The holidays are coming

[Coexist]

Money is tight. Many are homeless or can't pay their bills. I realize that gifts are luxuries, but for those of us with children who do splurge on a tree, decorations and gifts, the credit crunch can hit you in a few months.

Many count on credit cards to get them through the holiday season.

Many count on the generosity of others to get them through the holiday season (I put gifts I donate to local charities on credit and pay it off in January myself).

Just because last month's statement said you have a $1,000 credit limit on your Visa or Target Card doesn't mean that you will have that much next month, or in November or December. They can take that away tomorrow if they need to pull back on credit. They will turn down student loans for next semester.

I just wanted you to be aware of how close this can hit home quickly, and affect you in ways you don't expect. I am not an economist, but I have seen first hand what has happened to friends whose Line of Credit suddenly disappears. They will not notify you; it just happens. It may be a minor inconvenience or an embarrassment, or it could devastate you.

In a perfect world, we would all do without and be happy and pay cash for everything, but I live in the real world.

The Bill was not perfect, but something needs to be done - we will all lose, and lose big if this issue is used to score political points.

Thanks for listening.

[rzemanfl]

1. Well, I sure am not giving any gift cards this year. I have a couple

now from bankrupt places, suitable for framing. I am sure others share this fear of gift cards, which is going to cause some changes this holiday season.

[Coexist]

2. you are right - I didn't even think of that.

A lot of small businesses are hoping the next few months make up for a crappy year. It aint gonna happen.

[stopbush]

3. Sometimes, reality imposes its ugly head on everybody, including children.

Many families will have to face the facts this year. It may be uncomfortable, but the kids are going to have to learn that Santa and Jesus are just make believe, that mom and dad love them, and that mom and dad are the ones who buy them all those gifts in the first place.

Americans have a real opportunity to escape the brainwashing of the marketers, brainwashing that has people convinced that they need to lie to their kids about Christmas, to pretend that Xmas is about a couple of magical guys who love them even more than their parents, rather than what it is really about: family love that needs no assist from fantasy land.

Time to embrace a better reality and let the kids know that their parents and the real world are worth discussing.

[Coexist]

4. we have reality 364 days a year

I give them Christmas and their birthdays for a little magic.

So sue me.

[blondeatlast]

7. Hear, hear. The reality will rear it's ugly head soon enough. Kids need magic.

And the holier than thou types took it away this year.

[Berry Cool]

13. They don't have to learn that Jesus is just make believe. Jesus was never about wealth.

Christians don't have to turn their children into atheists just because of a money crunch at Christmastime. On the contrary, it's the perfect time to make them less focused on possessions and more on giving of oneself to others.

This is not about getting people to stop believing in something or someone just because you don't. The financial crisis is not an ad for atheism or anti-Christianity. What nonsense.

Oh, and Santa can still exist too. Santa is giving and love that doesn't have to be purchased...and if we lose that, we're truly doomed.

[paparush]

5. Gee, maybe we'll spend the holidays giving our time to poor people, rather than

buying and giving crap that nobody wants or needs.

[Coexist]

8. my kids and parents like, and sometimes need, the 'crap' I give them

[paparush]

9. Well, FLDem, I guess you'll give what you can afford to give, and they will appreciated the gift.

[rug]

6. Are the banks holding Santa hostage too?

[iheartmulletz]

10. I think it's high time to use this as an opportunity to become less materialistic

and not buy things we cannot afford! I don't have a single credit card at age 42! This was deliberate: I figured, if I can't afford it, it's not for me to have. You won't die by not having an iPod or some other gizmo. I remember being 19 years old and filling out a credit card application and even though I had a job, I didn't get the card (I may not have even sent it). Point is, back then it was harder to get credit. Credit has destroyed our economy: it's a fake! It's a house of cards and now it has crashed! We shouldn't just shoot up our monetary dope to get a quick fix; we need to detox!

[Coexist]

11. what about seniors who use their credit cards to purchase their meds?

what if they find out their line of credit has decreased to a few hundred dollars? What about them?

This thread is not about holiday greed as much as how the credit crunch and bailout can affect you in ways you don't expect and don't plan for.

Many here seem to think that this is all about billionaires, it is not. That was my point. Whether or not you think people should purchase each other gifts is NOT THE POINT.

[iheartmulletz]

12. Don't seniors get free or greatly reduced meds now? Walmart has them for $4

In any case, I didn't mean to imply that there is absolutely no use for a credit card, but with the interest rates they carry, if you can't afford something and it's not essential, it's foolish to use one! And you did bring up the Christmas gifts, which is why I brought up non-materialism.