To hate this particular aspect of Christmas

[MonkeyRum]

I guess this is more about the online aspect, but I just dislike the commercial intensity of it all. I HATE feeling pressured or rushed with anything in life, I certainly don’t pay attention to it and I know keeping the economy going is the way to go.

But it’s just so full on, up to probably today, with all the “BUY BUY BUY LAST CHANCE FOR CHRISTMAS BUY BUY BUY.” Then when it’s too late for delivery you get spammed with “SALE NOW ON!” before Christmas has even happened.

It’s like there’s no escape from it! When does anyone relax? Where does the endless supply of money come from? I know Boxing Day sales have always been a thing for those who can be arsed or who have any money left, but it just seems to happen before Boxing Day now!

It’s almost like the world wants Christmas over and done with ASAP. It’s like having a nagging child with you 24/7.

YANBU. Why not opt out of a lot of it? We have and it's great.

Was just thinking the same earlier. I just delete the emails before reading. I'm not getting into debt for anyone

You do your own thing. You aren’t forced to buy stuff or follow SM trends etc.

I do a lot of online shopping - not groceries but clothes, stuff on Amazon, my sports drinks etc. Got fed up with emails saying ‘final day to buy on standard delivery’ etc

I want to opt out but I miss out on offers. Wish you can opt out all emails from retailers in Dec

To be honest, I've never found Christmas more relaxing in terms of shopping than in the last few years.

I've not been inside a single shop to do any of it and it's all done.

I do have to battle Morrisons this afternoon though because the gammon joint they sent is too small.

So I guess I miss all the 'Buy, Buy, Buy' stuff and I don't really take much notice online, I just order what I need and ignore the rest.

Can you get a Gmail account? All my ‘promotional’ emails go straight to a different tab so I’m not bombarded with anything. I also don’t watch tv with adverts as we only watch tv on demand, and no radio with adverts, so I’ve been happily oblivious to any promotional offers and selling.

@MonkeyRum I agree with you on the barrage of emails! Also our local garden centre was taking down the Christmas display last week and then it's straight onto garden furniture. Why can't they spin Christmas out at least until new year?

YANBU, but where are you seeing this deluge? Do you constantly have to walk through your town centre or something?

If you have an ad blocker and don't sallow companies to send you marketing emails (and don't spend that much time looking at shops), there's only the occasional stuff at work and out and about and when you are looking to buy something and Mumsnet Active page becomes unnavigable because of the Christmas stuff.

I ignore it all. Nobody needs another sequinned top or a load of new gym gear for the inevitable ‘new year new you’ bollocks that’s coming out way.

We've largely opted out. I told dd I only need something under £20, we haven't put decorations up or got a tree and will just do a normal roast. I've got her and the dog a few things and bought nice cheese, presents under £10 for 2 friends and a pack of pants for my dad - job done.

I've unsubscribed from any company that has been emailing me more than about once a week in the run up to Christmas. Anyone who emails me once a day or more is definitely on my shit list.

We live rurally hardly go to the shops. Can almost believe there is no Christmas it’s quite lovely.

I signed up yesterday to all the retailers whose sales I am interested in, and will unsubscribe again in a day or two, we don't have TV so not seen any ads. I have adblocker on all my devices so see nothing online either. I haven't been in a shop since COVID everything is online. I am getting my nails done this evening other than that I've not been anywhere since work broke up on 14th. I love to hermit this time of year

It’s like there’s no escape from it! When does anyone relax?

I’m all done, I don’t need to go into a shop between now and new year, so I’ll be relaxing at home with the kids and the dog ignoring all the “come and spend” messages. I might miss a bargain but it’s only a bargain if you need it, and I have all I need.

I ignore it- but the words "must have" grate on me.
I do get irritated that commercial interests have brought Christmas forward so that trees are going up in November and decorations are coming down on Boxing Day. I stick to the traditional putting decorations up a week before Christmas and keeping them until after New Year.

I opt out. I am in Southern Spain now in glorious sunshine and no frenzy in the supermarkets or shops. Everything open Christmas Day - well most things!

I left gifts with family before escaping and saw them all.

We dont have children and our parents are gone now. Its not as easy for others as it is for us, but if you can, DO IT.

Why on earth would you feel pressured? Maybe work on self restraint and not blame the advertising

Just because it is there does not mean you have to obey it is not a summons

Just ignore it all.
Partaking in Christmas is not compulsory.
Opt out of all of it and just treat it as another day - nothing bad will happen.

I hate some aspects too, but love others. Recently I took DS to a Christmas Market. We didn't have much to spend, but treated ourselves to a posh cake each from an artisan bakery stall (they really weren't very nice in spite of being very expensive, we found), and bought a couple of little things. Then we noticed a church with its doors open and coloured light streaming out, and went in. It was a Christmas tree display, gentle music playing, each one from a local school or organisation and it was absolutely gorgeous. There was no charge, but a little kitchen selling coffee and homemade treats which we had, and they were lovely. Neither of us is religious, but there was a feeling of spiritual calm there that's difficult to describe. So after all that I'm not really sure what I'm saying or if it's relevant, just to take the aspects that mean something to you, and leave the rest, I suppose. And that costlier doesn't mean better. Happy Christmas!

I'm afraid when you live in a capitalist society, as we all do, that is simply how it works. Retailers exist to make money. They don't exist to help you relax.

Joining a gym or a weight management class at the new year is the WORST thing to do. As used to do SW and WW. People joined up in Jan and by 2nd half of Feb, 95% of newbies give up. Same thing with the gym.

Other times of the year you don’t see as many drop outs

It doesn't bother me particularly tbh. There are plenty of things in life that stress me out, but Christmas advertising isn't one of them. I buy what I want/need to buy, about 90% of it online, and ignore the hype. Why would advertising mean you had no time to relax? The thing that's going to stop me relaxing is that I've got a pile of curriculum plannning to do and a pile of mock exams to mark before I go back to work!

When I worked in central London it annoyed me but now I don't have to see it as I'm no longer obliged to walk past shop windows.

I'm not much of a consumer so rarely sign up for emails but if I do then I usually opt out after I get whatever offer I'm after.

what has surprised me - while looking for early sales deals this morning- is that websites are saying it's not too late for Christmas delivery. I think couriers will have a dreadful day tomorrow. I thought there'd be some discounts already. Maybe they hit at midnight tonight.

Ignore all adverts outside the house. Send all advertising emails straight to "Junk" and click "Skip now" on YouTube at the first opportunity.

Job done.

I have received multiple texts from Next informing me of my 'pre-sale access'. I have no intention of clicking on it.