[AnnieK]

Originally Posted by x-evenstar-x

Seriously? You don't think he could have one christmas with less, christmas is not all about spending loads of money you know.

I'd hate my parents to think like that.

Oh, I do know that. And to be honest, I spent relatively little on my son this year, mainly because he is only young so not into the games consoles etc but my friend told me something when I was pregnant that was so true...parenthood is all about guilt which it is. You feel guilty that they haven't enough, that they don't have what their friends do, that you don't spend enough time with them. Etc etc etc....so Christmas is a huge guilt ridden time and if I had to go into debt, I probably would. Not to the extremes this woman has but it's hard not to get sucked into it especially when these sharks are offering you everything you need. I think a lot of people think..well the advertise on TV so it must be legit and easy to pay back. It's the companies that are at fault, not the people borrowing from them in most cases.

[Z]

I'm not judging her for taking out the loans, I'm judging her for blaming the companies for lending her the money. If you're going to take out a loan or make any other kind of similar financial commitment, read the bloody small print. It's well documented that Wonga have obscene interest rates for their loan repayments. That's why I don't have any sympathy for her - she took out a stupid amount of money that she could never repay, and then the interest almost doubled that amount and she definitely can't repay that either... mental.

[Ninastar]

there is a difference between going over the top, knowing that you're spending way too much, going to different companies to get even more money and borrowing a little amount to buy some decent enough presents.

buy second hand stuff.. you get really decent second hand stuff nowadays. I actually prefer to buy things second hand because a lot of the time, second hand stuff is nearly new. Clothes especially. I've bought dresses from topshop for £4.

its not like children know the difference. wrapping them in cardboard boxes makes it even more exciting from Santa, because it's not wrapped in the same box it was in the shop...

fair enough some people dont like to buy second hand things, but when money is tight, surely you'd do anything?

[BBfanUSA]

Aren't there charities that can help poor people out when it comes to toys during the holidays in the UK?