AIBU?
To find the shops utterly depressing at this time of year?
BasinHaircut · 02/12/2019 16:11
Is it just me?
I can’t really articulate why I find it all a bit depressing but the Xmas music, piles of overpriced shit and number of people are the obvious things that grate.
MotherWol · 02/12/2019 16:21
YANBU, so many shops are piled high with ‘novelty’ gifts (looking at you, Urban Outfitters) that at best will end up in charity shops, and more likely straight into landfill. We don’t all have to like the same things, it’d be boring if we did, but I really wish people would buy a bit less tat.
BooksAreMyOnlyFriends · 02/12/2019 18:47
Yes the tat is depressing. In a few weeks tons of unwanted presents and a shitload of wrap, cards, decorations, packaging and unwanted food will be in landfill.
I was looking at massive gift bags in a shop yesterday, you could actually get a small child in them and there were boxes and boxes of them - they will be used for ONE day in most cases.
Retailers need to start addressing this and start stocking stuff that is practical and can be reused. I'm sure most people are similarly fed up and want to see the back of this pointless waste.
IpanemaGallina · 02/12/2019 18:49
Yanbu! I’ve been into our local city centre 3 days in a row. I’m done! Or more to the point done in 
I’ve supported the high street but I’ll finish my Christmas shopping online (or get my teens to choose their remaining gifts themselves) which I will wrap.
ShinyRuby · 02/12/2019 19:01
YANBU. There's so much pressure from shops to buy the 'perfect ' Christmas, it can be a bit depressing. It's all about profit & certainly not any true meaning of Christmas. I'm so fed up with supermarkets telling everyone to buy ridiculous amounts of rich food & alcohol, only to tell us to buy so called 'detox' foods in the new year. I've seen it for too many years now & just buy what I want.
BasinHaircut · 02/12/2019 19:02
I’m pretty sure I saw a musical shortbread tin in M&S earlier. What the fuck?!
It’s everyone walking about feeling obligated to buy stuff. It’s almost tangible, you can feel it. There is no joy.
I hate contrived or formulaic ‘fun’ it just feels me with dread and Xmas shopping absolutely embodies it.
Hate it
Danglingmod · 02/12/2019 20:16
I don't think of gift bags as wasteful - surely they're much better as you reuse them over and over passing them around to other people? Or just my family?
I agree about the general tat, OP, and have felt sick about it for years. So much fiddly packaging and waste, as well as complete rubbish available to buy. It's so sad.
nokidshere · 02/12/2019 20:22
@Sparklingbrook I've only been in one shop in the last month and that's because it had something I wanted. Everything else I get online, it's all bought and wrapped. Food shopping ordered online. I have successfully managed to avoid all the Christmas stuff.
BoogleMcGroogle · 02/12/2019 20:25
I don't go to shops this time of year. That way I don't spend money I don't need to and feel generally less hostile towards my fellow humans. I only get two days off a week and there are so many ways I'd rather spend them at this time of year than trawling around Debenhams. I enjoy our local Saturday market and independent bookshop and might head to a local Christmas market. The only time I'll see the big shops is from the top deck on our annual number 139 bus Christmas lights pilgrimage incorporating the Troy exhibition at the BM ( cheaper, funner than shopping). Other than that, I'd rather be trudging through the fields or reading in front of the fire.
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