UK Back In Recession In Xmas Quarter-Are You Too Scared To Spend?

GeorgeHowell

Although it may result in low, or even negative growth, the reality is that spending less on Christmas is actually a good thing. Consider where much of the money goes :- useless gifts that people throw or give away, overblown childrens' stockings the contents of which receive scant attention for a very short time, posted cards to people who will be met to greet in person over the holiday period, excesses of unhealthy food and alcohol which are potentially damaging to the consumers of them, unncecessary car journeys, tasteless electrically-lit decorations .......

Cutting back on this rubbish will actually reduce waste, improve the environment, improve public health, release funds for more important and worthwhile expenditure, and improve the overall quality of life.

grizzly1911

Fella wrote: »

Aren't the first 3 of those all just a frying pan?

An electric wok seems as useful as a KTEL button fixer or a hand held sewing machine.

Thank goodness for JML.

RevolvingDoor

I have only bought one Christmas present this year and I just received a voucher for my present and I spent it on something useful for the home. I just want a nice meal and a quiet day with my hubbie, dogs and cats on Christmas day.

mintedmatty

Mrs MM & Myself spend £50 on eachother and thats it. My whole budget for buying presents is usually around £150-£200.

Mrs MM & I would rather go out for a meal together over the Christmas period than buy eachother gifts. I dont begrudge people who spend loads at Christmas aslong as they have the money but what is the point of stacking up massive card debts and paying for it for the rest of the year!

grizzly1911

Having a large family with many nieces and nephews that are now practically adults we (all brothers and sisters) have this year stopped exchanging presents amongst us, instead using the money within each family.

I wouldn't say we have spent less, we always have a religious budget, but it has allowed us to buy wanted/needed items as surprises for our own "adults" rather than all the well meaning detritus. Since they have been old enough we have always given them a portion in cash, which they often spend in the sales or on/towards something they really want.

chewmylegoff

It is impossible for the UK to be in recession in Q4 because the economy grew in Q3. Even if GDP fell by 100% in Q4 we wouldn't be in a recession.

My Xmas spending this year is negligible as we are visiting the in laws in Australia. I've bought the mrs a present and that's it. I'm not even spending any money here as I'm eating all the stockpiled timtams. Total Xmas spending £150 (in UK = £0).

BertieUK

GeorgeHowell wrote: »

Although it may result in low, or even negative growth, the reality is that spending less on Christmas is actually a good thing. Consider where much of the money goes :- useless gifts that people throw or give away, overblown childrens' stockings the contents of which receive scant attention for a very short time, posted cards to people who will be met to greet in person over the holiday period, excesses of unhealthy food and alcohol which are potentially damaging to the consumers of them, unncecessary car journeys, tasteless electrically-lit decorations .......

Cutting back on this rubbish will actually reduce waste, improve the environment, improve public health, release funds for more important and worthwhile expenditure, and improve the overall quality of life.

Correct George we do certainly buy in excess every Christmas to keep the children and family members happy, smaller stockings this year will not only disappoint the children but the retailers and of course Osbornes growth figures, did I say growth figures, silly me.

GeorgeHowell

BertieUK wrote: »

Correct George we do certainly buy in excess every Christmas to keep the children and family members happy, smaller stockings this year will not only disappoint the children but the retailers and of course Osbornes growth figures, did I say growth figures, silly me.

It's a false impression of happiness though isn't it. Is a child really made happy by some piece of expensive crap that leaves it more interested in playing with the box after five minutes ? It's done because it's the expected thing -- most people are sheep and just automatically try to do what everyone else does. I know that a serious cutback on Christmas spending would decimate large swathes of the retail sector. But if over time this preposterous mid winter binge --sustained by greed, sentiment, and mindless hedonism -- were progressively eased back to something proportionate and resources were diverted to more worthwhile things, then as a society we would undoubtedly be better off.

Fella

grizzly1911 wrote: »

An electric wok seems as useful as a KTEL button fixer or a hand held sewing machine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN2ttNu3F_M

BertieUK

GeorgeHowell wrote: »

It's a false impression of happiness though isn't it. Is a child really made happy by some piece of expensive crap that leaves it more interested in playing with the box after five minutes ? It's done because it's the expected thing -- most people are sheep and just automatically try to do what everyone else does. I know that a serious cutback on Christmas spending would decimate large swathes of the retail sector. But if over time this preposterous mid winter binge --sustained by greed, sentiment, and mindless hedonism -- were progressively eased back to something proportionate and resources were diverted to more worthwhile things, then as a society we would undoubtedly be better off.

We are overconcerned when our child compares their collection of presents to their friends, so we try to keep up the tradition and not make them feel as though they have drawn the short straw.