Over FOUR MILLION Britons are still paying off credit card debt from last Christmas

More than four million people are still paying back last Christmas's credit card debt, new figures reveal.

One in ten adults, which accounts for around 4.5million people, have not cleared their debt as the financial crisis deepens.
This weekend is expected to see further dramatic price cuts as consumers head to the stores in the run-up to Christmas and experts predicted people would be tempted to splash out on further spending sprees this year.

Shoppers are expected to be out in force as stores offer further discounts
Sean Gardner, chief executive of MoneyExpert.com, who compiled the figures, said: 'More people are putting Christmas on plastic.
'People want to enjoy Christmas and credit cards can help with this', he told the Daily Telegraph.
A total of 1.3million people aged between 25 and 34 are also struggling to pay off their credit card debts, compared with the number last year when 12 per cent of this age range revealed they were still in debt, the equivalent of 1.05million people.
The Citizens Advice Bureau said it was concerned shoppers would be persuaded into getting themselves into more crippling debt by the sheer volume of discounts currently available.
A spokesman said: 'Credit card debt is still the biggest single issue we deal with and each year we see people in desperate state because they have run up thousands of pounds worth of debt just to cover their Christmas spending.
The CAB warned: 'There are tempting offers out there but don't give yourself a headache in the New Year with bills and debts you can't afford.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...Christmas.html

[Sol Invictus]

Originally Posted by Baggywrinkle

'People want to enjoy Christmas and credit cards can help with this'

My presents list came to £84. My food bill came to £60. I am poor - I know what I can afford and what I cannot afford, and I'll see a cold snowy day in Hell before I use a credit card to immerse myself in deep debt.

Please please please people remember that its not what you give, it is in the spirit in which you gave it that counts.

[Antaletriangle]

Of course you're right there sol-most are that entrenched in a given guilt complex that's rendered to the masses through the media,audio in shops,'illuminations' in streets ;everywhere you go.
Your'e bombarded with the guilt trip-be a good fellow and sacrifice what little left you have for another and buy them a PSP, brand new designer jeans and the obligatory socks.I'm no party pooper by any means but this materialism has gone from strength to strength over the last hundred years and we've fallen for it.We're told either unconsciously or consciously that it's bad not to give at xmas-what i find most unacceptable is that this doesn't apply for the rest of the year and how shallow it is.
They're making you feel that giving a physical present is a great appreciation for each other.
When truly the greatest to give is support and love.
One of the most disgusting angles that are used is the child guilt-use the vulnerability of the youngster to make you feel guilty and thus you go out and buy for them as you love them and wish them happiness-this is not wrong,what is wrong is the furtive ways that you are enabled to do this through manipulation,you are more or less told what to do;it's all laid on from the start.
Spending time with your kids and teaching them to have an open mind,discerment and a good heart whilst having fun is the best gift anyone can provide for their offspring,i realise that we have to comply somewhat with the material bits which is infuriating.
It all starts with education at home- educate and then at least your child may ask for something that is of great use at xmas rather than a playstation, they may ask for a telescope?

[avyaktam]

Not once in my live I've bought something I couldn't pay immediately, except for some minor things when I didn't happen to have the cash in my pocket or knew I would have the money next week.
Is that so rare?

[Dantheman62]

You wouldn't believe it here in the US!, Everything revolves around your credit score!, a stupid thing called a beacon number! If you have a high number say 680 and above you get every offer in the book. Mine has been around 670 for a long time, which is really just middle of the road score, but I use to get 2 or 3 credit card offers a day sent to me in the mail! It's no wonder we are all messed up. Now I'm done playing the game and refuse to use them any more! oops except to subscribe here, HaHa, oh well.

[Sol Invictus]

I have a friend whos daughter last Christmas said to her mum on Christmas morning 'You don;t love me because you didn't buy me alot of presents'.

My wife was speechless. I was shocked... Then I just look at all of the advertisements bombarding kids, their literature / entertainment, and yes, love is measured in physical gifts.

[Humble Janitor]

Originally Posted by Sol Invictus

My presents list came to £84. My food bill came to £60. I am poor - I know what I can afford and what I cannot afford, and I'll see a cold snowy day in Hell before I use a credit card to immerse myself in deep debt.

Please please please people remember that its not what you give, it is in the spirit in which you gave it that counts.

I'd much rather give someone that they can use more than once than give them something that won't last and they will end up re-gifting or donating.

Honestly, I shop later and later and buy less and less with each passing year. In my opinion, Christmas has no more value.

The only thing I want for Christmas is to see my brother find a place to live and get out of the correctional system. I have asked the universe for this with no luck. This is the only thing that will bring a smile to my face for christmas and no item that I receive will ever be able to match.

Sorry for going a bit off topic. Cash is the way to go if you have to buy anything.