She had a fancy dress, a fairy godmother gave her a makeover, and she was whisked away in a luxurious mode of transportation to attend the elegant event of her dreams.

But at midnight, she ran out and all of the magic disappeared. She was back to her normal clothing, the carriage was just a pumpkin, and the mice wanted to get fed. The event was nothing but a memory and she still had to walk home.

Christmas is sort of like that in our consumer-driven society. We spend an entire month spending, shopping, decorating, baking, and choosing the most expensive versions of everything because "Christmas only comes once a year." But the day after, all many folks have left is a pile of wadded up wrapping paper, more leftovers than can be stuffed in the fridge, and, worst of all, a breathtaking amount of debt. Fast forward to January, and the bills start coming in. The ball is over, and the outlook is bleak for many.