John Curley


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If the thought of buying all those Christmas presents has you stressed out, you're not alone. A new survey says 45 percent of Americans would just as soon skip the holiday altogether.

Many Americans would rather skip Christmas or kill it

BY Josh Kerns  on November 20, 2012 @ 8:56 am (Updated: 11:41 am - 11/20/12 )

If the thought of buying all those Christmas presents has you stressed out, you're not alone. A new survey says 45 percent of Americans who use alternative financial services would just as soon skip the holiday altogether.

"It makes perfect sense," said KIRO Radio's John Curley. "When you think about it, the commercialization of the holiday is just undo pressure and there's nothing fun about Jan. 7 and opening that credit card bill and seeing you spent $700 or $800. It's gone, the thrill of it is all gone and you're left with having to pay it off."

The survey of 1,000 people who use services like payday loans, prepaid debit cards and direct deposit advances by Think Finance, found 45 percent say the holidays are a significant source of strain and stress on their finances.

Nearly 45 percent also say they don't expect to have enough money set aside to cover the expenses of the holiday, CNBC reported.

The stress is understandable. Even without the holidays, about 41 percent say they would only be able to get by for two weeks without a paycheck, while an additional 25 percent say they could only survive a month.

The survey says 59 percent of those in the survey expect to carry debt with them into the New Year, including some 54 percent of those who earn more than $100,000 a year.

"I've been in the position where I've made less than $50,000, and it is tough," agreed KIRO Radio's Ursula Reutin. "Especially if you have a big family and you feel the pressure to get everyone an equal amount."

The survey finds 54 percent are planning to spend $500 or less, and 27 percent planning to spend between $500 and $1,000 on holiday gifts this year.

It might not ease all the stress, but Curley offers an unconventional approach to holiday spending his family tried when he was 16-years-old.

"We were all sitting around the Christmas tree on Christmas day. He said 'What did you pay for that sweater?' I said 65 bucks. He says 'I saw it on sale yesterday for $28. I got a great idea.'"

The idea? He proposed pushing next year's celebration back two days. "Alright look, you're going to get twice as much crap for half the price," his dad said.

They all voted in favor, except for John's mom.

"It didn't feel that different," Curley said. So the next year they pushed a few days later, and got even more stuff. But after a few years of the Curley family Christmas stretching well towards New Year's and beyond, the family decided to simply stop giving gifts altogether. The Curley's had killed Christmas.

John admits he and his younger brother felt a bit cheated, but ultimately decided the end of gift giving wasn't such a bad thing.

"When you're an adult, you don't need your brother-in-law giving you a sweater," Curley says. "I don't shop for you, you don't shop for me. Let's just call a truce on this. Let the kids have the presents."

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
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Comments (30)


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  • Cbrew wrote...
    Oh Good Lord
    November 20, 2012 9:58 am
    People don't like Christmas because they can't afford the gifts and it puts them in a bind? Really? Here's an answer, DON'T SPEND A BUNCH OF MONEY ON CHRISTMAS!!! ... There's no rule that says you must, this is like saying we should do away with Thanksgiving because Turkey's are expensive... or Valentines day because it puts pressure to have a significant other... get off it, if you don't have a bunch of money for Christmas, don't spend yourself into obvlivion, some people just need to grow up, when i was a kid, if my parents didn't have a lot of money around the holidays we didn't get a whole lot of gifts... that's the bottom line, you live with it and move on... don't spend yourself into debt like an idiot and it should be a very enjoyable holiday.
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  • O-town listener wrote...
    We love Christmas still because we are honest with each other..
    November 20, 2012 10:23 am
    If my family can't afford presents for everyone we let each other know and more often than not have just decided to buy presents for the kids and not the adults and the rest of us just feed off the pure joy that the kids release opening presents.

    My family never uses payday loans, or paycheck advances, or anything else that are just ways to spend more money than you have. We use Christmas as a day to put cares aside, enjoy time together, and have fun with the kids. This survey is seriously biased because it is only surveying those who are using these ridiculously harmful tools to spend money they don't have.

