Lack of Christmas tat might not be a bad thing?

[KingsleyShacklebolt]

News this morning about all those containers stuck at Felixstowe from Asia, and similar problems at ports in the US which are now working overnight to clear the backlog.

These aren't shipping containers with food, it's all the other toys, decorations and associated tat which line the shelves of supermarkets and places like Home Bargains earlier every year.

Maybe if people have a year where they can't buy tinsel, or a musical Santa which drops its trousers, or Christmas bedding, or elves on shelves, or any of the other crap, they will maybe realise that you can have a brilliant Christmas with last year's decorations, or homemade decorations, or charity shop decorations? Consumerism at Christmas has got WAY out of control and this might force a halt to the buy buy buy mentality, focused on single use plastic and cheaply made rubbish from China.

I agree and wish people didn't buy things and never reuse them. Our current Christmas tree has been going at least 5 years so far. Our previous one I had off my mum and did more than 20 years before being donated to a school for their Christmas production. I add to decorations and I prefer glass baubles if I can get them. I don't understand why anyone would get new each year what a waste (especially if binned instead of donated). Buy things you like/need and stick with it because no one else really cares what you have in your own house.

@Pyewackect

Some years ago when the kids were really quite young my husband got hold of a large cardboard box from where he worked and painted it to look like a fire engine. They played with that box until it literally feel apart, and even then it was taped up. It's still in the loft as I can't bear to get rid of it - just too many wonderful memories.

That's lovely, brought a tear to my eye. Oh for Christmases past.... I'm glad I grew up in the 70's with parents/family who had (just) enough money for us to have a good Christmas together & have a few presents, but that presents were very special because we didn't get 'stuff' other than birthdays & Christmas. But what really us memorable is having all the extended family together (staying over) & playing games etc (dead lions was a parents favourite 🤣)

@Neonplant

Wow your privlidge is showing.

Sometimes of that cheep stuff is all many families can afford for gifts or to make it feel like Christmas. Life is hard enough for these families let people enjoy Christmas.

Your post is exactly what is wrong with environmental activism at the moment. It's not intersectional and doesn't seem to understand people aren't coming from the same security and privlidge.

Although that’s half the story wrt to not having privilege. The other being the cost to those who get it here and how society deals with that part.

I don’t agree at all; such a sanctimonious post

Oh look, another virtuous, self congratulatory post by someone who is oh so enlightened while the rest of the population are tat consumers.

Absolutely agree @Neonplant

If people buy it how do you know they're not using it every year?

@KingsleyShacklebolt

I also don't like the argument that you can't do A, B or C because X and Y are so much worse.

Most of us in the UK have zero control over fishing nets. We very much do have control over what we buy in the shops.

@

Yes. People like YOU who bought a new PLASTIC Christmas Tree, but seemingly that's ok as it was 'expensive'

YABU.

I'm with you on the waste, but it absolutely is a problem that supply chain problems mean we can't import or export as much as we used to. There are environmental benefits to that, but they're incidental rather than intentional. There are severe problems at the minute and we're being conditioned by the government dropping stories in the tabloids about the magic of an old-fashioned, less commercial Christmas. See also, home working being responsible for the Taleban.

Exactly FWBNC seemingly only 'cheap plastic tat' is the issue, expensive plastic tat obviously okay

People like OP are usually flag bearers for the virtue signalling mob. Finger wagging at everyone else, but then it almost always the case that they are hypocrites.

@Neonplant

Wow your privlidge is showing.

Sometimes of that cheep stuff is all many families can afford for gifts or to make it feel like Christmas. Life is hard enough for these families let people enjoy Christmas.

Your post is exactly what is wrong with environmental activism at the moment. It's not intersectional and doesn't seem to understand people aren't coming from the same security and privlidge.

I think the op is talking more about people buying these things each year and then just throwing them away year after year rather than re using .

@Neonplant what a load of privilege encrusted bullshit. Maybe think a bit about the lives of the people who produce all the unnecessary crap we consume and who get to host our waste afterwards. We are not the underprivileged here.

Op is talking about her own family

It's fine

Before getting through the whole OP I knew there'd be some replies acting like cheap, essentially single use, poorly made, plastic tat might be really important to a family and that anyone questioning the sheer quantity of seasonal tat must be judgemental and awful.

Why anyone thinks Christmas requires a new shitty glittery 'sculpture' each year, a new colour theme, a new set of decorations, new loo covers, in order to be a good Christmas is beyond me.

B&m and home bargains are already fully stocked up with Christmas 'tat' near where I live

OP - If you know extended family are throwing good stuff away, can't you suggest that they bag it all up and you will take it to the charity shop for them when you take yours.

I think most people have enough festive 'stuff' stockpiled in the loft to still have the Christmas they enjoy as normal and if that helps to change a few buying habits then it's no bad thing.

I would feel bad for people doing their 'first Christmas' either as a couple or with a new baby because I'm a bit soft like that but I think there will still be enough stock for people to not miss out completely, I should think?

A quick look back on other threads and this very same OP is moaning about Waitrose coffee machine not working and heating in a holiday cottage being to hard to adjust

Poor sausage

@gardeninggirl68

A quick look back on other threads and this very same OP is moaning about Waitrose coffee machine not working and heating in a holiday cottage being to hard to adjust

Poor sausage

Honestly you couldn’t make it up. You can usually smell the virtue signalling a mile off from threads like these.

I prefer the tat to the preachy virtue signalling crap.

You are mean of spirit and that is the worst kind of mean.

Those containers held up, they are not going to magically disappear. Then contents is still there but I imagine the lack of availability will drive the up the prices of stuff already here. But that's alright - you bought your EXPENSIVE tree last year. Smug much?

For the last few years the local food bank had a Christmas box where people could put in decorations, christmas treats, gift items, toys, wrapping paper, cards etc. The Collector said they made Christmas boxes up for people and they were massively appreciated. I imagine this will be even more necessary this year with price rises, fuel poverty and the end of the £20 top up.

I think op needs a to have with her coffee if she gets her plastic coffee machine fixed (I'm sure Waitrose provide a lengthy guarantee). Privilege is so very evident.