observer Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 It seems some parents are going into debt and taking pay day loans in order to feed the levels of expectation (wants) of their children; some are even still paying off the interest on loans from last Xmas. A piece on CH4 news; showed a single mother of five kids, who basically will be totally dependent on benefits (perhaps she should have learned to say "no"!), with her eldest daughter, now a single mother; saying how she can't face the look of disappointment on her kids faces, if they're refused presents; hence the never ending spiral into debt. Isn't it time to change this materialistic culture driven by wall to wall advertising, with parents being driven to strive to "keep up with the Jones's" and cater for "the wants" (not needs) of their brood? After all, for those that believe, isn't Christmas a spiritual construct NOT a materialistic one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davy51 Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 Parents would find it easier to say no if credit wasn't thrown at them from every direction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 Obs, my dad said EXACTLY the same as you on the phone earlier as he had seen it too. He mentioned a grandmother (again struggling on benefits) who couldn't understand why she shouldn't borrow money so she could spend £100 on each of her 3 grandkids at xmas. That does seem a lot of money though. I'm sort of split though as I can't think of anything worse than having no money at all and not being able to buy kids any pressies at xmas but then again there's always the old way of saving a couple of £'s every week and I'm sure many could do that if they tried 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted December 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 This year's must have, even for kids at primary school, appears to be an I-pad; if the kid doesn't get one it could result in huge psychological damage and feelings of inferiority to the point of suicide, I guess. They simply won't make do with a sock full of nuts, and an apple and orange these days! But I guess the kids rule the roost nowadays and grow up to expect everything they want, and now, but don't necessarily need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 Did you say no Obs?????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fugtifino Posted December 19, 2013 Report Share Posted December 19, 2013 This year's must have, even for kids at primary school, appears to be an I-pad; if the kid doesn't get one it could result in huge psychological damage and feelings of inferiority to the point of suicide, I guess. I've no idea where you get this drivel from but, seriously, do you believe it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted December 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2013 Well the first part, yes - as in I-pad; the second part about "psychological damage" is merely tongue in cheek sarcasm, given the state of most of the spoilt cry babies being reared these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted December 19, 2013 Report Share Posted December 19, 2013 You really don't like kids or youngsters do you Obs. They are not all like that you know, infact the majority are really nice, polite and not spoilt brats at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted December 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2013 Not blaming "the kids" Diz, they are products of their upbringing. But we've had several generations of materialism now, with the addition of instant gratification through credit. Ironically, those born in the 60s and 70s, will be the first generation in history to be worse off than their parents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted December 19, 2013 Report Share Posted December 19, 2013 I hope your kids and Gran kids Obs, are in no way materialistic after the crap you are coming out with on here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted December 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2013 The "crap" as you call it; was the resultant financial crash and a continuing debt burden of over a £trillion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted December 19, 2013 Report Share Posted December 19, 2013 What about the question Obs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fugtifino Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 If the eight-year-old me had got the Johnny 7 I asked for, I could've been a contender. My life was ruined because I only got a cheapskate Big Game Hunter Outfit - with MULTI-COLOURED TORCH! Which didn't help matters, really, when my mates had GRENADE LAUNCHERS and stuff. And just look what it's DONE to me. <sobs> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted December 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 feel for your trauma Fughts - we had to make do with two dolly pegs stuck together for a gun, until we had the money to afford something better; and the advice we got was, " if you want the money, get a paper round". Kije, you always seem to get stuck on some niche. Go back to the original topic post, and it's evident that the "I want it now" culture hasn't dissipated, but is still with us; despite the financial crash caused by borrowing that couldn't be afforded, driven by huge advertising pressures, and aided and abetted by reckless banks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fugtifino Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00B3G8UGQ ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 Ironically, those born in the 60s and 70s, will be the first generation in history to be worse off than their parents. I don't know any of my mates that I went to school with who would be classed as being worse off than their parents.... born in 1963! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted December 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 Sure "your mates" will be an exception Baz ! But as a group, they'll be retiring later on less pension and are less likely to own their own home, gets worse further down the age range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fugtifino Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 born in 1963 That's a surprise, for some reason I always thought you were older than me. What's not a surprise is that kids will always want to have the coolest toys/gadgets, I think that applies the world over. They don't always get them though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadako Posted December 24, 2013 Report Share Posted December 24, 2013 Born in 1963? That's a surprise as I thought he was younger than me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted December 24, 2013 Report Share Posted December 24, 2013 "I am only as old as the woman I feel" as the old saying goes..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P J Posted December 30, 2013 Report Share Posted December 30, 2013 This year's must have, even for kids at primary school, appears to be an I-pad; if the kid doesn't get one it could result in huge psychological damage and feelings of inferiority to the point of suicide, I guess. They simply won't make do with a sock full of nuts, and an apple and orange these days! But I guess the kids rule the roost nowadays and grow up to expect everything they want, and now, but don't necessarily need. I never had you down as a Yorkshireman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted December 30, 2013 Report Share Posted December 30, 2013 Seems to me that the people that can least afford to buy presents, spend a greater proportion of their income doing so, than those who can afford it. A few days ago I had to sit with a friend who was already ill and now reduced to tears because she couldn’t afford lend her own children money to but presents for her grandchildren. It’s all wrong these days, but then again we’ve all been conditioned by years of commercialisation so it’s only what you’d expect. The kids won’t remember who bought them what anyway, I certainly can’t remember anything in particular that I got for Christmas as a kid except perhaps for a wooden castle that my dad made for me one time. If kids are ever to learn anything then let them learn that a gift should only be what can realistically be afforded by the family. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davy51 Posted December 30, 2013 Report Share Posted December 30, 2013 If the eight-year-old me had got the Johnny 7 I asked for, I could've been a contender. My life was ruined because I only got a cheapskate Big Game Hunter Outfit - with MULTI-COLOURED TORCH! Which didn't help matters, really, when my mates had GRENADE LAUNCHERS and stuff. And just look what it's DONE to me. <sobs> I'm sure you looked a damn sight cooler to your first girlfriend with that torch than your macho mates did....especially when you showed all about playing tents ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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