Opinion: The real cost of sparkly, flashy things

Kids love toys, technology, flashy things, things that make loud noises and things that sparkle.

Their wee eyes light up when they hurriedly unwrap a gift and discover it's something they've been hoping for. They are so grateful they give you the biggest squeeze in gratitude.

They are also easily distracted. Often within a short period that feeling is gone and their mind has wandered onto something else that piques their interest. For little ones, that can just be the cool rustling sound of the wrapping that toy has come in.

Suddenly the $100 you spent on the flashy, sparkly, noisy thing seems to have been better spent on providing food to put on the table that week.

Everyone deserves a great Christmas but sadly yesterday there were likely hundreds of families who were caught up in the occasion and spent way more than they could afford.

When I called local budget adviser Rahera Reweti from Te Roopu a Iwi o Te Arawa last week to get comment about the latest Paymark figures for our area, she seemed genuinely frightened to hear the amount that had been spent.

"Oh no, no, no," she said as I told her nearly $175 million had gone through tills in the Bay of Plenty in just the first two weeks of December.

She estimated a lot of that money would have come from beneficiaries who couldn't afford it.

It was her fear beneficiaries would blow their advanced benefits paid overnight on Friday last week (in lieu of this week's payments that fall on statutory holidays) on giving their families a fun Christmas.

After the New Year period, there will be a week when suddenly there's no money and by the second week of January, families will really suffer.

Yes, we have a boosted economy. Yes, the figures tell us there's more money in people's pockets, but the reality is the gap has just got wider and for those struggling their hardship is real.

If you're one of those battling to make ends meet and tempted to head out to today's Boxing Day sales, think back to your childhood.

What is your greatest memory of the summer holiday period? I bet it wasn't something that sparkled, flashed or made a loud noise.