Is it just me being a Scrooge?

marisco_2

A real eye opener for me this Xmas was the ridiculous amount of gifts my 18 month old nephew received. Beautiful things but it is unlikely he will have enough time to spend playing with them all, before the next onslaught next Xmas. The opening of these gifts was spread over the day. He had no real interest in the gifts themselves but loved the boxes and wrapping. The saddest thing is each time he was put in front of another huge pile to open with his mums help, he looked overwhelmed and became distressed! Couldn't help but think people had completely overlooked the point of giving children gifts, to see the joy on their faces not tears.

Hermia

MrsE wrote: »

My thoughts exactly, presents are for children.

The problem is if you don't have kids and are expected to buy for other people's kids, but end up with nothing to open on christmas day. Even small gifts all add up.

I can't believe that Daily Mail woman is a real person. I can just about believe someone would be stupid enough to take out that many loans with no way of repaying them. But to allow her family to pose for a photoshoot grinning and clutching their presents. I'm sure the Daily Mail must employ someone who does nothing but search for idiots to feature in the paper.

Bitsy_Beans

MrsE wrote: »

If people really think that about their Facebook friends I don't know if it says more about them or their friends.
Either they are paranoid & suffering the green eyed monster OR they have the wrong people as friends on Facebook.

This ^^^^
If FB annoys people so much why not just deactivate your account or have a cull of the people that seemingly get up your nose.

When did MSE turn into this hair shirt mentality?
Granted if people are getting into shed loads of debt to fund Christmas that clearly isn't sensible but unless they regularly update everyone about their financial situation how can you tell that from a photo?

I didn't take pics of the presents but i know if I had time to stand back and look with excitement I might have taken a picture. Rest assured it's not to boast, be a smug biatch or generally annoy just I have friends who feel the same way about Christmas as me. That's why they "like" the photos. I enjoy their photos for the same reason. Obviously there are going to be people who are all about one upmanship but thankfully I don't think that's the majority. Most people are just ordinary folk a little bit excited about a celebration. Where's the problem with that?

jellyhead

Janepig wrote: »

I've got one of those!! We hang it outside the front door before the kids go to bed on Christmas Eve (just have to remember to bring it in!

I don't see the problem with the photos going on FB - or maybe I've got nice friends who don't appear to be showing off, or maybe I just don't care! I'm a very nosy person and I just like looking at friend's photos, and the odd photo I've posted is certainly not meant to be in a "oh look how much I got my kids" kind of way, genuinely it's not (Jellyhead, do you think they look like showing off photos, you've seen them?).

I also don't buy the excuse that your children may be bullied if they don't have the latest stuff - I couldn't give a monkeys, if I couldn't afford to buy stuff for my kids then I wouldn't buy it!! DD's got herself a "boyfriend" (they're only 10), they've been to the cinema, etc... so it's as serious as it can be for two ten year olds. Anyway, his parents have the hugest, most beautiful house you could imagine, it's absolutely stunning with a swimming pool, etc... We, by contrast live in a hovel - so, should I go and get myself into mountains of debt by moving to a bigger house and struggle, just to try and compete? No chance. He's just never coming here for tea :D:D.

As for that woman in the Mail, I really can't see what she's trying to achieve, the stupid cow. Zero sympathy.

Jx

No, I don't think your pictures are showing off I like seeing all of my friends pictures of the things their children are doing - I wouldn't be friends with them if I didn't

There is one person on facebook (not from MSE) who is being a bit smug and annoying when she posts about her cooking, but everyone else is just being chatty about the recipes, passing them on to somebody who asked, or whatever. I just gloss over what Mrs Smug is posting, but everyone else's I genuinely like to see :T

I'm not much into home decor, but a lot of my friends like to see each other's decorations, trees, etc, and is it really much different to watching similar programmes on TV? And is having a nose at your friend's lives on facebook much different to some of the threads posted on MSE?

jellyhead

neneromanova wrote: »

See I don't agree with this. I wouldn't know the first place to look to borrow money from a loan shark, but I have Wonga type ads beemed into my brain daily so I know if I needed money there and then I could just go and get it and worry about it later (not that I would! :rotfl: ) So for my personally, I think people think it's easy money (easier than a credit card) and you don't have to worry about it til you get the bill through.

I agree that the wonga type ads are in our faces all the time, but when I was little we all knew where to borrow from, and had Provident and Shopacheck knocking on council estate doors constantly, offering money or things from the back of the van.

Then there were the catalogues, and we all knew people who couldn't repay their catalogue debts, and those who pretended not to be in when the door was knocked because they hadn't paid the Provident for so many weeks.

I don't personally know any loan sharks, but I know a person who's brother has fled the town because he owes money to one from his council estate.

As far as I can recall it's always been easy to borrow, and companies have always made sure that the poorest people in society know where they are and what they offer.

Toto

plzhelpmesave! wrote: »

I think it's crazyness - not just at christmas but birthdays too! My kids don't have too many toys at and are so grateful for what they get and really appreciate the little things - always say thanks and call me the best mum ever. They WANT a lot more at times esp when other kids at school get ipads, xbox etc but know it ain't gonna happen on my watch! Want them to have fun memories more than expensive toys

What makes you think that just because a child gets a large number of gifts they aren't grateful or don't appreciate the small things?


The inverted snobbery on this thread is eye opening.

MrsE_2

Hermia wrote: »

The problem is if you don't have kids and are expected to buy for other people's kids, but end up with nothing to open on christmas day. Even small gifts all add up.
.

My daughter is 26, so i don't have a kid. I made a deliberate opt out of exchanging presents this year, I bought for the children in my family & I bought 9 for the people in my team. I deliberately only bought for those who WOULDN'T buy back.

I didn't have any presents to open this Xmas (in other words I ddnt do the Xmas gift trade/swap).
I had the pleasure of giving to a dozen people.

Janepig

I honestly can't believe that there are people who think that anyone posting photos of their kids Christmas presents on Facebook is doing it out of spite to others. That's never even occurred to me, I just like looking at how others do things and seeing how happy the kids are. I hope other people see my own photos with that same sentiment. One of my friends even posted a load of photos of the pile of Christmas presents under her tree for her dog!

Jx

jtr2803

Janepig wrote: »

I honestly can't believe that there are people who think that anyone posting photos of their kids Christmas presents on Facebook is doing it out of spite to others. That's never even occurred to me, I just like looking at how others do things and seeing how happy the kids are. I hope other people see my own photos with that same sentiment. One of my friends even posted a load of photos of the pile of Christmas presents under her tree for her dog!

Jx

Well I only get my dog one bone for Xmas and he appreciates it much more than your friends dog.

Only kidding, I don't have a dog.

Saturnalia

My sister put up a couple of pics of her children's piles of presents. Most were gifts from other friends and family and she was amazed by how generous people had been. Her comments were all along the lines of "wow, incredible, thank you, so grateful, never expected this". That was nice. I don't think she was trying to rub it in anyone's face, just pleasantly shocked that the lads were given so many things.