Just stop all this crap buying?

The majority of stuff now is meaningless tat.
The money could be going on things that add value. People’s money would still be going somewhere, it doesn’t disappear because they’ve not bought gift sets and chocolate tubs every week since October.

You’re obviously not wrong and other countries do far less of this sort of thing. I guess at least you know how far away the mindset is from your thinking.

To me it's not a problem what other people do, as long as I don't have to participate. I'm sure many get great pleasure in the frenzy and buzz around the shops and so on, and if that makes them happy that's great. Nothing and no one can realistically stop the buying of tat as long as it's on sale and available for those who want it.

As an antidote to the madness I leg it out of here for a few weeks starting soon! Sayonara and Merry Christmas to all.

🤣🤣🤣

We stopped presents except for the 2 small grandsons years ago. We have a drawer of Christmas jumpers so if someone needs one for work they come here, find the one that fits and that's that. I'm in a sewing group. We have a lovely lunch and do secret santa(£10). The gifts are always lovely so I've no problem doing that. It's at the beginning of December so its done and dusted long before Christmas day. We host a get together at our house just before Christmas. It's from 2 to 5 so we serve a variety of cakes which I buy from a supermarket. On Christmas day everyone has lunch in their homes in 2s or 4s. No massive , stressful stuff. We don't like Christmas lunch so we don't have any of it. We see our grandchildren abd anyone else who wants to come on Boxing day morning. We have coffee / tea and a cake. No stress,no hassle, no making yourself ill and exhausted for other people benefit.
My friend said, on Friday, that she buys for 35 relatives for Christmas and not one of her godchildren ever says thank you. Bugger that.

It’s supply and demand….If people didn’t buy tat, but invested in purchases that gave more lasting use and satisfaction, the supply side would adapt accordingly. And we wouldn’t be in a cycle of people’s efforts essentially going into a pointless activity of producing things that are of very limited value.

We tend to fundamentally misunderstand the economy and think all “economic activity” is good when much of it generates very little of actual value

The horseshit anecdote helps make the point… This person has a pile of horseshit he wants moving… so he pays their friend £100 to shovel it into their yard… the friend agrees. The friend then decides they don’t like the smell and the original person who paid for it to be shovelled is now short on cash… so that person agrees to shovel the horseshit back into their yard for £100.

From an economist’s perspective, £200 has been added to GDP. In reality, nothing has changed. Economic growth for growth’s sake just makes everyone into busy fools. Genuine economic growth comes from innovation and efficiency, not mindless activity. Sadly GDP measures the former not the latter.

Op, you are being unreasonable, tone deaf and entitled.

There are a lot of people (including myself) who have to stick to a tight budget all year
No meals out, no treats. Christmas is the one time of year when we have time off together, can spend time with our families, eat drink and be merry. Celebrate and express love and affection by buying them gifts.

I agree no-one needs elf on a shelf or some of the manky plastic rubbish that people buy but children enjoy it and get pleasure from it. I don't buy those things but I'm not so arrogant as to deny those who want to.

Perhaps put a note in your email signature and on your front door saying Christmas free zone. Let others celebrate how they wish.

I do it because I enjoy it. Christmas is a great time of year for my family to come together and we always share gifts. It’s not stressful in the slightest.

No. That involves critical thinking and problem solving. Which is much harder than page after page reverse boasting about how little pps buy, and how what they do buy is well-researched and from a charity shop.
Please don't spoil the party with your reality.

Missed the vote but YANBU.

a lot to unpack in a pp's statement that we need tat buying to 'grow the economy'.

whose economy grows?
who benefits?
do the assembly line workers get paid a living wage?
What are the ecological effects of the manufacture, transportation and disposal of all these items?

I genuinely try and answer these questions before buying anything for myself or others.

I don’t get the argument about the economy.

Future landfill / Xmas tat is nearly all imported anyway, so the only ones it is benefiting are the multinational shareholders.

If we rein it in we would all have more money to spend on better quality items that can be used throughout the year.

@ Wheech -
“realistically children expect things like chocolate advent calendars”

I’m 68 and I’ve never bought a chocolate advent calendar in my life, either for my own DC or my DGC. What grieves me no end is that chocolate advent calendars are often considerably cheaper than those with just pictures. (And I’m not bah humbug - I have been known to offer chocolate treats after breakfast during Advent. But as one who follows the “fairytale about the virgin birth”, I prefer an Advent calendar with at least a nod to the season.)

Yes, it’s been pretty clear for a long time now that people who wouldn’t think twice about rubbishing or slagging off the Church of England or the Catholic Church, wouldn’t dream of saying the same about Islam or e,g Hinduism, since that would be - shock horror! - seen as racist. (Even though the more correct word would be ‘religionist’)

That is why I would not ever buy anything for a teacher unless I was spending a decent amount like a good pen or afternoon tea voucher etc etc...... have you heard of that old adage "it is the thought that counts" though when you are sending all your crap to the charity shop

Presumably you just saw the tiny snapshot of the woman in the shop's life?
So you wont see-

• the enjoyment she gets from wrapping the presents or organising the Christmas gift exchange
• the exchange / event itself whereby she and her colleagues take a bit of time out to relax together (or maybe its a family SS)
• the feeling of being seen or appreciated the recipients have
• the memories associated with Christmas

I had lovely Christmasses growing up, lovely memories and as soon as I see Christmas things about they all flood back. I'm hoping my children feel the same when older. I dont need someone judging me for enjoying the season.

That said that doesn't mean I have a house full of 'tat' that I purchase and throw away each year. Many of my bits n bobs belonged to relatives and are older than me. I'll buy the odd thing each year if the DC see something (love my tinsel robot from a few years ago) and keep them for future years.
My DC dont get that many presents really but we see family, attend events etc

Mumsnet can be a thoroughly miserable place, heaven forbid you enjoy Christmas (or your birthday!).

😆👏

This must be this year's 'thing' on MN because there seems to be a lot of virtue-signalling around 'tat' this year, even more than last year.
'Tat' is clearly anything the poster doesn't like. On another post, my Christmas bedding (all at least 10 years old, all bought at M&S or JL) was described as 'tat' which is breathtakingly rude imo.
New into the tat charts this year seems to be chocolate with palm oil, as i have seen quite a few posts mentioning this, which will probably accelerate as we get closer to Christmas.
I am expecting lots of Boxing day posts about Lindor this year as a new entry to bin, but i doubt they will knock Bayliss&Harding off the top spot.
Nasty snobbery and virtue signalling wrapped up as environmental concern - the perfect MN thread really.

This

No one wants to respond to this point?

@washinwashoutrepeat
"(as a teacher, I get a double load, most of which ends up in a charity shop!)"

Ironically we get all the 'stuff' FOR the teachers FROM a charity shop!

I agree, especially re all the plastic tat. Same goes for Halloween.

Millions of us don't buy the tat and cheap sweets. Never have, never will.

We don’t buy a lot of stuff. I am happy with Christmas dinner, Christmas tree, decorations, spending some time together. But DH and DC like some presents under the tree so we do it; and I also respect people who does it, each to their own; it helps the economy and provide work for some people

Do you celebrate Christmas at all?

I think you sound a bit grinchy there . People should have the type of Christmas they want .
We personally have a scaled back Christmas and don't do presents except for children ( and not many of those in the family ) In all honesty it's been years since I've had a Christmas present , which might sound horrifying for some , but it's not .
As an adult I just get items when I need them and don't need to wait until 25th December to get .