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 ...
So what do you get when you take people who are only nominally, if that, Christian, or who otherwise feel compelled to spend lots of money on material goods for themselves and their family, in lieu of more heartfelt rewards, personal time, or to pay off “guilt debts”?
Of course they are unhappy about it. There is nothing in it to be happy about. They are trying to buy love and crank out a “Norman Rockwell” memory moment in between whatever else it is they are doing.
The problem here is not Christmas or Wal-Mart. Nor is it even materialism.
Agree with you about Fox. This morning, Fox and Friends did a segment on Roger Ailes’ “diversity program”. Four graduates were featured, all black or Hispanic....now do you think their reporting will be unbiased?
“Honored to have the Rev. Jesse Jackson as the keynote speaker!”
http://ailesapprentice.foxnews.com/
You're a foul one, Mr. O / You're a nasty, wasty skunk / Your heart is full of unwashed socks, your soul is full of gunk / Mr. O / The three words that best describe you are as follows, and I quote: Stink, stank, stunk!You nauseate me, Mr. O / With a nauseous super-naus / You're a crooked jerky jockey, and you drive a crooked hoss, / Mr. O! / Your soul is an appalling dump-heap, overflowing with the most disgraceful assortment of rubbish imaginable, mangled up in tangled up knots!
You're a rotter, Mr. O / You're the king of sinful sots / Your heart's a dead tomato splotched with moldy purple spots / Mr. O! / You're a three-decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich with arsenic sauce!
You're a mean one, Mr. O / You really are a heel / You're as cuddly as a cactus, you're as charming as an eel / Mr O! / You're a bad banana with a... greasy black peel.
You're a vile one, Mr. O / You have termites in your smile / You have all the tender sweetness of a seasick crocodile / Mr. O / Given the choice between the two of you, I'd take the uh... seasick crocodile.
I don’t believe anything now with the polls.
Yes because they were so wrong before the election....we better knock it off with the polls are wrong before the next election or we are going to be in the same sitting position with our hands up our butts wondering what just happened again.
We always had a rule for our kids which I have now passed on to the grandsons. They each get 4 gifts - something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read. Needs do include things like socks and underwear though but they do end up as stocking stuffers.
We live on the Gulf coast so for the last 15 years have gone snow skiing at Christmas but not this year. Something I saved for all year but now everything has just gotten too expensive. Last year attended a Christmas Eve candle lighting service at the top of the mountain. Awesome experience and I felt my daughter had come down to heaven and was right there with us. Youngest grandson remarked that we were probably the only family with three generations skiing down the hill together.
If the unions cause massive wal-mart walk outs on Black Friday, who do you think will get the blame for the chaos?
I bet they didn’t even wear a costume. Just a moustache and a pillow case. Didn’t say a word. Eff them.
I am going to get me an EBT card and buy everyone beer and cigarettes.
You are absolutely correct. They call me all the time. I always listen and then ask "How much of my donation goes to the charity?" They always have to put a manager on the phone and I am told only 10 percent goes to the charity. They are nothing but scams. I wish I could tell everyone what a rip-off they are.
I like that! If I ever get a call (I cannot remember how long it's been since the last one...must not be on many lists), I'll use it.
Our whole family is cutting back this year. We are only giving minimal gifts to close relatives and are having a potluck Christmas dinner so no one has to bear the brunt of the cost of a large dinner. (Usually me).
I am looking forward to a relatively stress free holiday where we can reflect on the joy of the birth of Christ.
the only thing that will get me in Wal-Mart on Friday is if the unions do cause a walk out. Otherwise I will be at the gym working out like I do every Friday after Thanksgiving and then relaxing at home with leftovers.
Last year our large extended family decided to stop the gift giving except for a few small things for the two little children in the family. We have a meal together and I go to Mass and sing in the choir. Last Christmas was totally stress free. I am looking forward to another stress free and holy Christmas this year.
What turned me against Fox was the election and Meghan Kelly
if Obama had been there she would have jumped his bones right on air pitiful. Have not tuned in since then.
Good grief. Completely misleading headline. The poll is of broke people. Broke people always feel financial pressure. How retarded ...
>> 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 [...] Some 45 percent of those polled said the holiday season brings so much financial pressure
If you look at who was polled, 45% is remarkably low. Ass-clowns who use payday loans generally feel excessive financial pressure feeding themselves. But only 45% find too much financial pressure in Christmas.
SnakeDoc
Of course, for CNBC, Christmas is just about how much money one spends. They are unaware that Christmas can’t be
“skipped”, as it it the time when we celebrate the Birth of our Lord. No funds required.
Seems to me people just voted for Christmas to be every day of the year.
&&
Good one! With you and I and others like us playing the part of Santa.
Yep, haha my faovrite restaraunt, in fact the only one that I eat at is chinese.
Wonderful food, japanese, chinese and thai, and wonderful people. I love them.
Same with my extended family - only gifts to the little kids.
My DH and I don't even exchange gifts - it's great - the pressure is off and the bank account is happy.
Tree goes up, feasts are prepared, cookies are baked.
You can celebrate without buying stuff because you "have to" - it's easy - try it!
I didn’t know that, thanks!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.