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

Jublie_Portwear

I have to agree wholeheartedly with the sentiments being expressed here. I would love to be able to say to the family 'Let's not give presents this year' or 'Let's just give 'token' presents of a fixed small amount'. Unfortunately, I have tried this before and it has gone down like a lead balloon. Over the last few years I have been getting into crafting and have made all of my own greetings cards. Again, this does not go down well with the family, my Mum especially disapproves. She sets more store by receiving a shop bought one, rather than one that I have spent sometimes hours creating. We are suffering quite badly financially at the moment, and it would be a tremendous relief not to have to pound the streets buying something that you're not too sure that they will like, will it fit, is it the right colour. I have even suggested going down the route of giving 'charitable gifts'. The response was unprintable! I know that I am too late for this year - their shopping starts in earnest around October time - but I will have to be brave and put my foot down about what happens next year.:eek:

Sneezy

I would be happy to see a ban on Christmas presents, i dislike the commercialism of Christmas as it is the best time to spend time with family we don't often get to see and it is also a time to reflect on the past year.

Sbarkia

I'm one of those who actually enjoys buying Christmas presents but only spend about £15-20 on the grandchildren snd about the same between my adult children and their OHs. I certainly don't go overboard as I'm a pensioner and there are 18 in my immediate family, five of whom have birthdays between 24th December and 19th January. What has annoyed me for several years is that several of the grandchildren have always wanted money and whilst you can get some nice bargains in the shops, banks don't hold sales.

asset77

I totally agree with most of what Martin has written. The reason WHY presents are bought seems to have escaped most people. And you hear comments about 'the burden of Christmas' - I even heard someone on the radio the other day saying they NEEDED £500 to 'pay for Christmas' as though it was yet another bill to be paid! NObody FORCES you go start spehnding at Christmas! Most people DO need electricity, gas etc, and always have to budget for these utilities, but we don't NEED to spend lots of money at Christmas!

You see anxious tense faces in the shops - people worrying about what to buy for other people, not questioning WHY they feel they HAVE to buy somehting from all the junk that only appears in the shops at Christmas. (In January myriads of Foot Spas appear at boot sales!) Husbands in particular seem to think they are giving their busy wives a treat by telling them they need to relax with a foort spa - these never get used as the busy wives never had time to get all the bits out and heat it up and sit there with wet feet! A bath is quicker, and a shower quicker than that!

I also get depressed from around now onwards seeing all the excess food that appears in the supermarkets - all those giant tins of Quality Street. WHY are we expected to start eating and drinking to excess at Christmas? WHY do tons of oranges and nuts suddenly appear? Don't people eat oranges and nuts all year round? (I am vegetarian and buy lots of nuts but last Christmas I actually couldn't get any! Deprived of nuts by the greedy turkey-eaters who just wanted 'extra') Are we such an uncreative unimaginative lot that 'celebrating Christmas' only means over-eating and over-drinking?

Its all one big ploy from retailers of all descriptions to encourage a frenzy of spending. And it seems to work every year!

mazmo71

I suggested to my friends 3 years ago that we stop buying presents for each other and each other's children most of them were relieved. It had got completely ridiculous. My children get so much from family that they really don't need or appreciate gifts from friends which just get added to the huge pile. One (loaded) friend is still proving a bit tricky. We don't live near each other more and though I've said for us not to buy presents for each other's families she still sends me a cheque or vouchers. However, I simply thank her and don't feel obligated to send anything back as I feel I've made my stance clear and it's up to her if she wants to send us anything.

sarahraah_2

Hey,

ok so i actually work in a shop and my wages depend on people spending money! I completely agree that the amount that is spent on christmas is too much but at the same time it is important to consider all the shop workers, delivery drivers etc that would be out of a job or face wages cuts if christmas spending didnt happen. Not much of a christmas present for them. I think as with all things in life it is important that as individuals we take responsibility for our spending and moderate our own actions. A little of anything is good, but alot too much etc etc.

People need to think creatively when it comes to gift giving. I for one with be trawlling through charity shops as you will be amazed at the goodies you can pick up and this approach scores points for the environment and recycling and means that money people choose to spend is directed to a good cause.

So far i have rubber ducks from cancer research, a gift hamper of biscuits/jams/cakes etc from oxfam, sheet music from oxfam, a dvd box set from a local hospice shop, christmas cards from the blue cross and an animal sponsorship from the local wildlife sanctury.

So . . . you get the point.

If we are really to examine the excesses of christmas shopping then it should be taken in its entirerety, Do you need extra christmas decorations? Could you cut up last years xmas cards to be this years gift tags? Wrap your presents in newspappers instead of buying shiny wrapping paper that will be in the bin on boxingday? And mostly remember that the food shops are only closed for 2 days!!!! - how much of your food shopping is going to go mouldy at the back of the fridge because you just didnt need it!

Yes people waste a lot of money and the point of christmas is often missed, but please, i'd quite like to keep my job thanks

Grandmo

At last an opportunity to think about the stranglehold of Christmas present buying. It is just a retailfest to see how much money we can be parted from.

However it is hard to not seem mean and miserly (although that is seasonal - Dickens A Christmas Carol!) when trying to esacape the tyranny.

Christmas can be as much fun without all the gifts that you never wanted and seldom use.

I have got to the age where I have most things that I need and want and if I need things I buy them myself.

Christmas is about getting together with family, friends and loved ones and does not need to be about buying buying buying.

Grandmo

Southcoastali

Martin, what an interesting blog with historical content. I think (whatever your religious standpoint) Christmas has become the year's fifth season, it is no longer a festival. Regardless of whether or not I can spend, I really don't feel I want to any more although as you say, there is much pleasure in giving but not to the retailers. Our high street shops are decorated and lit and I saw foil streamers through the windows of one local curry establishment on Wednesday. It puts me off, it certainly does not pull me in.

Forgetful

My children.. ages 14 and 17 now both understand why I do not really buy them presents at Xmas.

I explain to them that its expensive yet we can buy the same thing after the season for a lot less.

some closer frineds I have told them not to buy xmas presents... for example one year I gave my friend a tin of Celabrations chocolates wrapped up and when I recieved mine off him... I knew it was the same thing... the only one benefitting from this was the shop.. for us.. it was either give the tin of chocolates away or suffer bad waistlines or bad teeth!!!

lass_2

I agree with this article. My family isn't in best financial shape right now and so I decided to bite the bullet and tell all our immediate families that we couldn't do presents except for the kids and didn't want anything in return. Telling my mum was very hard as I love to buy them something nice as a thank you and expression of how much I love them. Without exception, everyone was completely fine about it. I had a little cry after making those calls but soon the relief of not adding any debt to us made me know that we'd done the right thing.

Also someone in my family has been very ill for a year but has just been told that they're going to make it. Our delight knows no bounds and that is the best present of all for us this year.

Our son is young and I explain fairly openly that certain things aren't possible. He's completely fine with it. And I've told him that Santa doesn't bring huge gifts either – that he never does for anyone – but that he knows what is right for each child.

Hope this helps somebody. Enjoy each day – they are great.