0.00

We are brought up-to-date with the Penneys’ financial problems, particularly Emma’s debts.

0.36

Emma is in her room, examining items from her wardrobe with dissatisfaction. The postman delivers the mail; she goes downstairs, removes two envelopes and chats with Jeff before heading back upstairs. In the kitchen Scott and Jeff demolish what is left of the Advent Calendar chocolates. Sally is working overtime for money for Christmas. Today is the day for Jeff to test-drive a new car. He only needs to sort out the finances. Scott would like to be joining him but has to go shopping with Katie and work at the café.

2.37

In the café Maureen is putting up Christmas decorations. At home in her bedroom, Emma is calculating what she owes on her credit/store cards. It is worse than she thought.

3.21

Emma accepts a lift from Jeff and tries to persuade him to give her driving lessons for Christmas. The car starts first time!

3.51

Scott goes into the café and sells his mobile phone to Maureen. She fits the earpiece and reiterates the advantages of mobiles and the need to use them safely. Scott is not happy to have to spend the money on Christmas presents.

5.05

Emma is in town, looking at a brochure from Forrest Recruitment, while Scott and Katie meet to go Christmas shopping. They discuss what they need to buy; Scott needs to get all his presents, Katie only two, as she’s been buying one a month since August.

6.09

Emma admires a jacket in a shop window and is torn between buying it and knowing she can’t afford it. She still has some storecards.

6.34

Jeff is at the car showroom stroking the car he’s hoping to buy; the salesman doesn’t look so happy.

6.50

Scott and Katie are still in town discussing people’s different approaches to giving Christmas presents. They both give money to a charity collector even though the person has no ID.

7.53

Back at the car showroom Jeff is discovering that he’s been blacklisted for not keeping up credit repayments. He can’t understand it.

8.06

Emma has bought the new jacket but not without an element of guilt. Katie comes up behind her, Emma shows her the new purchase but lies about its price. Scott agrees to go halves with his sister on the present she’s bought for Sally. Then Scott hears that Emma may be getting driving lessons. This reinforces his view that a student’s life is easy.

8.57

At the car salesroom, Jeff is very angry as the car salesman removes the SOLD sticker from the car he wanted. In the café Emma rushes in two hours early and Maureen proudly tells customers that her granddaughter is doing a degree.

9.40

In the Penneys’ kitchen, Jeff and Sally are going through their financial records and trying to work out why they have been refused credit. They’re up-to-date with all their payments, so Jeff thinks the refusal must relate to their address and not to them.

10.03

While out shopping, Scott promises Katie to save regularly but she is sceptical. They talk about her allowance. Scott still can’t seem to understand that Katie has money because she manages it well.

10.47

A smartly dressed Emma hesitates before going into the offices of Forrest Recruitment. In the café Jeff is telling Maureen about the credit refusal. He can still have the car but on a loan with a huge APR.

11.44

Emma leaves Forrest Recruitment, having achieved want she went for. While in the café, Scott learns about the credit blacklisting. Maureen is making good use of her mobile, arranging a bring-and-buy sale for some old people. An envelope arrives in the afternoon post at the Penneys’ house.

13.06

At the café, Scott serves Katie a latté and teases her about keeping an account of what it costs. Emma rushes in late. Jeff and Lara arrive home. He’s fed up but tries to stay chirpy with his baby daughter.

14.12

Maureen explains the blacklisting situation to Emma. It comes to light that she is probably responsible.

14.51

In the Penneys’ kitchen, Jeff is preparing the evening meal and Scott is complaining about having to work at the café. He offers to help Jeff as a softener for asking for a regular allowance like Katie has. Jeff says they can’t afford to hand over the child benefit but he’s grateful for the help!

15.40

In the café Maureen realises that Emma’s distress needs some attention and sits down with her. Emma reveals that she owes Ł837.46 on her credit and store cards and the blacklisting must be her fault. Maureen is appalled, especially when Emma adds that her overdraft is over Ł500. She knows she’ll have to tell Sally and Jeff; she’ll have to get a job and leave college.

17.10

Jeff is putting up the Christmas tree and Scott grudgingly agrees to help. Meanwhile Maureen and Emma continue to go over the mess Emma is in. She admits buying a jacket to go for a job interview. Maureen despairs of her, saddened that the insurance money will go to paying off the credit card debts and that Emma may give up her studies. Emma agrees to seek help but refuses to seek it from Pete. She believes that she can sort herself out with the insurance policy and by getting a job.

18.46

Later, everyone is in the Penneys’ living room, putting up Christmas decorations. Scott is making his usual self-centred contribution. Sally and Jeff point out that there is less money to spend if they’re getting a new car. Pete values the family’s warmth and safety, while Emma nurses her guilt and tries to avoid telling her mother. Jeff remembers the letter that arrived for her.

20.51

Emma opens the letter in trepidation. It tells her she’s come first in her year at college. Back in the living room a toast is drunk to Emma. Scott is only grudgingly impressed. When Jeff answers the phone it’s for Emma to offer her a job. She asks him to say she’s changed her mind. Maureen tries again to persuade Emma to tell her parents about her debts. She doesn’t want to spoil the Christmas spirit, and their pride in her, and promises to see a debt counsellor next term. Maureen says she’ll go with her and Emma hands over the rest of her storecards to Maureen.

23.07

The series ends with Scott laying out the presents he’s bought on his bed. He has 50 pence left in his savings tin!