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.
