Christmas things not worth doing

I scaled back my Christmas a long time ago. People get so wrapped up in what other people show online that they feel the pressure to do the same. Close the instagram!

I read a magazine article recently, one of those smug “how to have a lovely tasteful Christmas like me in my gracious home” things, and the woman said she likes to put lots of thought into creating wrapping paper schemes that reflect the personality and interests of the recipient. And I thought, there’s a person who should think about getting a job, or maybe getting involved in some charity work.

We aren't keen on mince pies, Xmas cake or pudding so we swerve those. Brussels sprouts and bread sauce don't feature in our dinners.
We have an upper price budget for gifts, a very relaxed plan for the big day and don't feel obliged to visit or invite folk we don't really like.

Basically, Christmas is a different thing to everyone, pick and choose the bits you want and you'll have a happy one.

Some years ago, after a really hard year for our wider family, I decided to do a bit of an alternative Christmas without the hot sit down meal. It was very notable how many people who came said, individually and quietly, to me how much they'd enjoyed it and, anyway, they didn't really like the full 'all the trimmings' meal. They were worried to say it out loud with the group in case they'd upset the others!

It is amazing how many things we do and things we eat at Christmas are just because 'we always have' and how liberating it is when you stop. I think many Christmases are spoilt by trying to cling on to old family traditions that have passed their sell by date. We all grow older and evolve our views.

Going to see a pantomime. Traditional or modern trendy one, don't care, no thankyou.

Had a very big house and kids wanted to have decorations in their rooms/have the hallway done so it was 'Christmassy' when they came in. Of course, they didn't help with the decorating and just moaned when their 'tree' fell down or they didn't have exactly the same number of baubles as their brother/sister.

I should have told them to be grateful I bothered with one room - but in those days I wanted it all to be perfect... They've just about stopped arguing about whose tree is the biggest now though.

Elf on a shelf. Thank god this shite started after my kids were older but what a load of crap! I am so looking forward (not) to the numerous daily updates on FB of this creepy little fucker doing the stupid things some parents think will get their little offspring’s excited for Christmas.

Christmas lights at RHS gardens: Kew/Wisley etc. It's a walk in the dark surrounded by other people, along roped off pathways, often cold and damp, over in under an hour and involves a half hour drive there and back.

Except, I can't stand Amazon and avoid using them if I possibly can.

Another newly converted (well a couple of years now) Grinch. Completely.

Hosted for years, did all the usual stuff. Fed the Green Bin for days, bought enough sellotape to wrap around the world, you get the drift.

Free now from all that, so will be far away in the sunshine for 3 whole weeks. I'm happy for everyone who just loves Christmas, but I don't. I actually find it quite depressing, especially from Boxing Day on. So no more of that for me now.

I wish I hadn't bothered with decorating multiple rooms.
Wow that must be hard work. Living room is enough.

Christmas Cake. I would spend ages making it and feeding it with brandy. Then throw most of it out come Easter.

My personal ones but don't care what others do, as long as you and your kids enjoy it then that's all that matters!

-Spending time with people you don't like, on a day where you've gone to so much effort.. and not enjoying it. it's bizarre.

• elf on the shelf
• constant outings
• driving round for hours
• making everything from scratch.. prepared food is amazing these days

• buying for extended family

I love Christmas, I've got plum pudding for a heart and brandy in my veins....but I draw the line at Elf on the Shelf, Christmas Eve boxes and family pyjamas.

A weird one though is that I remember being really bothered about my MIL and SIL buying the kids quite expensive pressies, my side of the family only really exchange thoughtful little tokens with each other, and I didn't like that the kids 'main gifts' were not really coming from us. However, a few years ago I decided to just let it be as the kids honestly don't care, and it doesn't make them love our smaller santa gifts any less. Plus it saves me a few pennies so I just pour a Baileys and let them get on with it!

Amazon voucher! They can buy what they what, problem solved!

My kids were little before Elf on the Shelf, Xmas Eve boxes, Dec 1st treats and all that became a big thing. As far as I am aware, none of them have suffered as a result of not having any of that. Now they all look forward to the Big Dinner and getting together, which seems to be the important stuff and everything else can basically be stripped away.

I wish I hadn't bothered with decorating multiple rooms. Living room with a tree and decorations would have been enough, rather than having regular strops over trying to get decorations for each bedroom, hallway, kitchen etc.

Even worse than Elf on the Shelf are the (usually) mums who post about their elf’s zany escapades on SM. Oooh look he’s spelt “I pea’d” with actual peas, the hilarious little scamp, how very original of him. JFC. 🙄

Santa's grotto for very young children (toddlers and babies) if they are very shy and it will just stress them out.
Elf on the shelf (it's just not my thing)
Matching pyjamas
Christmas markets
Visiting Hamleys up in London to see the Christmas displays - it just isn't as magical as it used to be, and I don't think that's entirely down to me being 40 and not 4 years old, the customer experience is just a bit crap and I can't hack those crowds with little ones in tow

Christmas Dinner on Christmas day. We decided when our eldest was 1yo that it turned what should be a fun family day into a big stress. So we binned it. Spend the day with the kids, playing with presents etc and then have the Roast another day

I have to save up for the whole year to afford any presents. Everything else is not a priority. I don't have children, otherwise I would probably feel different about the extra stuff.

Those bloody Christmas markets in city centres. Groups of little wooden huts set up in the worst location ever usually. Overpriced, mediocre food that sounds nicer than it is, eaten while standing in the drizzle while getting barged into by other people. Everyone looks miserable.

Elf on the shelf. Seems to be yet another thing for parents (usually mums let’s face it) to either beat themselves up about as they forget to move it around or get super competitive about.

I'm "some grinch".

Virtually all of it as far as I'm concerned. Obviously others are free to do as they want.

Markets. Same old wasteful tat and overpriced mulled wine/hot chocolate etc. I like the idea of it but the reality is crap, and I don't actually want any of the rubbish they're selling

Elf on the Shelf always seems like such an unnecessary hassle to me.

Trudging round a Christmas market, with eleventy billion other dead-eyed souls, in the pissing rain just to pay £15 for a burnt sausage and look at some overpriced tat.

Fuck that.