The naughty and nice sides of Christmas

Christmas has traditionally been a time of excess – excess eating, excess drinking and excess socialising. All of this culminates in one thing – a surplus of spending.

Despite repeated claims that this Christmas will be the one where we “cut back,” it is likely that we, yet again, will become engulfed in the tsunami of heavy marketing and faux commercial cheer that have become staples of the festive season, and spend more than we should, or indeed can.

The vast majority of us want to give nice presents and even more of us long to receive the same. Society expects us to live up to this norm.

The ultimate Irish fear still exists of causing offence by arriving to a party empty-handed or a distant relation landing at your house laden with gifts and you have nothing to give in return.

But what about those who haven’t the money to live up to this very expensive norm? What if you simply cannot afford to arrive laden with gifts? The pressure is on – what do you do?

It is this financial burden that creates a dark side of Christmas and leaves problems long after the final cracker is pulled and the last scrap of turkey devoured. Debt, shoplifting and borrowing beyond your means are all factors that form a side of Christmas that many of us are, or will be, all too aware of.

According to Niall Culloty of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) the immediate aftermath of Christmas is its busiest time of year.

“Christmas spirit takes over sometimes rationality goes out the window,” he said. “It’s only when people begin to factor in their Christmas spending when January comes around, that we see an increase in the number of people coming to our service.”

“Most people who come to us do so because there has been a severe change in their lifestyle. Their finances have been thrown into disarray by the likes of unemployment, relationship breakdown, illness, things like that,” he said.

“But also I suppose in today’s climate people who would have been used to… a steady income now find themselves probably with the same lifestyle but really haven’t budgeted for their new income. So people get into financially difficulty that way.”

When asked about the pressure that is put on people around Christmas to purchase gifts for friends and family, Culloty claims that he feels this culture is rightly changing.

“This culture is definitely changing. I think people are beginning to talk now about putting limits on presents they buy and doing Chris Kindle and that kind of thing. The Celtic Tiger culture is dying out and this more thrifty culture is setting in,” he said.

“There is always pressure on people to overspend at Christmas and I think very often the pressure is greater for people on low income and social welfare who have had to say ‘no’ to themselves and to their children all year.”

“The pressure to borrow from Peter to pay Paul, to put off paying rent or mortgage, heat or light bills in order to be able to have a reasonable Christmas is quite strong.”

“It can a lonely and desperate place because of all the pressures saying you should be spending money on certain things,” he said.

“For people who are really at the end of their tether probably are some parents out there with young children who in particular are facing into a rather bleak time, we would ask them to contact us.”

“We will look at their income and see if there are social supports which they are not getting, have they looked at their tax credits, etc. Maybe there are tax rebates there. You can do all that for the price of a local call.”

The brighter side

Those who are struggling during this festive season can look at alternative measures in surviving Christmas financially as luckily not all of us are in such a difficult financial position.

Those of us who would like to help those struggling can take simple, direct action to so – without leaving ourselves out of pocket.

Many of us are reluctant to sign up to charities or speak to volunteers on the street out of fear that we’re signing our lives and savings away, but there are easier, cheaper ways to make a contribution.

Two timely schemes coming up the festive season, which are affordable for students, are local. The first of these is in close proximity to DCU. The Omni shopping centre in Santry has provided a facility called the Giving Tree.

Donators can leave presents underneath which in turn will be passed on to parents who can’t afford Santa this year through the Saint Vincent de Paul. Diarmuid Ó Cróinín, chair of the DCU SVP society explained the scheme.

“With less and less people receiving Christmas bonuses and the like this year, that’s going to cause problems for people who would be struggling financially anyway. SVP is great because you’re looking after people in your own community first of all who are feeling the hit this Christmas. It’s tangible for people because only a small amount of money is required. ”

A second simple way of donating to children less well off than us in other countries is Operation Christmas Child, a long-running programme whereby people can wrap boxes of toys for children in other countries to receive on Christmas morning.

According to Niall Barry, executive director of the scheme: “It’s something tangible. To think that someone here can wrap up a shoebox of toys and it goes straight into the hands of a child, most likely an orphan - it’s a tangible gift.”

“There’s something special about knowing that your gift is going to light up the face of a kid, because they get nothing. Families love them but they can’t afford to give them anything.

“More so than the actually gift, it’s the fact that they know someone around the world who they’re never going to meet is thinking of them. It can be the highlight of their year for less than a fiver, which students can afford.”

Xmas spending - Trudi McDonald

Travel North: It is much cheaper to shop in Northern Ireland than it is in the Republic. Although it is essential to support local trade and enterprise, it is also unfair to those who don’t have money to spare but still want value for their money.

For students, the best value is to book the train online (www.irishrail.ie) and take a day trip to Belfast. Here you will find everything you could want to satisfy everyone on your Christmas list and also it is worthwhile to do some food and alcohol shopping while you are there.

Currently, Tesco have evened out their prices so that Northern prices are only a bit cheaper than Southern, but if you compare the prices to ASDA or Sainsbury’s, we are being ripped off.

In large UK stores such as Debenhams and Topshop, it is much more financially sound to shop across the border. A particular nautical themed jumper dress in Belfast in Belfast cost £45 and the exact same item was retailing at over €60 in the Republic.

Considering that the euro to sterling rate is currently €1 - £0.90, it really is a great idea to get up North, you could end up saving hundreds of euro.

Buy what someone needs: We all want to get our friends luxury items at Christmas time because it shows that they mean something to you.

However, this year because everyone is feeling the pinch, it is advisable to buy your friends things they need as opposed to things you think they might want.

This does not mean that you should buy your friends notebooks and pens because you know they will use them. You should try and get them things they will actually use.

By the end of January, most people don’t remember what they got for Christmas, but someone will think of you when they are plugging their iPod into its new charger or when they are going on a spontaneous night out and for once have hairspray and tan.

Set limits: People, and more often that not people in relationships, tend to go overboard with spending at Christmas.

Instead of getting the standard presents of a watch, a phone or aftershave for your boyfriend, think maybe instead of a new pair of runners or football boots or something else he’ll use. Boys, the same goes for you. Don’t just buy perfume for the sake of it; try clothing or a handbag for something your lady will use.