Won't buy...Won't do...

[dolliebauble]

What won't you buy/do at Christmas and why? I know there have often been threads on here about Cadbury's chocolate changing etc but this year i've really noticed things getting crapper.
I'm currently in a bit of a rage about Terry's chocolate orange... you used to have to smash it into the wall to get a slice, now it's thinned out and there's no nice chunky middle stalk. Roses shouldn't be called Roses anymore as they barely resemble anything of what they used to be.

I will also not buy/rent 'A Muppet Christmas Carol' (Bloody Amazon,) put 'Santa Claus the Movie' and 'A Muppet Christmas Carol' on for free you money grabbing bastards. Sad times.

Everything is so cynically designed to extract as much money as possible out of people, so I don't do any of it now.

The dcs are adult and teen, so just get a few token presents and some money and have a roast meal, but that's about it.

I've resigned myself to never being able to have a chocolate orange ever again. They were my favourite, but I can't cope with the sickness that the palm oil causes.

Xmas feels horrible and grabby now, so I'm out. I'm a pagan anyway, so just celebrate the solstice and bung some holly, ivy and pretty lights up around the place.

No fucking advent calendars. They're either eye-wateringly expensive, or crap, or both.

(Although we do have a reusable one which I put treats and surprises into for the kids. So I guess my principles are not that strong!)

Oh and no elves on shelves, either. Just don't have the energy at this time of year. Thank God the kids are too old to care!

Christmas Eve boxes
Presents to kids from parents, ok I relented on that one, and bought extra clothes but it's a bit galling having dropped €500 per dc on Santa.
I also don't buy new pyjamas for dc, or Christmas bed sheets. Too much work.

I decided not to buy crackers because they are full of useless plastic tat that will be littering our planet for generations.

No Xmas jumpers/pyjamas/bedding/tableware etc - just no need. We have red napkins and red candles on the Christmas table and our normal clothes.

I did relent and buy chocolate advent calendars this year, but I hate them - they don't even look decorative and they're full of plastic so mostly un-recyclable. Think I'll ditch the crackers next year too, but this year we have some left over from 2017 so will open them.

Things that we always have to make it a 'proper' Xmas for our family: Xmas food, a few new books, our tree and Arthur Christmas and It's A Wonderful Life on dvd - the rest is superfluous.

This year I've not bought my children advent calendars because they're older and they just don't need some plastic, chocolate filled crap.

I've not bought crackers because they're stupidly expensive for what are essentially cardboard tubes filled with tat. I'll put a selection of my woolly hats out for anyone feeling the urge to wear a hat at the table.

I've not bought Roses because they're just awful now.

I've not bought any Christmas themed tablewear made from coated cardboard or napkins.

I bought a tin of Roses a while back ready for Xmas as the tin was retro and quite cute and useful. However, on opening the tin, I was shocked at the chocolates, wrapped in new generic wrappers and just rubbish. The chocolate is NOT good. It is so sad as I used to love Cadbury.

Will not be buying again.

Wish I hadn't bought them. Usually buy Montezuma chocolate or Lindt.