Posted on 11/20/2012 10:27:12 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Despite a whittling away of consumer debt that has been underway since the recession, many Americans are still entering the holiday season unprepared to cope with the expenses that crop up around this time of year.
Think Finance, a provider of payday loans and other financial services for consumers with limited or no access to banking services, recently surveyed 1,000 Americans across all income levels who use various forms of alternative financial services — including payday loans, prepaid debit cards and direct deposit advances.
Although many of these consumers are on better financial footing and optimistic about their economic future this year, the holidays are still a source of stress and strain on their precarious finances, Think Finance said in the poll.
Some 45 percent of those polled said the holiday season brings so much financial pressure, they would prefer to skip it altogether. Almost half said their level of stress related to holiday expenses is high or extremely high.
That’s probably because nearly the same amount — some 45 percent — say they do not expect to have enough money set aside to cover holiday expenses.
Although those percentages are high, they are an improvement over a survey Think Finance conducted last year. However, it should be noted that survey focused only on consumers who earned less than $50,000 and used alternative financial services, while this year’s survey also polled consumers in higher income brackets. That suggests the financial anxiety may be more widespread than it had been in prior years.
Eight-five percent of those in this year’s survey plan to spend the same amount of money or less on gifts this year, with 54 percent planning to spend $500 or less, and 27 percent planning to spend between $500 and $1,000 on holiday gifts.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnbc.com ...
sounds to me like the Feds think We the People need flogging over the holidays so they can pay their bankers.
I send Christmas “Gifts” to St. Jude’s Hospital c/o my children and grandchildren. They don’t mind at all.
No one forces anyone to spend more than they can afford.
If someone honestly thinks they need to take out a payday loan to buy gifts or run up a credit card with debts they cannot repay, their priorities are really screwed up. Just stop the freakin spending.
You haven’t heard anyone in my family sing, Karaoke is out!
I also am only giving to the Salvation Army everyone else including food banks can take a hike.
I also am only giving to the Salvation Army everyone else including food banks can take a hike.
Great minds think alike.
I’m with you on that SA is the only organization that is selfless and effective. God is there.
Food banks, even religious ones are nothing more than civilian alternatives to government for greedy illegal Mexicans seeking to maximize their stolen booty from Americans. I see them all the time making their weekly treks to the Methodist Food Bank. It is a joke to them, but one where profit can be made.....
Illegal Mexicans are why I stopped giving out candy on Halloween, why I stopped giving canned goods and staples to food banks, and they are why I have started telling all these ‘benevolent’ fraternal organizations requesting donations on the phone.
If you press them, you’ll find the callers are paid by a company that gets upwards of 80-90% of donations - the ‘front’ organizations for these thieves are police, EMS, firemen, etc.....just one big ass damned scam to get your money.
You all got your way on the election - go ask Obama for it is my new reply.
I’d rather skip the honeymoon. Too much pressure.
The Obamas don’t celebrate Christmas with gifts. The “family” decides on one thing, if we can take what they said in 2009 at face value.
what ever happened to “It came without ribbons!... it came without tags!... it came without packages, boxes, or bags!” ?
We are losing our way.
I fear for what will be required to get us back on track.
“The Obamas don’t celebrate Christmas with gifts. The “family” decides on one thing”
See, these people go OUT OF THEIR WAY to not be traditional Americans or do anything the way it’s always been done. I think it’s just another way to insult our country and the people in it.
Their 2009 Christmas tree at the White House had pictures of Chairman Mao and an image of Obama’s face on Mt. Rushmore.
the Grinch even found the meaning of Christmas but the folks in this poll are clueless.
Why... this sound sounded glad. Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small, was singing, without *any* presents at all! He hadn’t stopped Christmas from coming, it *came*! Somehow or other... it came just the same.
“Illegal Mexicans are why I stopped giving out candy on Halloween”
Oh my gosh I stopped giving candy out for the exact reason. Behind my house we have lots of low income apartments and many illeagls live there. Every year they would come and grab the candy from you. I had had enough and have not given any halloween candy out for about 4 years now. I am sick of the people who take take take they can stick it.
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