To be Overwhelmed with the Christmas Tat…

Surely no one should care what anyone else is doing.

I’ve wound down my present giving and Christmas tat, but only because my DC are teens now and I buy them things they want and need or can eat. WRT to decorations, I have less but better quality. I had a lot of Christmas gimmicks, and enjoyed them at the time, and now someone else is enjoying them via Vinted.

Judgey people need more hobbies.

Actually i think you may be surprised to hear that I 'give a fuck about the enviroment' too.
My home (apart from food, working on that) has been single-use plastic free since 2020.
I just don't feel the need to share my virtue with others and look down my nose at them from my self-built pedestal.
And it's why i get so annoyed at reusable linens such as cushions, bedding etc are being described as 'tat destined for landfill' by others who have no real interest in environental issues other than shouting loudly about them where others can hear them

I literally no no one who 'buys piles of tat then sends it to landfill'
Do you?
I think it's a MN myth to make posters feel better about themselves tbh.
It has certainly exercised a lot of posts this year where posters have enjoyed looking down their noses at others while out-doing each other with their tasteful, pared-down Christmases.
The amount of people who have said they only buy one ir two (tasteful) decorations every year while at the same time slagging others for doing the same is hilarious.

I think the big plastic tubs of cheap chocolates are one of the worst things all that coloured plastic. Why can they not package them in cardboard.

Exactly. And one person’s tat is another person’s treasure. Except here, where it seems some believe there’s only one way to do anything and that’s their way

That made me laugh. Thank you

Damn I meant to copy the paragraph about the bauble

No. It holds no interest and I’ve never thought volume over quantity in terms of presents. I’d rather give my kids for three or four good presents than a dozen cheap ones. I only send cards to people I know and care about, I don’t give gifts to those outside the family and we eat any food we buy.

I don't know what 'tat' you are referring to?

I'm not a fan but 'gift sets' are usually usable. What I really dislike are generic gifts e.g. candles but if the people who buy them use them, then they aren't tat.

I buy tubs of cheap chocolates (unnecessary but will be consumed) and nice food.

I haven't bought Xmas crackers this year because I find them wasteful and haven't the time or desire to make my own.

My local shopping centre is chaotic.

I agree with the poster above. Valentines and Easter are complete tat but Christmas gifts are generally requested and used?

The amount of waste is horrible… and so pointless. There are so many ‘disposable’ bits of Christmas crap in the shops… elf clothes, rubbish drinking games, Christmas accessories and toys for your dog, Christmas-themed cushions etc etc. We know it’s bad for the planet and is a waste of money but still carry on buying the stuff.
Christmas is just overwhelming full stop now anyway. Elves, Christmas Eve boxes, crazily extravagant advent calendars, overpriced light trails, Black Friday buying frenzy, social media posts about piles of presents. Each to their own I know but I’m with you, I find it pretty depressing too.

Some of us actually give a fuck about the absolute pointless destruction of the planet for bollocks.

I agree. We buy a couple of things a year - usually one new bauble and this year some lights but I do know of people who throw everything out and start again every year. Not only a terrible waste but no special decorations for children to grow up with.

I also feel bad for the charity shops which are filled to the brim with Christmas stuff which people have obviously offloaded on them- by this week surely no one is buying it? Are they then left to store it all year for next Christmas?!

Not just Christmas. There will be Valentines and Easter tat out quicker than you can say Auld Lang Syne

Ah. I'm with you on sequins. Horrid things.

Same! I never hear ANYONE say it in the real world. Its just so snobby and obnoxious and meant to signify that the person moaning about the so-called 'tat' is superior to everyone else.

@TheBeaTgoeson1 What is your definition of tat?

i don’t notice the tat, I more notice all the sequin covered clothes, last year i heard how there was enough sequin clothes and how people should pass them around charity shops etc. this year I’ve seen soooooo many crappy sequins- I mean they’re not nice and if people buy them they won’t become classics, they’ll be dumped

Oh sweet summer child, what universe are you from? Most people are even worse in real life.

Agree
Just stop.
We dont have to keep doing something because its something we've always done.

& tiktok its all over tiktok.

Really? If only everyone was more like you 🙄
The reality is most people are not like this in real life, just on MN, where they exist in the imagjnation of posters to enable them to feel superior.

Define 'tat'. Without an understanding of what you consider to be 'tat' how can anyone agree or disagree?

Same old story every year. People whipping themselves into a frenzy buying endless crap from online/Temu/Primark/Gucci Pucci or wherever and then come the New Year getting their knickers in a knot returning, donating or decluttering endless crap. Same with food and drink: consuming endless amounts of ultra-processed crap and then wondering why they’re so fat come the New Year. Just rein it in for crying out loud.

Yanbu. I don’t buy into the whole elf, christmas eve boxes, matching pjs etc. I don’t even buy selection boxes anymore just a nice box of chocolates etc for the kids (this year ferro roches & lindors!)