Editorial: Splurge leaves some short

Christmas spending can take a while to get over.

Some people save all year for Christmas and New Year, others wing it, and some go without.

It is the time of year where we all get together, have too much food and too many drinks, and enjoy each other's company.

The other aspect of Christmas is the presents.

I'm a firm believer that less is often more. It isn't about the number of presents or the cost, but the effort that goes into them. I would rather spend time with people than exchange gifts to show someone I care.

However, some people do whatever it takes to shower their loved ones in gifts, as well as making sure there is enough food and drink to feed an army.

In Friday's Bay of Plenty Times, it was reported that shoppers in the Bay of Plenty, spent $20 million more than during the same month in 2013.

According to latest Paymark statistics, Bay residents spent $357.8 million in December 2014 - a 5.9 per cent increase on 2013, when $337.8 million was spent.

Wow. That is a lot of money.

In yesterday's Bay of Plenty Times, it was highlighted how some families could be faced with the aftermath of all that splurging.

For many Kiwi families, January and February bring the first bills of the New Year and realisations of over spending.

Family Budgeting Services chief executive Raewyn Fox says the next few weeks are the agency's busiest time of the year with families facing financial crises.

She says it's not just Christmas spending causing financial trouble, but a combination of school holidays, Christmas and a new school year.

Ms Fox says the stress caused by not having enough money to do things is a major contributor to family break-ups and violence.

According to data released by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Kiwi households were collectively $210,881 million in debt in November 2014. This figure includes household and consumer lending.

That is a lot of money we owe.

I hope those who are struggling get the budgeting advice they need, but also realise the festive season isn't about the gifts and the food, but the time spent with friends and family.