To be Overwhelmed with the Christmas Tat…

[TheBeaTgoeson1]

Does anyone else get overwhelmed by the sheer level of tat at Christmas, in the shops, and also, being discussed. The absolutely enormous amount of stuff, stuff, stuff! Most of which won’t have any longevity. Not meaning to be a grinch, but just interested to hear if anybody else just finds it completely overwhelming!

Must say though, this year’s teachers gifts threads are interesting. My kids are no longer at primary, but throughout their primary school days, the received wisdom on MN was that collections and buying vouchers was not a good thing. It was much better to do your own thing, buy a small gift. No collections. There would be handwringing about if the teachers and TAs being given a £150 M&S voucher were declaring it. Some very pious posters would declare they wouldn’t dream of accepting something like that and would give it to the head to raffle off. That a small thoughtful gift would be better.

This year, apparently giving a teacher 30 small thoughtful gifts is tat and landfil.

It'anything the poster doesn't like.
So obviously Bayliss and Harding Gift set - tat
L'Occitaine gift set - not tat

Lindor chocolates (this year's fashionable gift to sneer at) tat
Chocolates from a shop no one has heard if - not tat

Random candle costing less than 25 - tat
Random candle costing more than 50 - not tat

It'anything the poster doesn't like.
So obviously Bayliss and Harding Gift set - tat
L'Occitaine gift set - not tat

Lindor chocolates (this year's fashionable gift to sneer at) tat
Chocolates from a shop no one has heard if - not tat

Random candle costing less than 25 - tat
Random candle costing more than 50 - not tat

I’d definitely prefer a voucher! 🤣

It is symbolic of the consumption/production of plastic/unrecyclable rubbish that literally will be instrumental in setting off the chain of events that will finish humankind off.
Collectively, as a species, we have left it too late to do anything meaningful about it.
So, 🎶 enjoy yourself, it's later than you think 🎶

True this 😭

Just like the OP. What a grinch

I can’t get over the amount of themed stuff. So in autumn everything is Halloween then straight to Christmas. Do people really buy themed bedding, crockery etc. never mind the cost and environmental impact - the organization and storage blows my mind. In our house we’d still be using a pumpkin bath mat in June.

Unfortunately you are closer to the truth, than further away from it!

Yes and also the level of effort!

Im not sure if I live in a parallel universe where the months just seem to go by too quick to make that kind of effort with themes 🧙

It can only annoy you if you engage in it. We have decorations that we reuse every year. I dont send Christmas Cards, I'm 35, not sure if others my age do but I dont. Food and Drink - it's christmas, probably do over indulge but we dont bankrupt ourselves either. What is this "tat" I dont know anyone who buys all this stuff people keep complaining about.

Presents, we buy for family, kids in family, our own child. We dont do secret santa in work but in other jobs, it was fine. Its literally one gift you buy and receive one back.

We've had a few tough christmas's in the last two yearams, child [twins] bereavement, finally coming out of the numb stage , so I dont mind a bit of glitz this year.

i commented on another thread, but this year’s “themed” things have been less disposable, longer use items that have been for the whole season, not just the holiday. Eg “autumnal” themed blankets and candle holders, less Halloween plastic skeletons, there’s more cushions and crockery that’s winter themed but not Santa /reindeer. (I presume so you’ll still use them through January). There’s still some Santa stuff, but the general winter themed (not specifically Christmas) things are clearly designed to be used repeatedly and last.

I was thinking it was almost an anti-tat development. (Or more, getting your money’s worth)

I have Christmas bedding. It is at least 10 years old and is used for aprox 2 weeks a year, washed then put away until the following year.
Can you explain what part of the environmental impact you are concerned about?

Always, I hate myself for buying the tat! The huge boxes filled with plastic in the moment crap so when wrapped up looks amazing 👏

Much prefer the days of yonder, a few presents, wrapping saved for next year, appreciated.

It really is disgusting how consumerism has taken over lives and the SM boasting of huge piles of presents.

I hate it and just think it’s future landfill. We only do consumables or experiences now but we don’t have kids so it was easier to make this decision. .

No. I just don't buy it. How do you get through the day if things in shops that you are under no obligation to buy are "overwhelming"?

That sounds like a horrible two years, hope you have a lovely Christmas this year 🙂

Good plan!

I Agree op. There’s an ironic popularity of the “grinch” merchandise this year too- with Asda / primark/ McDonald’s all pumping out green grinch themed tat- completely bypassing and making rather a mockery of the actual moral of the grinch as a story.

Just don’t buy it! If more people stopped buying then they’d stop selling it, and I do think this is the best way.

I think buying presents at Xmas apart from some kids things honestly is such a waste of time money and materials!

Yes the grinch is everywhere!

Agreed.

Yanbu. I don’t buy into the whole elf, christmas eve boxes, matching pjs etc. I don’t even buy selection boxes anymore just a nice box of chocolates etc for the kids (this year ferro roches & lindors!)

Same old story every year. People whipping themselves into a frenzy buying endless crap from online/Temu/Primark/Gucci Pucci or wherever and then come the New Year getting their knickers in a knot returning, donating or decluttering endless crap. Same with food and drink: consuming endless amounts of ultra-processed crap and then wondering why they’re so fat come the New Year. Just rein it in for crying out loud.

Define 'tat'. Without an understanding of what you consider to be 'tat' how can anyone agree or disagree?