Is it just me getting old? Waste, consumerism and Christmas
Discussion
We've had a lousy few months (been a lousy year/couple of years really) where our living situation at home has been barely habitable, so we've been working every second possible to get a roof/heating etc. just to survive the winter. Consequently done no Xmas shopping.
Yesterday we had something approaching a roof and heat so took half a day off as Sarah needed a few gifts for people. Watching her and everyone else rushing around to find "another thing for the 3 for 2" of this absolute rubbish that will be thrown away or regifted was really quite depressing. Surely a tenner in a card is better than this.
Regardless of your views of global warming and causes etc. this can't be good. Shipping junk half way across the world to be thrown away. The manufacturing and shipping alone, let alone the impact disposal has just seems wrong. Yet it's encouraged as it is good for the economy.
Depressing.
Yesterday we had something approaching a roof and heat so took half a day off as Sarah needed a few gifts for people. Watching her and everyone else rushing around to find "another thing for the 3 for 2" of this absolute rubbish that will be thrown away or regifted was really quite depressing. Surely a tenner in a card is better than this.
Regardless of your views of global warming and causes etc. this can't be good. Shipping junk half way across the world to be thrown away. The manufacturing and shipping alone, let alone the impact disposal has just seems wrong. Yet it's encouraged as it is good for the economy.
Depressing.
I'm coming to the conclusion that anyone over the age of 12 doesn't need presents. Everyone has so much "stuff" these days.
I'm getting closer and closer to just stopping it with everyone - the wife and I don't actually want for anything, and I generally buy what I want when I see it on offer etc. I do the same for the wife, with her latest crafting gadget or whatever, but she prefers to actually receive them in her birthday/Christmas, I just don't have the patience for that any more.
At least my friends mostly realise that it's better to just buy me a bottle of something or a selection of beers from my favourite craft breweries, otherwise I'd probably have knocked it on the head years ago
I'm getting closer and closer to just stopping it with everyone - the wife and I don't actually want for anything, and I generally buy what I want when I see it on offer etc. I do the same for the wife, with her latest crafting gadget or whatever, but she prefers to actually receive them in her birthday/Christmas, I just don't have the patience for that any more.
At least my friends mostly realise that it's better to just buy me a bottle of something or a selection of beers from my favourite craft breweries, otherwise I'd probably have knocked it on the head years ago
Agree with all the above
BUT:
While I said no Christmas cards this year will put the money into a Charity somewhere, I'll probably give in and send a few! It's not the cost of the card, it's the postage.
Everyone I know says "don't need anything" but still we keep looking for "something"
For the last 40 year or more I've said "I hate Christmas", from the first time I hear Slade & Maria Carey,
BUT:
While I said no Christmas cards this year will put the money into a Charity somewhere, I'll probably give in and send a few! It's not the cost of the card, it's the postage.
Everyone I know says "don't need anything" but still we keep looking for "something"
For the last 40 year or more I've said "I hate Christmas", from the first time I hear Slade & Maria Carey,
I think its lovely to give proper thought to a gift for someone special or give something that people actually need or will find useful.
Most of the tat thats given is a waste of time and more about elevating the givers guilt rather than actually thinking of the recipient.
Yeah, consumerism is not a good thing for anyone at christmas, even recipients are ‘wtf’ why have you given me this but smile and say thank you nevertheless.
Most of the tat thats given is a waste of time and more about elevating the givers guilt rather than actually thinking of the recipient.
Yeah, consumerism is not a good thing for anyone at christmas, even recipients are ‘wtf’ why have you given me this but smile and say thank you nevertheless.
I kind of agree.
A few years ago I said to my siblings not to bother with each other and our respective other halves as it just became too onerous to find things they wanted.
We actually moved to a secret santa but then I'd get texts from one asking for one of them to get so and so as they already bought a gift. I knocked that on the head and now arrange for all the families to come round a week before Christmas for the day. Gives the kids a chance to have a laugh.
All of our kids are quite fortunate in that they have plenty. It does make me sad that there will be lots of kids who don't get much.
A few years ago I said to my siblings not to bother with each other and our respective other halves as it just became too onerous to find things they wanted.
