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

thesantacause

For those people that are sick of wasting money on secret santa presents at work there is an alternative. Get your company to join The Santa Cause and give your gift money to your favourite charity.

Find out more at justgiving.com/teams/santacause

johnnydude84

For me, Christmas in my household is very much anticipated and slightly different from the poster above who finds birthdays more important we find that sitting around with the family enjoying a day that is for everyone a nicer way to do things. I am currently living at home with my mother and brother and while we are close it is Christmas that really brings us together. I suppose as a child you could have considered me spoilt. I was always getting the latest gadget or gizmo and in hindsight I was never fully aware of just how much was spent. She worked 3 jobs at one point to ensure that we got what we wanted.

However, I am now fully aware of the hardship and struggle people sometimes put into the holidays.

While I am not religious, Christmas means a lot to me as it the only time when we are all together gifting presents to each other. Even into my late 20's there is still nothing qiute like receiving a gift. More so though, now I have some level of financial stability is the ability to give presents. With my Mum being a single parent she is often not able to afford all the things she would like and Christmas is a nice way for our family to enjoy together (which is really the most important bit) the presents we have thought about for each other.

What I do think is, people shouldn't spend more than they can afford and shouldn't get things that won't be enjoyed or used (I know my mum will get me a present if I say I want one or not so I create an amazon wishlist and tell her to get me the cheapest things on it to ensure I get things I will use).

My Mum is a prime example of someone who spends too much. I budget money for Xmas very early and using this site, often get things throughout the year when they are cheap or have deals. This Xmas alone I have saved around £70 from prudent bargin hunting and still got the things I wanted to get.

Where I draw the line and again dearest Mother is a prime example is buying outside of the extended family.

I buy presents for my Mum, Brother and Girlfriend. Me and my bro have an unwritten rule not to spend more than £30ish on each other (partly due to him being a student). I gift my mum and girlfriend whatever I can afford...That's it. I have never bought a friend or extended family a present, they have never done it to me. The only difference is my Aunty who buy's my mum, bro and I a gift. Likewise mother does the same but as they have more kids, a limit is set. I think thats fine as we are very close to my aunty and cousins and there are rules in place.

However... Mother buys a little something for my cousins kids (2) her close work pals (about 7) and spends way more than she can really afford on us, meaning that she has to pay back xmas into the early months of the following year. As the highest paid in the family I sort of feel the need to then spend more on the things she needs becasue she won't be able to afford them herself having spent her money on me. It is counter productive for everyone. I would still buy her presents but maybe not as much if she hadn't spend so much on me.

This is wrong. Nice of her, but wrong. It is not that she feels obligated either, it is more that she enjoys the giving of gifts but goes over the top. But when it hurts your bottom line then it should be stopped.

So in all I think ban is wrong, harsh and maybe even unchristmassy (gasp). What I thnk should happen is more of a controlled, planned christmas where people are more prudent and savvy and give only what they can.

I for one cannot imagine a christmas where we are not all sitting around the christmas tree seeing the delight on peoples faces whilst they hold the awesome knitted jumper of rudolf against them to make sure it fits while another tries on the matching socks.

sharnad

Christmas is a total let down a chance for people to show you how little they really care by not putting any thought into what they get you, by buying you something you have told them in the past you really dont like. Most people are just after what they want waste of time and money we should get rid of christmas

stjameshpark

This forum is a haven for people who are sick of hearing the phrases 'tight', 'scrooge' or 'Bah Humbug'.

I have felt this way about Christmas for about 9 years now. I dread December. The whole month (and most if not all of November) is about one day. Do I spend 6-8 weeks of preparation and money for one day at any other time of the year? No, not even for the Tyne-Wear derby which is far more important.

It first started when I worked at Next. The way the senior staff talked to you, you'd think we were shipping arms to our soldiers in Afghanistan, but no we were selling shower radios or shirts that were about 80% more expensive than they should be. It was all crap. However it was the attitude of some customers that frazzled me. They just couldn't wait to get out of the shop and on to the next, to the point they would snatch the bag from your hand. That was only a part-time job whilst I was studying for my A-levels but it obviously stuck with me.

Christmas isn't about the season of giving, its the season of not going without. I am sick of being told I am miserable when I appreciate other things at this time of year. Some aren't unique to me (spending time with relatives who travel from abroad), some are (lists of best albums of the year).

My birthday is in october and this year I was spoilt rotten, something I felt a bit embarrased about. 3 days later my sister asks what I want for Christmas. I replied "Are you nuts? I've just had my birthday" to which she was offended.

I held out for as long as I could but getting nagged by relatives for weeks and weeks on end about Christmas lists but eventually I relented and wrote a list. I can't even remembered what I put now. There is literally nothing that I want, which you would think was a good thing. The better gift would have been to say "Look I can just about afford what I want, when I want. You can't. Don't buy me anything". Now my mind is filled with guilt that my presents are being paid for by a credit card. The gift I want is a clear conscience.

The year I passed my driving test, I didn't have a car and yet some stocking fillers were a tax disc holder, a tyre pressure monitor and a car air freshener. Did it benefit me, my relatives who paid for them or the CEOs at places like Tesco, Matalan and M&S where all the crap came from? Answers on a postcard.

I'm not even worried about my bank balance which is the frequent accusation I face. I'm also not religious in the slightest. The thing that bothers me about christmas is the vulgar mass consumerism and the ugly personalities it seems to bring with it.

I know people hate January as reality comes back but I love it. 11 months until the circus starts again.

stjameshpark

Oh and getting presents from friends? Come again? Just buy me a pint !!!!!!.

Kernowanya

My friends and I have the £2 challenge where we have to buy each other a gift for under £2 and the tackier the better. We find that this is always a bit of fun and keeps the costs down!

mandatory

I'm getting sick of the thought of Christmas presents too! I'm trying to save so I've already decided not to travel to my mom's house with presents and I've said that if I don't give them a present they don't give me one. I have everything I need in my life at the moment (job, roof over my head, family, etc) so this year I am volunteering my time over Christmas to Shelter Week, where I will be helping the homeless, lonely and vulnerable. I'm sure I'll feel much better knowing that I've made someone's Christmas happier, and someone who really needs it.

seven-day-weekend

We only buy for our son and his girlfriend and his girlfriend's mum. We have bought our son and his girlfriend a microwave (£70) between them this year, they moved into their flat in February and haven't got round to buying one. We'll give the girlfriend's mother one of these '£2 a month sponsor an endangered species' thingies. This year I also have a newly-found birth mother and birth aunt to buy for, don't know what I will get them yet, but it won't cost a fortune. And each other, although we won't bother if there is nothing we want. And that's it. That is all we have done for years.

We give money to various worthy causes throughout the year and will give a more at Christmas.

LunaLady

I only buy presents for my children, my nephew and my niece.

All of us adults agreed it was pointless buying for each other, and a total waste of money.

My parents/grandparents get a nice frames photo of the children (either school one or a nice holiday snap) as a present from the children and they always go down well.

cinderfella

Well there is a way around this ever spend Xmas habit of buying unwanted gifts for relatives. Have some Xmas cards specially printed saying that basically 'we are not doing Xmas but giving a charitable donation instead to the 'abc' organisation on your behalf instead.' Problem solved:j