A ONE Poll survey revealing that almost a quarter of us will get into debt this Christmas makes for depressing reading.

The average wage of those taking part in the survey of 1,000 people was £19,000, which is below the national average of £26,500.

The average spend was around £500, which included £311 for presents, £45 on decorations, £116 on food and £75 on alcohol.

Buying for children is a given.

No-one would deny a child a present if there was any other option.

But the fact remains, that there will be scores of kids who are going to feel short-changed on Christmas morning because the season of goodwill smiles more favourably on the haves than the have-nots.

Unfortunately, Christmas is a time of giving.

I say unfortunately because it’s giving in the material sense only.

Kids have come to expect a mountain of gifts under the Christmas tree, so pity the poor child whose parents can afford only one, or worse, none at all.

But what’s the sense in giving more if a family has to live on beans on toast for the whole of January.

If the spree is put on a credit card or financed by a Wonga loan some may not clear it in time for next Christmas and on rolls the cycle of debtor misery.

Is the latest PS4 worth bankrupting the family?

In lean times, those who can’t afford Christmas need to be honest, put pride aside and stand up to materialism by telling those who are old enough to understand that they simply can’t afford to get into debt for the sake of a gift which will likely be forgotten by the New Year.

It doesn’t mean the love for that person is any less, it’s simply survival.

And those old enough to understand should be big enough to take it on the chin and not feel insulted, overlooked or undervalued.

Call me Scrooge, but getting into debt for a three-day present, food and booze binge defeats the object of the season of goodwill.