We actually moved to a secret santa but then I'd get texts from one asking for one of them to get so and so as they already bought a gift. I knocked that on the head and now arrange for all the families to come round a week before Christmas for the day. Gives the kids a chance to have a laugh.
All of our kids are quite fortunate in that they have plenty. It does make me sad that there will be lots of kids who don't get much.
heisthegaffer said:
All of our kids are quite fortunate in that they have plenty. It does make me sad that there will be lots of kids who don't get much.
Ditto,, son, my wife and I all have what we need, and get what we need when we need it, not necessarily at Christmas. Despite him being 18 now my Sister wants to get him something so we have to get her something and it's the same old question "what do you want" and the retort "I'll have a think" and then we all spend far too much time trying to come up with something original.
Yet there are people living on the street, kids in this country getting very little, kids in other countries get nothing, people getting shot, tortured, blown up in Ukraine, Gaza and in many distant lands never mentioned on the TV news. I'd rather send £100 to a deserving charity yet still we surf the net/walk the High Street looking for "something for (insert name).
We've donated the money we would have spent on cards to Prostate Cancer Research after I took part in their fund raising walk last month. Other than each other and close family we're not giving gifts; close family were sent vouchers and told use them beforehand if they wished, some have.
It's not about being a grinch, it's about doing what your conscience is comfortable with.
It's not about being a grinch, it's about doing what your conscience is comfortable with.
My conscience is quite happy buying stuff for lots of family members. My wife absolutely loves the whole palaver and I'm happy that she's happy filling the dining table with mountains of presents, wrapping, tinsel and labels singing along to Christmas songs on the Alexa while she wraps them all up. Sometimes we spend a bit too much, and sometimes we get quite a lot spent on us, but it's nice that people care enough to do it and we have a great couple of days with a number of family get togethers at each other's houses.
What I can't be doing with is the excessive moaning about excess each year, but I guess it's typical PH that it seems most of us on here are middle aged, middle management boring feckers who'd rather spend the whole festive period sat along in a room with Occado on speed dial watching black and white war films pausing only to complain about people enjoying themselves.
What I can't be doing with is the excessive moaning about excess each year, but I guess it's typical PH that it seems most of us on here are middle aged, middle management boring feckers who'd rather spend the whole festive period sat along in a room with Occado on speed dial watching black and white war films pausing only to complain about people enjoying themselves.
It does seem like a greedy orgy of consumerism, doesn't it?
I'm not really a Christmas person, but if there ever way a time to take a moment to say something nice and meaningful to a friend or relative who you don't speak to as much as you really should, the middle of dark days of winter would be it.
Cards are bulls
t, or at least most of the time. I don't know, maybe they mean more to women perhaps? but we get a few, fewer than before as the older members of the family are no longer here. My Wife looks at them, says "that's a nice card" and then judges people who couldn't be bothered to send us one. We don't send any, my Mrs, not really one for irony, but still, cards seem a bit of a waste of time. You sit down, make a list, write them out with all the enthusiasm of an excel spreadsheet and you've 'done your bit'.
I try to make the effort to see people, not because I have to, but because I want to. A couple of hours in the 'local' than none of us live near anymore with my friends, a few hours out with the guys from work so at least they know I'm not a raving lunatic all the time, say hello to my neighbours, say hello and Merry Christmas to the guys who work in the shop at the end of the road I see every day and never talk to. I really enjoy that.
Then the day after boxing day, I chuck the tree in the recycling, all the glitter and crap in the attic, book a holiday and smile at the little sun app on my phone that tells me the day is 12s longer than yesterday.
I'm not really a Christmas person, but if there ever way a time to take a moment to say something nice and meaningful to a friend or relative who you don't speak to as much as you really should, the middle of dark days of winter would be it.
