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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Advent Calendars

74 replies

PersonaNonGarter · 07/10/2021 08:46

Oh God I am sick of receiving ‘It’s Here!’ emails from beauty brands/garden catalogues/whatever telling me their advent calendar is now in stock.

Sod off with your over-priced, bad-for-the-environment tat. No, I don’t want a miniature candle, tiny sample size lip balm, or weird plastic trinkets. Why would I want your one-chocolate-a-day when I could just buy a box for a quarter of the price?

I like to shop but this vacuous consumerism is getting to me. Urgh. Sheep. When will it be over.

OP posts:
JasonMomoasgirlfriend · 07/10/2021 08:48

I'm sure there are things that you do or buy that don't impact the environment in a positive way. 🤷

And if you've received the email it likely means you've bought from them before.
So now you're being selective in your bias.

girlmom21 · 07/10/2021 08:49

Unsubscribe then...

Original poster
PersonaNonGarter · 07/10/2021 10:42

Urgh it’s all so twee and tacky. Why are they all using the same snow covered townhouse.

OP posts:
TheKeatingFive · 07/10/2021 10:45

If you don't like one, don't get one. I'm not sure how much more to it there is than that.

Original poster
PersonaNonGarter · 07/10/2021 10:48

@TheKeatingFive

If you don't like one, don't get one. I'm not sure how much more to it there is than that.
Confused A discussion about fads, consumerism, and naff marketing..?

Pretty sure there are other people who feel as I do. They are probably the same ones that wisely saw through the Christmas jumper mania of 2014.

OP posts:
Spysolation · 07/10/2021 10:50

I want one Grin
Mac please!
Little treat on a dark morning.

TheKeatingFive · 07/10/2021 10:52

A discussion about fads, consumerism, and naff marketing..?

If you actually want to have this discussion, it'll encompass far far more than advent calendars, including some things that I'm sure you've partaken in yourself.

Fluffypastelslippers · 07/10/2021 10:53

Unsubscribe from all these companies emails and you won't revive their marketing mails then?

Original poster
PersonaNonGarter · 07/10/2021 10:57

Lols - thanks all for the advice to unsubscribe. I think I did mention I liked shopping but am finding the advent calendar craze quite sickly.

OP posts:
Wazzzzzzzup · 07/10/2021 10:58

I am mid 30s and I always have Chocolate advent calendar. 😁

EatYourVegetables · 07/10/2021 10:58

Unsubscribe!!

Original poster
PersonaNonGarter · 07/10/2021 11:10

@EatYourVegetables

Unsubscribe!!
Should I cancel the cheque…?
OP posts:
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 07/10/2021 11:12

I don’t mind advent calendars but I do think the tone of the “it’s here!” Emails can be a bit irritating!

TuftyMarmoset · 07/10/2021 11:27

I agree, why are there so many advent calendars with all sorts nowadays? It should be pictures or chocolate only IMO, or advent candles (not advent calendars containing candles). Mini toiletries and Lego can go in the stocking.

HoppingPavlova · 07/10/2021 11:49

I love them. Currently have several on pre-order and they are starting to roll in. I start in November and go through to Easter at minimum with them, one a month. I get beauty, body and food (not chocolate). Have seen alcohol, candle and stationery ones but they don’t interest me at all. Two of my adult kids love them and I get them a Lego one each yearGrin. If it’s something that brightens up the day a bit then why not!

JasonMomoasgirlfriend · 07/10/2021 11:51

@TuftyMarmoset

I agree, why are there so many advent calendars with all sorts nowadays? It should be pictures or chocolate only IMO, or advent candles (not advent calendars containing candles). Mini toiletries and Lego can go in the stocking.
Because people buy them. But they are sheep apparently. Although only when it suits OP
EnidFrighten · 07/10/2021 11:52

I agree they're consumerist tat that will add to the massive clog of plastic shit in the oceans. However, YABU on the basis that you could just unsubscribe because everything those brands are selling you is likely needless tat made in sweatshops.

DeepaBeesKit · 07/10/2021 11:58

Yep waste of stuff. Like everything though, monthly beauty subscriptions etc.

I have a fabric one with pockets that we put chocolate or sweets in. It's at least 20 years old :)

Darkchocolateandcoffee · 07/10/2021 11:58

Agree! Advent calendars are for children.

SirenSays · 07/10/2021 11:58

Hmm I don't think theres anything wrong with chocolate Advent calendars. They aren't a fad, I've had one every year of my life. And I'm not sure I'd call I'd call a cardboard box with a few little chocolates, that lasts an entire month vacuous consumerism.
The beauty/perfume calendar products always last me six months to a year and introduce me to new products and brands. I think trying samples is better than buying and wasting full size products.
My brother gets a whiskey one because he isn't big on sweets, not sure him having that option is a bad thing either tbh.

Original poster
PersonaNonGarter · 07/10/2021 12:02

Particularly grating are the ones aimed at adults, generally to buy for themselves, with pictures of what is in them. Infantilising, not-gifts, not-surprises.

OP posts:
Bubblesgun · 07/10/2021 12:10

I totally agree.
Last year I made a kindness calendar. This year i m doing and involving the kids. No lego or similar ones for us

coronabeer · 07/10/2021 12:12

It'll be over when people stop buying - presumably no time soon, sadly

I used to buy things like that - maybe chocolate advent calendars and one year I got a beauty one. And one day I just thought: "Why?" Cheap chocolates in a overpriced calendar which often isn't even all that Christmas-y. Or 24 beauty items of which I actually want maybe 4, can pass on another 10 and the rest sit unused until they're either binned or donated to a charity shop. And ultimately loads of unnecessary plastic heading to landfill.

It's the same with loads of Christmas merchandising. Will having a set of china or a duvet cover specifically for Christmas make Christmas itself any better or more enjoyable? Not in my world, although I do see and even feel the temptation at times. Hard not to.

So yes, the OP can unsubscribe from the mailing lists (although they seem to keep finding you in lots of cases, I've found). But that doesn't stop the OP and like-minded people being saddened at the sheer wastefulness of it all.

These days we get one traditional advent calendar (a Christmas-y, cardboard one with pictures). I can't say that Christmas has been any less enjoyable for it.

And no, I'm not perfect, far from it. Nor are any of the people who see these crazes of consumerism with a jaded eye. But it's not a binary thing as in you're either perfect, or you don't bother at all.

Gufo · 07/10/2021 12:14

OP, I agree with you. The very definition of tat.

99victoria · 07/10/2021 12:16

I did actually buy myself a Rituals advent calenar last year. I don't usually do advent calendars at all but it had been a shit of a year, everything had been cancelled, there was nothing to look forward to (my son's wedding had been cancelled) and we hadn't spent much money because we'd been stuck at home for months on end!
It was actually lovely - yes, it was quite expensive (about £80 I think) but it was a lovely village scene with houses and lights and I really looked forward to opening each little gift every day - some of them were quite big (100ml). And I'm planning to re-use it this year as a lovely christmas decoration.
I'm getting all the emails too (obviously, as I bought last year) but I'm not planning to buy one this year and so I'm just deleting the emails without even opening them!