To think we should probably buy our children less this Christmas if we care about their future?

[verdantverdure]

What do you think? Where are you on the spectrum between an all out Christmas as usual with all the consumption of the earth's resources that involves and a Christmas that prioritises the planet we leave our children over a lot of things we could probably cheerfully do without?

YABU Christmas as usual in our house.

YANBU We have thought about it and reined things in a bit.

We’ve never gone totally overboard, but being more careful this year. The excess makes me very uncomfortable and when I see yet more posts about extravagant advent calendars (more than some actual gifts!), 1st of December boxes, Christmas Eve boxes etc I do despair. More shit we don’t need, as someone else put it!
Keep things simple , put less pressure on everyone and enjoy each other’s company - let’s hope we can stick to that last one 😝

No, Xmas is the one time I can spoil my kids ,and it's also my sons birthday on boxing day ,do what you want with your own kids though.

@amylou8 I'm instantly transported to the Nile when I smell diesel!

Our Christmas' aren't OTT by modern standards. 10 and 8 year old are getting a switch. I guess I could have got it second hand. They'll get some stocking tat but I try to make it useful - bath stuff, book, craft stuff. Don't buy for anyone over 21 in our family.

I do find these threads hard at the moment. If you read them apparently we're going to hell in a handcart and everybody on MN buys second hand or hand made thoughtful gifts, never replaces their car and doesn't eat meat. Back in my local shopping centre the B&M tat is selling as fast as ever!

This kind of stuff is said by wealthy people. My kids value what they get.

I think that given how many people are struggling, think about spending less on tat and things of limited value, and give more to charity.

Oh don’t be so silly. The living room will be filled with presents as it is (and should be) every year.

I’ve brought 2nd hand treats for me this year and thrilled with them food is as I could afford it and in freezer. Next year I’ll save all year and buy my huge treat all the dr who blu rays I already have a friend who will have my dvds they’ll replace. But Christmas is my time to have whatever I want. But stuff will be used each year et bedding.

DS values what he gets, we are low income so he's never had a lot. I've known children who have far too much to be able to appreciate what they have.

DS only wanted one thing, and it's only available second-hand, so that's what he's having.

He's often had second-hand gifts because he's wanted things that aren't still available - currently NERF guns, previously Lego sets and before that Thomas trains.

The 8 billionth person was born last week.

Always do a moderate xmas anyway- I find consumerism repellent and my kid will w wear secondhand clothes. None of us want clutter.

I would love my family to reign it in for my DC this year. They is not that much they need or want but everyone expects me to tell them a toy for the value they want to spend. I’ve tried asking for vouchers or cinema trips etc but that’s always shut down as not exciting enough on the day. So more plastic crap none of them want is coming our way again this Christmas. I have always tried not to go mad with presents for them but DH is of the buy them loads mindset so we meet somewhere in the middle!

Why “should be”?

We're carrying on as usual at Christmas but don't buy a lot throughout the year, and birthdays are usually 1-2 bigger/more expensive things whereas Christmas is more smaller/£10-40ish stuff.

I've also bought some things Preloved, they have new onesies for Christmas eve but they're off vinted, as are a few presents

I also don't think we go overboard in the first place, 2 boys have around 18 presents each plus stockings (3-5 small toys then chocolate, character undies or socks, a bath bomb...)

I don’t think it’s fair to target the kids specifically, although I agree with you in theory. Everyone could do more: get a live tree in a pot. Buy only what you need for Christmas dinner. Shop ethically and don’t buy tat stocking-filler plastic garbage.

Christmas as usual but we don't buy masses and don't buy tat that's binned 5 minutes later.

Perhaps I should have made the YABU/YANBU more contentious?

YABU The hardest, worst, most horrible climate apocalypse the sooner the better for my children please!

YANBU I do what I can to stave it off as long as possible and soften its effects because every little helps.

Christmas as usual here but we have always used the much-hated poem anyway.

I'm not a fan of these kinds of threads because it tends to make people feel guilty if their approach to Christmas gifts differs. It's good to be conscious. But even if it isn't meant, it does imply that people who don't follow the OPs lead don't care about their children's future.

Well, I think it's fair to assume that anyone who is still massively over consuming doesn't care about the future of the planet?

Mine are getting a second hand stick and a satsuma. Bread and jam for Xmas dinner and they will be grateful for that.

I think that its much better to buy what a person actually would want as a gift, than the mindless toiletries, Poundland tat or other poor quality items. I prefer buying something smaller which is of quality than lots of poor quality stuff that is either not wanted or breaks easily.

It's also a good idea to ignore the lots of items in an expensive advent calendar, first of December boxes and Christmas eve boxes. They are pretty much someone's entire Christmas present on various days before Christmas. What's wrong with waiting for the big day?

Yeah but how do we know people are massively overconsuming? Why must people resort to hyperbole when it comes to certain issues. It's not black and white. Maybe they're not at all but will feel bad about it. And shame and guilt isn't, IMO the best approach.

Why are you assuming everyone usually does an 'all-out' Christmas? I've always been astonished by the excess on the MN Christmas present and food threads, as I barely buy a fraction of what many seem to. And that's not even because of the future of the planet or because I couldn't afford more. It's just not how we've ever done things. And plenty of people just can't afford to.

I love Christmas and will be doing exactly the same as usual. No tat. No 'shit we don't need'. No food we won't eat. Not because of any of any moral or environmental panic though - just because why would you buy stuff people don't want? Tbh I find the OTT hand-wringing and virtue-signalling about the abhorrence and disgustingness of Christmas consumption more irritating than the consumption itself!