Dealing with Santa Claus

You probably still teach your kids that Santa Claus is real or that Santa only gives presents to kids on the 'good' list, and that he gives a lump of coal(or passes by the house) to kids on the 'naughty' list. That is good and all, but what do you do when you are too poor, or are in poverty when you can't afford to buy presents for your kids, or at least the ones they want from their Christmas list?

I once read on Religious Tolerance in the United States & Canada that it would be better to teach a symbolic representation of Santa Claus and what he stands for, rather than tell your kids he is real. Making Santa sound real could make your kids feel bad or make them think they are bad kids for not getting what they wanted for Christmas, but in reality it's not always them being bad, but rather you were in financial hardship, man. But how you raise your kids is your business, man, so please accept this post only as advice, rather than as a guideline or as rules.