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  • Rundee wrote...
    Let's be real people
    November 20, 2012 10:42 am
    The only reason XMas is still popular is for the kids. I've been saying it for years to my wife that XMas is just for kids. I would rather work during the Xmas break instead of being "forced" to spend my hard-earned Vacation pay on a holiday where I do the annual "act like I'm interested in my inlaws routine. But, it's for the kids. If it were up to me, I'd keep the gym open and play basketball all day.
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  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    You sound .bitter Rundee
    November 21, 2012 9:35 pm
    I've alway's loved Christmas. For one, I'm Christian and Christmas is a happy time for us. Two, life is good if you know where it isn't.
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  • Realpeople wrote...
    God Cares- So should we.
    November 20, 2012 11:55 am
    People in the U.S. has forgotten or care not to learn about the true meaning of (Christ-mas); it's not about gifts giving, spending masses amount of money on people, but it's about adhering and recognizing what God has done for man-kind. God gave His Son as a sacrifical offering at the cross; Christ paid the price for the "sin" of the world at Calvary, Now through Him and by Him, and by His resurrection all that accept the glorious gospel of Jesus and live it also would have fellowship with God the Father and the Son! This is the true meaning of Christmas: God gave His best, so why can't we give our best? Remember, man-kind can't create anything that's seen, neither the Stars, the Sun, the Trees, they can grow it, but they can't create it, nor can they heal themselves, yet God has healed so many people, and yes I can affirm to it. He did for me and more than once.
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  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Jesus is the reason for the season!
    November 20, 2012 12:26 pm
    Not X mass presents!
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  • Forrest wrote...
    That's right It's me! Ha ha!, Jesus is the reason....
    November 20, 2012 5:40 pm
    It's that time of the year where we celebrate the birth of a long haired socialist who gave away healthcare and fed the poor. Just think how unlike Jesus you are. You're like an anti-Jesus. I guess you could say you're the anti-Christ.
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  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Good one.
    November 21, 2012 6:19 am
    :)
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  • jaysonoo7 wrote...
    This just in...
    November 20, 2012 2:40 pm
    Poor people use credit cards to spend much more then they should and regret it afterwards...
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  • clevesside wrote...
    Curley's dad.....
    November 20, 2012 3:11 pm
    ... from what's heard onair today, should have a show of his own. "The martini hour," advice, anecdotes, and bar ideas for parents everywhere. Listening would be mandatory for those under 21, regardless of situation. Good, no?!
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  • Regularjoe44 wrote...
    Maybe...
    November 21, 2012 7:39 pm
    We can pass an initiative that would require the Gubmint to subsidize the gifts that everyone thinks they are entitled to but are not affordable for the giver. Since the rich are able to buy presents, it's only fair we all can do the same. Better yet....maybe we can divert some of those gifts from the rich to the rest of us.
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  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Maybe...
    November 21, 2012 9:23 pm
    Grover Norquist's new pledge can say we shoulnd't heal the sick (unless they can afford it) or help the poor (mooching toddlers) under any circumstances. It's what Jesus would have wanted. Didn't he say do this in remembrance of me. I think that's what he said...
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  • cdbtx wrote...
    Typically
    November 22, 2012 6:46 am
    every other year we spend Christmas in Finland... so much different than in the States.. Yes, I see some commerialization growing there.. but it's a 3 day Holiday... It starts with a day filled with visiting family, then a trip to the church in Helsiniki for the Christmas concert.. that alone is worth the trip.... then another day of eating.. visiting family... remembering that presents are for the young children.. of course... it's pretty awesome to look outside at night and see dozens of Santa Clauses making their deliveries..

    Then a trip to the cemetary... one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen.... sometimes.. it's over a mile walk.. and as you arrive.. snow covered ground... thousands of people.. and tens of thousands of candles marking the graves... remembering loved ones.. such a peaceful and beautiful experience.. then back home.. the next day.. another day of visiting family and eating...

    Of course it all begins with the televised broadcast of the Mayor declaring Christmas Peace and that anyone breaking the peace will be prosecuted... the stores are all closed.. there's no last minute shopping trips...

    But, the oddest thing.. is how Seattle claims to be a city of progessives..., it's a cold, commerical event... yet to visit one of the most progessive thinking countries in the world.. and find a focus on family values... how odd... Forget education and entitlements, maybe Seattle should look towards Scandinavia and mimick their core values... family.. instead of me...

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  • Btheman wrote...
    This whole story is BS
    November 23, 2012 10:23 pm
    It is for those losers without money or jobs or faith. If you have any of the above you would love Christmas just as I, and many other Americans do! Bah Humbug to your BS!
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  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Yeh!
    November 24, 2012 7:45 am
    You rock.
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  • ElenaT wrote...
    I could totally do without Christmas
    December 5, 2012 9:19 am
    I'm not particularly close to my family and they don't need or want anything I could afford to give them. I usually end up getting a significant haul, but I don't like the feeling that I am just making that big trip because I really need a new laptop or something. I am not religious, so there is really no other to get together. We all just saw each other at Thanksgiving and that was more than adequate for one year. Maybe it's different when you have kids, because I really do remember loving Christmas when I was little, but as a single, secular adult I don't really see the point and would be more than happy skipping it altogether.
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  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Why does your post here
    December 12, 2012 3:30 pm
    not surprise me in the slightest!
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