Is it time to ban Christmas presents? Blog and poll discussion

Mumof5_2

I agree wholeheartedly with Martin's comments - the difficulty is trying to persuade my husband and the extended family to go along with it. In an effort to cut back on the money spent I will be giving gifts such as homemade jams and chutneys, and flowerpots decorated by the children as presents this year - it will be interesting to see how well they will be received.

Seymour_Clearly

Yes, time to ban. My friends and I commit to spending a day/weekend just having fun together or agree to make a donation to a charity of their choice if they are far away. Cash rich time poor, I'll cherish the memories of our good times together more than a gift - make memories and if you're hard up it can be free.:beer:

System

I have told the various members of my other half's family this for a number of years. Without much success, I have to say. I have the extra problem of one who spends even though she is in debt herself - think it's the excuse she needs to shop as it's not for her. I repeated my stance in September, only to be told 'I've already got it'
Am just wondering how tough to get??? I haven't an issue about money on my side, just the pointless waste.

redfibee

My sister married a wealthy man - to her, it is no problem buying presents. For me, it is a struggle to find a suitable present for each of her 4 children at a reasonable price, and I don't really think the children appreciate them, as them have so much already.

A few years ago I arranged with a couple of friends that we would stop buying presents for each other, and only buy for the children. My sister in law touch took this as a personal insult, but my friends thought it was a great idea.

For those I do buy presents for, I feel no shame in buying presents from charity shops / jumble sales etc. I usually manage to buy good presents at low prices - I wouldn't give junk.

Jill_B

I wrote a satirical article the other day and totally think it it time to deal with these issues. Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Christ and not about gifts its about families spending time together, remembering Christ, sharing dinner, playing silly games together a time of love and fellowship. Gifts were given to resemble the gift of grace and atonement that Christ gave to us and its just been capitalised on by shops.

Aki123

I HATE Christmas shopping!! There I've said it .... In fact, I hate shopping of any sort, but at Christmas it's the absolute pits. I don't have money issues, but sending/receiving unwanted items sold in far too much packaging and wrapped in even more makes me feel physically sick. I wander round the shops with Tom Lehrer's words ringing in my head, observing the rampant consumerism and wanting to run away. I've tried to persuade my OH to get his (very extended) family to give up gift-giving, but he refuses to discuss it, even though we've managed to cut it to almost nothing on my side of the family (just a couple of children.) So we'll be joining the crazed shoppers again this year, buying more unwanted rubbish and my ulcer will just have to get bigger.

For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about .....
FROM - A Christmas Carol by Tom Lehrer.
......
Relations sparing no expense'll
Send some useless old utensil
Or a matching pen and pencil
'Just the thing I need, how nice.'

It doesn't matter how sincere it
Is nor how heartfelt the spirit
Sentiment will not endear it
What's important is the price

Hark the Herald Tribune sings, advertising wondrous things
God rest ye merry merchants may ye make the Yuletide pay
Angels we have heard on high, tell us to go out and buy .......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSlpCBek1_M

Sunny_Saver

My in-laws all spend about the same amount on each other and send each other a gift list.

I reckon, if you're going to ask for a specific present and all spend the same amount on each other, why don't you just buy the present for yourself!!!

Also, what I want to know if they have to pretend to be surprised when they open the presents!!!

I suggested to OH to just buy for the kids in the family, but he said that wouldn't go down well.

titaniakin

I hate Christmas shopping and the pressure that it puts on people who cannot afford the extras. Ive also stopped sending Christmas cards and give a donation to charity instead. Its all media hype and it gets earlier and worse each year. Ignore it!!! The most important thing is to spend TIME with friends and family not SPEND!!

Taekwondo_girl_2

Hi-I feel tremendously pressurised at this time of year with all the extra stuff you have to do and money that we don't have to spend.We have set a budget of £5.00 per person for family members,the fun is to see what you can do for that amount-the best one was from my sister who sent me a relaxing evening of bath bomb,split of cava,candles for my bath and some chocolate-it was very much appreciated.
We spend more on our kids but not the huge amounts some parents do,also give them things they need like new jammies and fun socks.
Close friends are getting a big tin of sweets-2 for £7.00 to eat in front of the telly.
I hate christmas cards as they really annoy me,they clutter up my house and are a complete drain on resources-I wonder how many trees are destroyed in the making of them. This year we have made our own on the computer and are emailing it out to all our friends here and overseas,saves my poor hand too from all the writing.
I hate all the commercialism of Christmas,can't bear shopping and don't want to hand all the retailers my hard earned cash!
There now I feel better having got that off my chest!

alanjr

Absolutely spot on. As an adult I have all I can afford/want.

I have a very simple rule - if I want it I've already bought it - if I havent bought it its probably because I dont want it or cant afford it.

I see no reason why I should expect someone to buy me something I cant afford as by the same token I would then feel obliged to spend a similar amount on them.

Childrens and adults birthdays is a different situation, as the present giving is one way (at that time anyway). At Christmas I always bought childrens presents as again its not expected they will reciprocate and therefore feel under no particular pressure to spend in return.

As adults we see the futility of this "exchange" and as a result many are now coming to their senses

Christmas will still remain special by the food the company and the decorations at this special time of year - so no more shouts of Scrooge as we save money and the environment!