Cards are bulls
t, or at least most of the time. I don't know, maybe they mean more to women perhaps? but we get a few, fewer than before as the older members of the family are no longer here. My Wife looks at them, says "that's a nice card" and then judges people who couldn't be bothered to send us one. We don't send any, my Mrs, not really one for irony, but still, cards seem a bit of a waste of time. You sit down, make a list, write them out with all the enthusiasm of an excel spreadsheet and you've 'done your bit'. I try to make the effort to see people, not because I have to, but because I want to. A couple of hours in the 'local' than none of us live near anymore with my friends, a few hours out with the guys from work so at least they know I'm not a raving lunatic all the time, say hello to my neighbours, say hello and Merry Christmas to the guys who work in the shop at the end of the road I see every day and never talk to. I really enjoy that.
Then the day after boxing day, I chuck the tree in the recycling, all the glitter and crap in the attic, book a holiday and smile at the little sun app on my phone that tells me the day is 12s longer than yesterday.
I have just broached the whole 'please can we stop buying pressies over the age of 18' with wider family. Some of the family agree, the other lot it is like a lead balloon. I even suggested we do a secret santa - so you spend a half decent amount (say £50) on one present - but that too has been greeted badly.
Immediate family - I have asked for less and less, and asked for time presents instead. Book me in a weekend, maybe a walk or a day out to the beach etc instead of tat presents.
Immediate family - I have asked for less and less, and asked for time presents instead. Book me in a weekend, maybe a walk or a day out to the beach etc instead of tat presents.
Only 4 I'd buy for would be Dad, brother, one mates little boy and another's little girl. Dad died this year so that's one less. Told my brother not to do presents and concentrate on buying food for a good meal as there will only be the two of us. I'm in no mood for Christmas this year. It's for other people, not for me.
I agree with the OP.
Such a waste of time and expense plus all I see are miserable people crowding the shops getting further into debt. No joy at all.
I do wish for simpler times.
Any kid that gets a smartphone has just gotten every possible Christmas gift for life. Bloody phones have ruined that.
No point getting them a stereo, a camera, a computer, a portable tv, books, music etc anymore.
Such a waste of time and expense plus all I see are miserable people crowding the shops getting further into debt. No joy at all.
I do wish for simpler times.
Any kid that gets a smartphone has just gotten every possible Christmas gift for life. Bloody phones have ruined that.
No point getting them a stereo, a camera, a computer, a portable tv, books, music etc anymore.
Yeah, I know what you mean, had spare cash at the start of the month, she went out and spent £700 on presents, I have bought her stuff, then there is hundreds on other stuff like a tree at £54, now skint and its annoying me, another £20/30 on someone we will never see again as its part of the protocol.
Kind of glad when its over to be honest.
And I bought myself a Remote Control car, its been grabbed and getting wrapped up for Christmas, anything that arrives gets intercepted and wrapped up, bloody memory cars one year that I needed for work. So I pay for it, and then have to wait two weeks to get it ffs. I wouldn't mind but she asked what I wanted, and I said an RC car, she says "I am not buying you that" as its not on the presents she is remotely interested in buying, but as its got near and I haven't said what I wanted, she grabbed that.
I don't need anything for Christmas, I have plenty of money to buy whatever I want, whenever I want, its called being a grown up (who still plays with toy cars...)
Then she will get me some socks and pans, and she buys me medium sized pants that dont fit, she insists that smaller is better "so I dont keep adjusting", so they just get stuck in the wardrobe, I dont fit into medium pants, imagine if I told her what underwear she should be wearing ffs.
Kind of glad when its over to be honest.
And I bought myself a Remote Control car, its been grabbed and getting wrapped up for Christmas, anything that arrives gets intercepted and wrapped up, bloody memory cars one year that I needed for work. So I pay for it, and then have to wait two weeks to get it ffs. I wouldn't mind but she asked what I wanted, and I said an RC car, she says "I am not buying you that" as its not on the presents she is remotely interested in buying, but as its got near and I haven't said what I wanted, she grabbed that.
I don't need anything for Christmas, I have plenty of money to buy whatever I want, whenever I want, its called being a grown up (who still plays with toy cars...)
Then she will get me some socks and pans, and she buys me medium sized pants that dont fit, she insists that smaller is better "so I dont keep adjusting", so they just get stuck in the wardrobe, I dont fit into medium pants, imagine if I told her what underwear she should be wearing ffs.
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