Festive fear: Christmas hype could end in debt

FORGET the strings of outdoor lighting, the giant light-up sleighs and the flashing Santas this Christmas if they’re likely to result in hefty bills in January.

That’s the advice from Social and Family Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin who launched a Christmas spending planner from the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS).

Speaking about the difficulties often faced by people on benefits at Christmas, she said it was “very easy to get swept along with all the hype and fuss which the festive season brings”.