AIBU to think that beauty advent calendars agave become a horrible representation of this who ‘have’ and those who ‘don’t’

[ThisOrTha]

The price of some of these calendars is crazy! I think everyone should have the right to buy what they want, but with the current state of things it feels like a really horrible waste of money. Yet built up to be a ‘must have’ etc etc.

Im probably being a grump and I do love beauty products/fashion, I just think some of these companies could donate some of the cover price to other causes as I’m sure the price markup is substantial.

*have in title- my auto text is my enemy 😆

Always thought what a waste of money. So didn’t buy them, even if I could.
I think trips to Disneyland are money down the loo too but wouldn’t begrudge anyone else, their money.

It's marketing. No one must have one. I can easily afford one but it's a complete waste and there's far too much packaging.

I can see them appealing to people who want to post them on social to "prove" how rich they are.

They are expensive and not necessary at all.
However, if people can afford them and want them I don’t see the issue.
There will always be things that some people can and some people can’t afford

Haha how random - only YOU have built it up to be a ‘must have’ I have never once considered one, of course they’re an total rip off and waste of money - but there’s thousands and millions of things that are also over priced waste of crap - why are you focusing on beauty calendars???

Wanting others to donate never comes from a place of altruism, it always comes from a place of bitterness.

So what if people can afford them.

Weird thing to get worked up about tbh in amongst all the great unfairness in the world

I would be interested to know if properly wealthy people actually buy these. Presumably they can buy whatever bits they fancy so don't buy these ? I'm also interested in how many are gifted vs purchased. I see unboxings on SM of even pricier calendars and the influencer doesn't always say gifted or not.

Selfridges is not exactly a brand that screams “essentials” so YABU. Of course some people will continue to buy luxuries. There’s a market for them so why shouldn’t they exist?

It’s all relative and you don’t have to buy them- I certainly don’t.
£1.25 advent calendars from Lidl for us!

I think you're right but they're very tempting. I've never bought a top end one but have had M&S etc and I feel a ridiculous pressure to get one simply on fomo grounds tbh.

But they're disappointing. I only like about 50% of stuff and it's a terrible waste of plastic and packaging. I don't need 4 tiny hand creams in a calendar. I never even use hand cream.

I guess a really expensive one might be a lot better but spending £300 is just not something I can justify.

Anyway I'm going to stay strong this year and resist all temptation.

YABU.
You see it as “have” vs “have not”.
I see it as “sensible people” vs “idiots who are easily marketed to”.
Neither of us is right about every person.

It’s not the manufacturer’s responsibility - we are individually responsible for our spending choices and our opinions.

Come back when you want to take have / have not over vegetables.

I don't really agree that they highlight those who have and those who don't.

I do agree that they are very expensive.

It more highlights what people are prepared to spend money on, and if there is a market for these then they'll be sold.

I personally wouldn't buy one because I know I wouldn't use all the stuff. I stick to what I know so budget and buy as and when I need them. I also don't buy subscription boxes for the same reason.

”I feel a ridiculous pressure to get one simply on fomo grounds tbh.”

I find that fascinating. Are you surrounded by people posting on fb what they got? Where is the pressure coming from, for you?

I don't think it's just beauty advent calendars. There is a general trend to bigger and more expensive advent calendars. Lego and playmobil ones with part of a set each day. Alcohol ones with a miniature bottle for each day etc.

I do think advent calendars in general are a rip off. I remember seeing a Skinny Whip one on Social media last year. It cost £10 and contained 25 skinny whip bars. At the time you could buy a box of 5 skinny whips for £1. So £5 for 25 bars and probably with the same amount of cardboard.

This.

this is a great debate, thanks so much everyone for responding. Some really good nudges to seeing this from different perspectives and I fear my title was a bit exaggerated so I take that as being unreasonable 😆

No pressure so much, just asked to buy some as gifts and I’m being a grump. Also agree, much more important things going on in the world. Thanks everyone.

So bad for the environment, small tubs with hardly anything in and housed in plastic packaging. These tubs and jars will last forever in landfill somewhere.

A. It’s not a ‘must have’ for most people. I’m a grown women and haven’t bought a ‘must have’ since the Coca-cola yo-yo craze in the 90s at secondary school.
B. People can buy what they want, if you can’t afford it, get something else.
C. I hate when people call things a ‘waste of money’. Again if you don’t want it, fine but it doesn’t mean someone else is an idiot for wanting one.

I bought one last year and it really cheered me up. I have bought a slightly more expensive one this year.

I understand that not everyone can afford them, but that's the case with everything in life.

There's plenty of things I would like to have but can't afford. I don't expect others not to have them.

Of course the profits shouldn't be given up. We aren't communists!

i got me and dd the same one last year and my mum one. Spent a fortune. I loved it. Not getting them this year though.

I specifically got mum one as she spend does all our advent calandar a every year and I wanted to treat her to something special. so I’m got her the F&M one. She loved it. She cried when I gave her a few days before the first. Was worth every penny.

Unfortunately, she suddenly died on the 2nd December. Dad gave me the advent contents, so I have managed to go all year without having to buy any skin care. Which was nice.

Dd loved hers and used it all. Even though mum didn’t get to use hers, it was worth the money to see how happy she was.

I don’t see it as any different to having a certain brand of car, or a large house or anything that costs money. Some people like them and some don’t. Some people think they are worth the money. Some don’t. Some people spend more on some things that others wouldn’t and I don’t see the issues.

we have kept the boxes and using them to make advent calendars this year, since mum isn’t here.

I can’t really get on board with the idea that no-one should have nice things just because not everyone can have them, but posts like the OP’s here do seem to be at least implying that.

Some people I know have to be very careful with money, and others don’t. It’s only polite to bear this in mind in conversation, and when choosing whether to share something on Facebook, but I’m not going to stop enjoying lovely things on the basis that someone else can’t afford them.

As an aside, I am paying £60 a head to go out for Christmas dinner this year. Would you see that as a ‘have vs have not’ situation?

Advent calendars are really not the litmus test for haves vs have nots, depressingly I'd say being able to.put your heating on is.
Incidentally I treat myself to the glossybox one every year as my Christmas present to myself, it's under £100 if you want a cheaper one...I'd generally avoid the selfridges website unless you are rich

A lot of brands have made decent steps towards being more sustainable, not enough in many cases but seems like an odd one to be particularly aggrieved about considering the masses of waste elsewhere that isn't being addressed at all. I suspect as most things in life things involving women are more closely scrutinised and held to a higher standard.

OP I buy one each year because I enjoy trying different products, but under no illusion its a must have. Some people buy yachts but I don't feel the need to question why I cant etc- people have different disposable income and choose how to spend that. Yes of course on a society level its unfair that some are struggling to eat whilst others spend £££s on an advent calendar; but the economy does need people who can to spend and it supports people's jobs.