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

piparooney_2 · 14 November 2009 at 3:26PM

I totally agree with Martin. I have always hated the comercialism of Christmas, and as cash is tight, I have always had to plan well in advance. I resent spending lots of time and effort on presents (although little cash), only to receive a token present that has obviously had no thought spent on it at all. I never send Christmas cards, and now don't receive many either. It's difficult to get some members of the family to agree to spend a token amount, as it sounds mean and scroog-ish, although I know people are feeling the pinch this year.

When my children were small, we would decorate the tree on Christmas Eve, so that they got up on Christmas morning to a decorated house, as Christmas should go from Christmas Eve until January 6th, but these days it seems to go from Halloween until Boxing Day.

CheapDate_2 · 14 November 2009 at 4:37PM

Love the article. Too many gifts, for too many people, that cost too much and that people don't want or need - meanwhile life gets busier, finances get tighter, time gets scarcer and stress levels get higher. It's time to stop this downward spiral of keeping-up-with (or outdoing) the Joneses. Though I know from my own experiences that people can be resistant to the idea of no gifts! In which case maybe a solution would be to agree to set a low cap on each gift - I'm thinking £5 max. I know it's easy to think you can't get any good gifts for £5 but in fact there really are lots out there (books, CDs, DVDs etc). Alternatively, give gifts only to kids rather than to adults - and I agree with Martin about the message that giving more and more expensive gifts sends to kids. I heard somewhere, in relation to gifts for kids, "Spend half the money and twice the time". Could equally apply to all friends and family.x

anniewoo · 14 November 2009 at 4:39PM

maeve_derrouel wrote: »

this is going to sound tight, but i always buy my xmas cards at the end of every xmas. there half price and they seem to look the same every year so nobody knows. we know xmas is coming so we should start buying early and safe some money . there are good bargains out there.

I have done this for years and my Mum used to do it as well.As you say,Xmas cards are exactly the same from one year to the next,so if you can buy them at half price,then why not.

Ste_C · 14 November 2009 at 5:09PM

I fully expect to get at least 3 new ties for Christmas, a novelty mug saying "Grumpy b****d" on it, some novelty breast shaped sweets, a book token, an autobiography of whoever is flavour of the month, a celebrity cookbook, a "gift box" of some shower gel and aftershave and vouchers for a clothes shop.

None of which I would buy myself and none of which will add any value to my life.

I'm expected to spend money on my nephew and niece, as well as my sister and brother in law. What will I get them? I'll probably get emailed a link from them taking me directly to a site to sort them all out. What will they get me? A cheque probably, which will cover the cost of what I bought for them. What's the point? There is no thought going into any of that on either side.

It's all so pointless and everyone just goes through the motions every year like robots.

I have a policy with girlfriends that we don't bother buying presents for christmas, birthdays or valentines day. If we happen to be out, at any time of the year, and see something that we think the other would like, we buy it, wrap it up and surprise them with it - just because. We might spend £10 on something at christmas but it's much better to save the money and use it for a dirty weekend in a nice hotel somewhere or put it towards a longer holiday.

I think a lot of people are missing the point, it isn't really about money and the net gain, it's the whole principle and everything it stands for. It's pretty sickening that christmas has become such a vulgar display, with people getting so stressed out about one week of the year.

BEAT_THE_DEBT · 14 November 2009 at 6:08PM

Think Martin is trying to get us to put christmas in perspective and go back to old style family inexpensive christmas's. Most debt probably comes from christmas it would be lovely if this happend and going on tv and getting people talking about it sort of gives us all permission to say lets sacle it down this year, bringing relife to many.

The_Wilkies · 14 November 2009 at 6:43PM

Didn't know we were related Martin. My Auntie Joan always used to buy me socks, unfortunately, 2 sizes too big. Thank goodness for Marks and Spencer's exchange policy

cashndash · 14 November 2009 at 7:48PM

our families are both quite large and we have always bought gifts, but with a limit of £10 per person, which still adds up to a lot of money and a lot of time shopping.

For the last couple of years we have had a great scheme! we each buy 1 present for 1 person, but the budget is £50 (I know that is a lot of money, but not when you consider that we normally spend £10 on 25 people!) What is more, everyone gives a couple of ideas of what they would like to their giver - this means that everyone has a present to open on xmas day and that gift is at least something they really want! It has worked really well for us and saves hours and hours trudging around the shops getting something that you hope people might at least use once!

Last year my son wanted a laptop, so we agreed with him that would be all he got, all the family were happy to put in what they could afford, we added our bit and then he got his wish, he was delighted and the family were really pleased to get him something he wanted.

This year my daughter can't think of anything she really wants, we have told her that it isn't worth just coming up with something for the sake of it, just because it is the 25th December! she has several little bits she would like so we will get her some of those. Maybe if she needs help with something through the year, we will give her a bit of money then, rather than wasting it just because it's xmas.

for the last few years I have sent e-cards via a charity website (Cancer research last year), I still have to choose the design, write it and go through my address book (albeit email addresses) and I donate the amount of money it would cost me to post cards! This way everyone gets a wish from us, the charity raises money and I save money buying cards! It was a bit controversial initially, but people adapt!

meames_2 · 14 November 2009 at 8:25PM

one of the nicest gifts I had was from an old boss (who had about 30 gifts for staff to buy for -even if it was claimed back on expenses) she bought some cheap glasses or christmas baubles and put the year on them. Every time I decorate the tree or use the glass I think of that lady. The tee then beccomes a story of my life. its quite sweet.

johncaduk · 14 November 2009 at 9:59PM

I think the best Xmas prezzy you could give someone would be a homemade card with this website's address in it. The benefits would be priceless!

REMEMBER: WORK TO LIVE - NOT LIVE TO WORK...

In_Search_Of_Me · 15 November 2009 at 12:20AM

Because of current job instability Chrismas is very much a home made, innovative, affair this year. I cant not give any presents to people I love because for me its an expression of my love to them in celebrating what, for me, is an important day.
Not for the presents but to celebrate the birth of Christ. Even for Christians this can get a bit lost amongst all the preparations and rush to get things done and its refreshing for me this year to know that each present as taken love, time and, in the case of lotties beret, quie a bit of bad language! (did you know berets are never ending to knit?!!).
Her sister put it in proporion for me when I was explaining that the usually lavish gifts I would buy (and they have adored, without fail) wont be coming this year because I simply havent got the money.
Its not because I dont love them, I do but this year I will make something. The oldest goddaughter (far too intelligent for her age!) asked if I had enough food...says it all really doesent it? Any food, or anything else for that matter, that I buy is effectively on credit because I owe so much so it will be a small affair, celebrating the birth of Christ with people I love, who love me and with open and honest understanding that the gifts I give are sacrificial in time, if not money.
Its also uite liberating that while people rush around like loonatics trying to get it all done I will be making my own wrapping paper (brown paper and a green christmas tree stamp lent by a friend) and carefully, slowly making and wrapping things for peope I love. Despite little cash the presents are the biggest I've ever given and the love I have recieved of late overwhelming. And no shopping involved.

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

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