To think that there's so much tat out there

[NuttierThanSquirrelShit]

Just beginning my Xmas shopping and I don't know if I'm old and jaded now but there is just tons and tons of utter shite out there. Why does anything thats a gift have to be so pointless. Plastic junk like Emoji selfie lights, personalised junk, unicorn barf (WTF), in fact unicorn everything, flamingo everything, pineapple everything, gin everything, crap little speakers that sound like you're playing music through a straw, etc etc. I've been on Not On The High Street, Prezzybox, Present Finder etc Most of it just gets chucked out anyway, because actually no-one ever wants a wine bottle sized glass or sandal socks.

Are there any websites that sell stuff that people might actually want? I've got teenagers of both sexes to buy for and quite frankly gift tokens are looking like the way forward.

YANBU.

On the other hand I think YABU for going looking in places which are specifically geared towards selling 'presents'... because by definition those places sell stuff which basically NOBODY WOULD BUY FOR THEMSELVES. In other words, shite.

I was in Boots earlier. Endless rows of crappy gift sets that no-one really wants or needs and will end up in landfill. It's horrible. I love Christmas, but hate the rampant consumerism aspect of it.

I wish I could spend the money I usually spend on Christmas presents on me instead. If everybody did that, we would a) end up with something we really wanted and b) rid the planet of useless bits of tat that nobody wants.

Mugs, every year I get at least one mug for Christmas and one for my birthday. I have mugs, hundreds of them, all ones that I have chosen and like, I really do not want any more with twee little flowery things on them, or cats, or cows.

Gift sets, foul smelling cheap things, I can't use anything scented, always get them from the mug giver, who was gently informed some years ago that a voucher would be welcome (not by me I must add).

Why waste £25 on crap when a voucher would be useful...

I love tat and tiger. My house is full. We keep the tat because we like it. Well me and dcs, not dh so much.

B&M Bargains is full to the rafters with all this tat. Novelty this, novelty that. It will all go to landfill via a charity shop presumably.

It's just depressing.

Just give money, everyone loves money. Gift cards often go to waste.

I like getting mugs - at least I actually use them (and I’m quite clumsy so regular replenishment is fine).

But I know my MIL is driven up the wall by my dislike of ‘stuff’. I’ve just bought myself a book I want - which will be given to DH - who will give it to MIL - who will wrap it and give it to me.

I try to pay for tickets to thigs now, or experiences, or bookings on courses like chocolate making or glass painting.

yeah, I don't imagine who ever wants/needs those things, especially items that aren't toys and aren't aimed at children

There was a lady in Tesco this a.m, who had loads of halloween stuff piled in her trolley for next year.

Plastic arms & shit.

I couldnt be arsed with it. Too much crap in the world.

YES. I have found my grumpy ass people! I too hate all the crap that’s swimming around shops in general.

On that related note, a great article from The Onion (satire) 13 years ago.

Chinese Factory Worker Can't Believe The Shit He Makes For Americans

www.theonion.com/chinese-factory-worker-cant-believe-the-shit-he-makes-f-1819567885

"Often, when we're assigned a new order for, say, 'salad shooters,' I will say to myself, 'There's no way that anyone will ever buy these,'" Chen said during his lunch break in an open-air courtyard. "One month later, we will receive an order for the same product, but three times the quantity. How can anyone have a need for such useless shit?"

I buy presents only for own household now. The teens get branded clothes or trainers that I won't normally buy them, maybe a game for the x box (dload not physical) and money.

Otherwise it's consumables all the way.

Yes for the teens is games downloads and clothes with labels here too nokids. And some chocolate/consumables.

The yard of Jaffa Cakes and Pringles should go down well.

Bah i live Christmas but thinking of all the plastic tat is already making me shudder! We started doing secret Santa with my family a few years ago, I love it! So much less stressful. DH and i give a donation to charity instead of buying for each other. Sometimes I look round our house and think, if nobody had ever bought us anything it would be quite tidy!!

I agree completely!!

I only buy stuff that people actually need. So this year my parents are getting some new fleeces (that they have asked for) to keep them toast warm. In the past I have bought them nice jumpers or even nice Falke tights for my mum. Dd usually gets stuff related to a sport she does. I am on a one woman mission to fight tatt!!!!!!!

Dh and I aren’t doing gifts to each other this year, just stockings.

So 6 bottles of wine for Dh!

We also do Secret Santa in the immediate family so it’s one gift to each.
Does cut down the crap or random gifts and if it is random then only one thing to charity shop.
I say money for teens and preteens or gaming voucher.

I cringe at all the years I spent indulging in the cheap tat to sort of boost the 'proper' presents for the DC.
A basketball game for the bath. Desktop football. Wind up racing grannies. That thing with velcro balls that you throw at a velcro hat.
Buying up the whole of Hawkins Bazaar (Bizzare) or so it seemed. And for what? For it all to be chucked into the plastic tubs under beds and eventually chucked away.

A lot of this tat seems aimed at presents for people that you don’t know well enough to buy a personal gift for but feel like you should buy them something. I don’t give gifts to people like that in my life. I just do a card and little homebake for them now (I’m meaning people like colleagues or more distant relatives etc) I think a card and a homemade cake is so much nicer (and more fun for me!) than a bunch of shit that’ll get launched straight in the bin on Boxing Day.

You have to wonder, who's making all this crap too.

Horrifying BBC story about Chinese Falun Gong detainee and Halloween tat

100% agree OP. I usually quite like looking at all the Christmas tat in shops because I think it is quite fun, but over the years the volumes are rocketing. The advent calendar trend amazes me; it is an incredible way for marketers to get adults to indulge themslves at an already expensive time of year. It is another £25+ that people wouldn’t have spent a few years ago. I think that they are really nice, but I’m not tempted by them.

I am made to feel like a grinch by my extended family for asking for fewer gifts for my DC and nothing for myself and DH, but I honestly just don’t want more unnecessary crap. My mum approached my aunts a few weeks back about scrapping gifts and just going for a nice dinner and doing something for charity instead and they all said no (and how much they love to shop for gifts) 🙄 Have decided to give cash to everyone this year (not even vouchers) and good quality pyjamas for the kids in the extended family (waiting for a good voucher code for polarn o pyret because their clothes last forever).

Couldn’t agree more! I hate getting gifts that I have no need or want for!! The person had just wasted their money
Me and DH go away for an overnight as our Xmas gift to each other
Managed to get the all the siblings on board with us all gifting restaurant vouchers to each other 😋

Have decided to give cash to everyone this year (not even vouchers)

I sometimes get surveys from YouGov and last year there was a survey about Christmas shopping habits.

One question was along the lines of "Where will you be doing most of your Christmas shopping this year?"

My answer was "Building society".

Completely agree with the tat comment, it's shite is it not.
Already told partner. socks or aldi white chocolate, if she's feeling generous I'll take both!!

I'm refusing to buy any presents this year that aren't actually useful/biodegradable/edible. The shops have been full of Halloween tat and are filling up with Christmas tat. How much tat before the planet collapses?

I do send a few cards to relatives and friends who have moved away, and am making sure they are just card, no glitter or anything like that.

I was in The Works today and there was a 'stocking filler' section which made me want to cry. Glitter shitting unicorn key rings.

I have young kids but have decided this is the year we start. No tat. One carefully considered toy. The rest of the presents are things that will be used up, used for years, worn or obviously recyclable. I am sure they will receive tat from other members of our family but I'm starting with what I can control.