Randomer person pretending to be another person is a SockPuppet.
A troll is someone who says something arsey just to get a response.
In answer to your question "Is it a colossal waste of money" (assuming you actually want an answer and aren't just Trolling).
It costs nothing to plan.
It is less expensive to plan and buy ahead as appropriate rather than dash about like a BlueArsedFly on the 23rd Dec.
There is no rule that I've ever heard of that says I HAVE to spend a load of money.
Christmas Dinner is basically a roast with extra bits (unless like us you're vegetarian when there's no roast)
My DC need PJs. I buy Winter ones for them , they'll wear till March/April.
We have Christmas Bedding that they'll use all over the festive period (the Winter bedding goes on early Nov for DD /early Dec for DS)
There's things I think are a waste of money like take-out coffee and cars that can go over 100mph when the speed limit prohibits it.
I don't go onto the Cars section and bitch about someone buying an Audi because it doesn't affect me in the slightest .
Have a 
- I don't give them out willy nilly , enjoy it. Save you a bit of money on snacks.