Comments on: Christmas Without Credit – And This is a Bad Thing?

By: Money Mama

Money Mama — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:52:21 +0000

Some people just don’t get it!! I have a Christmas account and I save all year so I spend what I save and that is it. More people should open an account like this – like someone else said – we have 12 months to save for this – everyone has 12 months; Christmas just doesn’t all of a sudden appear.

My boss has the mentality of most America – spends spends spends and now she is worrying how she is going to buy presents for her kids since her CC are maxed out. WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!!

By: Nathan

Nathan — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 04:57:36 +0000

Yes indeed, it’s become such the norm in the past decade or two to live it up on debt. Maybe now we’re seeing the final death knell for that unsustainable lifestyle. I’ll believe it when I see it for more than a few months though.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:52:26 +0000

Christmas is NOT about buying a bunch of gifts.
It is about Jesus. Sure, it is a time when we like to give to one another. There are alternatives to spending. Make something special for your friends/family from your heart. Or follow this rule of four gifts: (for your kids, spouse etc.) Something to wear, something to read, something they want, something they need. (these can be simple inexpensive things. A pack of socks, a used book, you get the idea…
Jen

By: Kim McGrigg

Kim McGrigg — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:47:31 +0000

I agree. People need to remember that there’s more to the holiday season than shopping. Starting a debt free New Year is priceless.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:44:16 +0000

I have seen so many articles with similar headlines stating “Have a Cash Christmas” or something like that.
What the heck? Since when was a normal thing to use credit to fund Christmas? What, is Christmas a “gimme”, where people can just charge up their accounts willy-nilly, just because it’s a holiday?
The fact is, people should have always had cash-only Christmases… and beyond!

By: Greg

Greg — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:28:35 +0000

My wife and I have not used credit cards for a while and I don’t believe that we ever really used them for Christmas any way. You have 12 months to prepare for it don’t you. We also go by the idea that we only buy what our kids need and maybe a couple beyond that. We don’t exchange with my brothers or her sister and only get one present for each of their kids. If Jesus only got three presents why should you get more than that. Isn’t he the real reason for the celebration.

By: Ron@TheWisdomJournal

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:27:50 +0000

We’ve had a No Credit Christmas for 10 years because we save a little every month for that very purpose. There is no describing the sense of relief and relaxation when you’re well prepared.

By: Curt

Curt — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:51:18 +0000

Finally, we can get back to reality.

By: Caleb Nelson

Caleb Nelson — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:44:35 +0000

Yes! Our financial philosophy is all jacked up in this country as a whole. You can look at our national deficit and see that even our government hasn’t figured out some basic financial philosophies.
You hit the nail on the head when you mentioned the aspect of purchasing what we can afford. Is that such a bad thing? Must we finance Christmas, birthdays, vacations, school, ect. when we are already financing our homes and multiple vehicles?! When is enough, enough? Our country definitely needs a lesson in good credit and bad credit. I don’t think charging Christmas is such a bad thing, if you’re planning on paying that card off before the interest rate kicks in.

Great point here.

Caleb
http://www.mefinanciallyfree.blogspot.com

By: Cathy @ Chief Family Officer

Cathy @ Chief Family Officer — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:27:55 +0000

Amen!