MSE Poll: If you could cancel Christmas, would you? 27 November 2018 at 5:08PM in MoneySaving polls 12 replies 4.2K views

Former_MSE_Naomi

Poll started 27 November 2018

Christmas is nearly here. For some it conjures a picture of family, fun and festive frivolity; for others it means stress, present pressure, debt and chores.

So if you had a CANCEL CHRISTMAS button that'd make the whole thing disappear (and just add days to your holiday entitlement), would you press it?

Click here to vote in the poll

Did you vote? Are you surprised at the results so far? Have your say below. To see the results from last time, click here.

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Thanks!


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Wizard_of_Id

Yes cancel it in a minute but there is no category for me in the poll

DigForVictory

Hey, I've already bought, lost, found, wrapped & delivered the bulk of my presents (extended family across geography) so if you must cancel, how're you going to return the money & effort so far?!

It doesn't happen because of pixies, it happens because benevolent people put the effort in...

newatc

Its a bore for me but wouldn't cancel it as I know so many who love it particularly grandchildren.

vitamin_joe

I don't necessarily think it ought to be cancelled, I just think it should start on about the 17th of December. Nothing until then. Just massively de-scale it into something a bit more normal.

I also find a lot of the music annoying. Feel sympathy for people who work in shops, subjected to Shakin Stevens and Wham! on a loop every 90 minutes. Mariah Carey too, awful stuff. Makes me want to avoid all shops until January. Wish I knew where my noise-cancelling headphones are.

Nick_C

I haven't bought a Xmas present or sent a card for years. I also don't celebrate Easter, St Valentines, Halloween or Birthdays.

Anyone can cancel Xmas - its entirely within your control.

I sometimes buy presents simply because I see something that I think a friend or family member would like. And when I meet up with friends and family, it is always a cause for celebration, regardless of the calendar.

AL150N

Nick_C you are absolutely right on. We haven't "done" Christmas for 30 years, in fact, for almost all of those, we have even left the country for somewhere less hysterical. Having not had a TV for over 50 years, and only just joined the dark side now we're retired, I'm seriously disgusted by the advertising and shameless commercialism which starts straight after the Hallowe'en idiocy. We too do not celebrate any of the other money-spinning "festivals" (yes, all those you mention, plus Mother's and Father's Day). If I see something I know a friend or family member would like, I buy it for them, and they'll get it on their birthday, or maybe when I next see them. We throw parties for "big" birthdays or wedding anniversaries - no presents allowed - and have friends and family round to dinner regularly. You don't have to wait till 25th December to see people. No, the meaning of Christmas is not to spend ridiculous (or indeed any) amounts of money on presents for people, and sit around eating till you can't move. The only reason for Christmas is, if you care, to celebrate Jesus' birth. It can't be cancelled until religion itself is cancelled. Wouldn't that be nice? No religion, no war? There's another can of worms...

savingsusie

Nick_C wrote: »

I haven't bought a Xmas present or sent a card for years. I also don't celebrate Easter, St Valentines, Halloween or Birthdays.

Anyone can cancel Xmas - its entirely within your control.

I sometimes buy presents simply because I see something that I think a friend or family member would like. And when I meet up with friends and family, it is always a cause for celebration, regardless of the calendar.

I have not celebrated Christmas for a number of year's, nor have I sent Xmas cards, and now only receive 1 or 2 cards thankfully. Other people do not understand my desire to have nothing whatsoever to do with Christmas though and do make me feel guilty for not 'doing' Christmas. From October onwards the build up to Xmas makes me really depressed and I cannot seem to avoid it all around me. My daughter died 10 years ago and it is a particularly difficult time of year for me as her birthday is Christmas Day.

StyxianCetacean

Lot of miserable gits on this site

Anthorn

The major problem is children. We could probably cancel Christmas very easily and my grandchildren would most likely accept that decision. But they will be surrounded by Christmas at school, in church services and Sunday school, their friends. It has to be a very cheap person who is going to tell their children that they are not getting Christmas presents.

Christmas for me is very easy. I save £10 a week all year, holiday at my son's house, give each of my grandchildren £25, buy gifts for my son and daughter-in-law and spend £150 on Christmas groceries as my contribution and that's about it.

However I do think that people visiting others for Christmas dinner should contribute something more than a cheap bottle of plonk.

Murphybear

Certainly not. ive just decorated the tree. New tree this year, new decorations. We're budgeting for them to last 20 years, after that we won't care. :rotfl:

In addition to that I've just had my £10 Christmas bonus. Wonder what I'm going to spend it on this year? Suggestions welcome