If You Were Broke, Would You Pay Rent or Buy Christmas Toys? [SURVEY]

A Pendleton waitress who is a single mom with three kids was given an anonymous $500 tip on Christmas Eve. She told the Eastern Oregonian newspaper she was so grateful because that month she had to choose between paying rent and buying Christmas toys for her kids and she had already... bought toys for her kids. Was that the right decision?

My coworker said he would make the same decision if he were in the mom's shoes. He says landlords usually give several weeks to make up for late rent but Christmas only comes once a year and childhood is short. Kids think Santa comes based on whether THEY are good or bad, not on mom's budgeting skills.

I disagree. This probably won't be a 'Popular' opinion...but, I think I would choose to teach my kiddos that there are more important things to value, rather than material possessions! Gifts are a nice jester,  if you can afford them!

But, it would seem dishonorable to me to tell my kids it would be okay to purchase a frivolous gift and NOT pay the rent that I committed to.

I think Americans in general put way too much emphasis on materialism. I don't think it's material things that make people truly happy, and I hope people at some level believe the real gifts a person can give is love, kindness, acceptance and service.

I understand people feel differently. But I also am reminded often that people are needing a gift of food just to LIVE in every neighborhood!! And, yet so many are spending money on toys, and gadgets that will be old and useless and not even played with two weeks after Christmas!

I don't think all that has anything to do with the true meaning of Christmas! Am I a Scrooge? I don't think so...but I understand you may not get what I'm thinking here! At any rate! Hope you had a FANTASTIC Christmas! However that looks to you! And HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Faith