Brexit affecting this Christmas versus others?

[LondonLaura]

Just curious if anyone else is noticing that Christmas this year is different financially, perhaps as a result of Brexit downturn? Is anyone else changing things cutting back slightly with the insecurity of March coming or is it just me?

Most people I've spoken to have mainly bought presents online. Lots of people have been reevaluating following the plastic seas problems highlighted by David Attenborough. Others seem to be at peak consumerism anyway and have made comments re feeling like they're buying things for the sake of it.. All that combined with brexit is bound to affect the high street.

I've bought one of those Serrano hams on a fancy wooden stand. I've always quite fancied one and decided that next year they might be mega bucks so I've decided we're having one.

I have bought a few European Christmas foods this year in case next year all I can afford is Lincolnshire sprouts and carrots off the fens.

I'm aiming for a quality over quantity Christmas this year, less plastic tat, trying to keep the spending reasonable.

The biggest downside to online shopping is that in itself creates even more plastic waste I find.I ordered a new table cloth for Xmas that came in a plastic bag inside a box inside another plastic bag.That's frustrating. Sorry distressing from OP.

Meant that's frustrating and I'm digressing !

Been struggling since becoming a single parent 18months ago and seeing as universal credit is being rolled out here next year as well we may be cooking the cat for next year's Christmas dinner or eating out a bin if it's all as bad as everyone says.

Thank God, my mum's gone home. Brexit ,of course, came up in conversation. My mum absolutely insisted immigrants "get more from the social" than they do, and that's what did it for her, no amount of pointing out this is wrong, can persuade her otherwise. She also talked about the abuse scandals in Rotherham and other towns and that that's why she voted out. She knows I'm losing my job because of Brexit but has no regrets about her vote. I could cry.

@kenndodd

Is she not concerned at all that you’re losing your job?

I'm not going to mince my words, Ken, your mum sounds thick, selfish and nasty. The men who were convicted in Rotherham were of Asian heritage, nothing to do with the EU, as I expect you tried to point out. They are here because of Britain's glorious imperial past.

She also talked about the abuse scandals in Rotherham and other towns and that that's why she voted out

I'd forgotten this aspect. My friend's Mum who I have 'fact versus feelings' battles with on FB was significantly motivated by the Rotherham gang too. She circulated loads of Rotherham propaganda to justify and encourage her friends to continue to support Leave. She said it was to protect her granddaughters who have never visited Rotherham.

She (and I am sure others ) think that ditching EU membership is just step one of a programme to get people of certain religions and ethnicity to actually Leave!

No amount of factual explanation will persuade her otherwise. This friend's Mum circulates a lot of "Leave means Leave" type phrases. She thinks the financial sacrifice of ditching our existing trade deals is worth it. She sees it as a necessary price, and we will all pull together because people like the Rotherham criminals will somehow be evicted elsewhere. She basically sees leaving the EU as the start of some ethnic cleansing programme. It's horrific as she is an active Christian and has a mixed race family member too.
If you explain to her that her targets for despatch were most probably born here she says they should be sent to wherever their grandparents were born. If people are of mixed descent then her answer is to choose one of their countries of descent.

I don't know how we should have educated to stop people thinking like this.

Also Kenn I am so sorry about your job and your Mum. I hope you find something very soon.

kenn
So sorry to hear about your job! And your mum. Does she realise what she is?
I know someone who thinks like her and no matter how you try and put things into context, people like that don't listen. The bit about going back several generations is vile and increasingly normalised thinking. I shudder at the thought. Also anyone who thinks it will 'only' affect BAME immigrants is naive, anyone different is ultimately targeted by such people. This ugliness has a name and last time it ended with millions of deaths.

It's not certain my job will go yet, most of my department will go, don't know if I will be one or not. This is a direct result of Brexit, no other factors. My mum just doesn't say anything when I talk about my job going, the fact that Brexit will directly and negatively affect me and my children has not changed her opinion in the slightest though. I think lots of people think like her and we underestimate and dismiss these views with 'tiny minority' comments. She also doesnt see herself as racist (i dont think anybody ever does) and takes huge offence if she's described as such.

I have upped the amount I save every month. I have a small loan but have decided to keep chipping away at it rather than clearing it because I want the reassurance of having a few pounds in the bank.

We didn't spend less at Christmas but didn't go mad either. I am very concerned about what the next few months will bring.

"This ugliness has a name and last time it ended with millions of deaths." - bang on, Quietrebel - I'm listening to Lawrence Rees' book about the Holocaust on Audible and the amount of parallels with, well, RIGHT NOW are terrifying. I don't mean, a bit unnerving but actually lying awake at night worrying and having the odd cry terrifying. I'd urge everyone to read it.