday season is typically filled with large fancy parties, small intimate gatherings, and extravagant dinner parties. Planning your own Christmas party can seem like you’re competing with hundreds of...
The Twelve Songs of Christmas: Surprising Secrets of the Season's Most Popular Tunes
The holidays are filled with joyful emotions and honored traditions, including the playing of songs about snowmen, St. Nick, evergreen trees, and presents wrapped up with big pretty bows. No matter how you celebrate the season, you'll hear these...
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Who Stole The Spirit Of Christmas?
Once again it is the time of year where it is impossible to
forget that Christmas is just around the corner, we see
advertising on our TV's, in the shops, on the radio and we read
about it in magazines and newspapers, but what is Christmas all
about? How have things changed since the time that Christmas
began?
Originally Christmas was all about Christians celebrating the
birth of Jesus, now it has become a time where the kids are
looking forward to seeing what Santa has left for them in their
Christmas stockings and under the Christmas tree.
Santa Claus (St. Nicholas) was a wealthy man who gave gifts to
poor who were struggling financially, however, he didn't want
them to know where the gifts had come from, so he gave in such a
way so the folk would find his gifts but not know who gave them,
hence the myth about Father Christmas.
However, for many people nowadays, Christmas has become a time
where families worry about the cost of Christmas rather than
looking forward to the occasion. The temptation to take out
loans and credit cards can prove to be irresistible with the
thought of Christmas costs looming and how they are going to
afford it.
Having said that, people do like to celebrate Christmas, it is a
time for families, parties and celebrations, however, the costs
involved are still a major factor of the celebrations. The
purchasing of decorations, food, drink and spending on travel
all adds to the cost proving that Christmas is the most
expensive time of year for families in the UK.
The Association of Payment Clearing Services (Apacs) said they
expect the total UK spending in December to be a staggering
£48.7bn, a rise of 11% on last years spend in that one month!
Free debt advice agencies
such as Payplan (www.payplan.com) say that the amount of
enquiries they usually experience in December is significantly
less in comparison to other months throughout the year, however
February is the time they receive the highest amount of
enquiries, due to debtors denying the true cost of Christmas
until they realise
their finances have been crippled.
The figures reflect what happens in the credit industry in the
months surrounding December. People take out loans or spend on
credit cards in order to keep up with the costs of Christmas and
then look for ways to deal with their finances in the New Year.
A survey conducted by Payplan in 2003 showed that over 45% of
people were still paying for presents bought in 2002.
Already people who use debt forums are talking about how they
are feeling the pressure of Christmas and looking for ways to
ease the stress and find ways to cope with Christmas costs
without adding to their existing debt problems. "It's just a bit
of a depressing time for people trapped in debt!!" said one
poster, "The true sprit of Christmas has been hijacked by
marketing and advertising people and whipped into a three months
spending frenzy " said another.
Marketing and advertising make their job of easing the costs
very difficult, but they are determined not to get into more
financial difficulty because of the price tag on Christmas, "I
have been buying stocking fillers for the children in sales when
I see them and I have told all family my limit is £5 each as
they are token gifts and its the thought that counts. All my
family have more disposable income than I do. So with such a
small budget I have been doing alot of shopping around. "
Christmas needs to be a time to put smiles on peoples faces, not
to cause stress and difficulty in trying to keep up with all the
costs put before them in order to enjoy, what should be a happy
occasion. "Christmas is about family and I hope my family
understand that it is better to have a token gift rather than
get me in debt again."
About the author:
Nicky has been working with people with debt problems for a
number of years. "Every situation is different and anyone in
debt should not have to pay to get out of debt". Nicky also
administrates an online debt forum
where she also offers advice and solutions for people seeking
answers to their debt questions.
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