Did you get into debt over Christmas

I’m not ashamed of the truth M0nica and can’t see the point if trying to pretend to be someone I’m not . I know you can show love without spending much money ( and I do that all year round in abundance ) but at Christmas I do like to treat the family. I also save with Park which helps a lot but I always end up putting the difference on my credit card .
I’m really happy for those people that enjoy a debt free Christmas ( jealous even) but my CC is essential for me.

We use our CC to pay for Xmas but pay off the balance when it is due but I see nothing shameful in using a CC to spread the cost a little if needed. It is just another tool to allow us to manage our money as is buying in the sales for next Xmas . I buy cards, wrapping paper , bows , crackers etc in the new year sales for next year.

I do not really think that a planned spend spread over CCs is getting into debt for Christmas.

Getting into debt means spending money you do not have and will not have so that you are still paying for this Christmas next Christmas or where paying it off is a real worry.

I think I must've had the 'cheapest' Xmas ever, this year. I bought from Amazon for my Gt. Grandson, using my credit card, and bits and bobs for my adult GC (and these WERE just bits and bobs), as we never go overboard present-wise these days. DH and I don't buy presents for each other, because we just buy as we want or need, anyway. I use my CC regularly, more or less paying it off when it's due. I find it a useful tool to spread spending, and it works well for me.

Perhhaps we should start saving for next Christmas?

I already have!

Don't go into debt as such, but don't go mad either, and counteract the extra Christmas spending by what my mother used to call 'going on frugals' after Christmas.

Part of which includes using every scrap of leftovers, boiling up turkey carcass for stock/turkey stew, making pea and ham soup with the last shreds of gammon, etc.

Another 'frugals' ploy of my mother's was what she used to call 'dustbin soup' - i.e. whatever veggies/suitable leftovers you happen to have, plus any lentils, pearl barley, macaroni, etc. you have in the cupboard.
Luckily dh would happily eat this sort of thing every night! We usually have some grated cheese on top.
Great for veggie intake, and use of cheap, seasonal, UK veg.

I no longer buy heaps of presents but in the days when I did I started in the January sales and if I saw something in July which I thought would be ideal for somebody, I bought it. Then and now I would not dream of going into debt, I never have and never will.

I have never got into debt over Christmas - when we were poor presents were cheap, when we were a bit better off the presents were better too.

Years ago,yes but paid-up credit cards prior to retirement reaped rewards a few years ago when PPI came into being. So having been in debt paid off as I've enjoyed debt-free Christmas's since.
D goes for the interest-free which when an item or items are paid before a certain time no interest is accrued. It's convenient for her as she works and is able to pay a bill in time. I think she has an account with Argos so her arrangement is handy in case her washing machine or something large breaks down.

I've always gone over the top with Christmas but never been in debt that we were unable to pay. When times were hard when we were very young with little children I used to buy all the Christmas presents from my catalogue and spread the cost over the year. In later years we had a permanent overdraft - this was nothing to do with living above our means or being knee deep in debt for extravagant purchases - it was how we survived especially in the earlier years of being in business. We don't need credit cards and overdrafts now but I still use the credit card for big purchases - why use our money when we can have interest free credit - it's how we've always managed our finances. I have never been someone who can think far enough ahead or be organised enough to buy presents through the year - I wish I was but I still like to buy my family as much as we can afford to give them. We are not here forever and I'd rather have the pleasure of seeing them have things now.

Never. Christmas is over-hyped and now our boys are adults, one with family they understand the need not to overspend for the sake of it. We have a great time within budget.

^ I get the wee ones things last as they tend to change their minds throughout the year^
I can remember trying to be very organised for Christmas, heaving a sigh of relief because all the present shopping was done and the DC then writing letters to FC asking for something completely different to the presents they had hankered after all year

I do think that many of us overspend because we want to appear generous and to have bought the kids "enough" so we don't look mean. There has to be a better way. Just how many of these toys or other such unused gifts are still in cupboards in our houses?

I’m happy that some children receive so much. When they have a clear out to make room for this years stash, I get lovely, often unopened gifts for my charity market stall. Recycling!

I have never, even when only DH was working, got into debt for Christmas. We had a budget and stuck to it. We now have a tiny number of gifts to buy as we do a Secret Santa for adults around on Christmas Day and just the 4 DGC to buy for. We stopped exchanging gifts with friends years ago and with adult relatives. We go out for a wider family get together in January instead! Christmas is about family and giving but not debt creation!

Yes, there are unused presents tucked away in dd's house - her little ones are apt to get too much for both Christmas and birthdays - but dd keeps a note of who gave what, and 'recycles' presents for the many birthday parties they're invited to.

I will undoubtedly get into debt again this Christmas . I have saved a little bit with Park again for which I will get a few shopping vouchers but otherwise everything else ( including dinner ) will probably end up on my Credit Card.

I am constantly in debt because I am a plonker.

No, not now. When the children were little I would buy from a catalogue and then spend the next year paying it off. Usually around November it was cleared, then it was time to order the next lot! It is much easier for people to get into debt now days, there's so much more 'stuff' too.

They all seem have so much already in the way of toys etc.
I think it has all become excessive & they seem to loose interest in gifts quite quickly.
Time spent together when possible is invaluable.

I am constantly in debt because I am a plonker

I will write that out 100 times tonight (while I'm in detention) oldbatty

Won't change anything though.

I have never got into debt at Christmas, nor at any other time, and I have never had a credit card.

gillibob planned spending and spreading over CC is no different from paying winter fuel bills by spreading it evenly over the year.

Getting into debt over Christmas is spending money you will never have and having to seek payday loans or fear the bailiffs. You are just like most of us, you do not get into debt over Christmas.

Curious as to what "saving with Park" means?