Am I a Christmas freak ?

[WendyS]

Am I the only person in the world who doesn't want any presents for Christmas?
I have a wonderful husband, a happy home, good health and no hankering for any of the latest fashions, gadgets and gismos.
When I look around and see the angst which seems to accompany the business of buying suitable presents I begin to wonder if we've all lost the plot and the commercial profit-makers have completely taken over Christmas.
(Or does cynicism just take over as you get older?).

[laurence2]

Hello wendy,
i agree with you, i don't want to be a killjoy, but xmas is just a commercial rip off, of course i would'nt spoil it for the children, but me and my wife tend to wait for the sales to start and buy each other a little something, nothing gets my back up more than paying over inflated prices in the built up to xmas, then come boxing day the prices are massively reduced, as long as i've got my family & friends and we are all healthy, i'm afraid xmas day to me is no different to any other day, saying that, i love a good xmas dinner with all the trimmings

[happygam]

Nahhhh...christmas is fab....forget about the commercial side of things...just enjoy it..I like it as I get older....what is the point in worrying about things like that...I love buying things..and seeing my nieces/nephews eyes light up...best feeling ever..its one day in the year to have a lovely time and enjoy the festivities with your family!!

[Lumihum]

Christmas is so commercialised now, I have to people not to bother with presents for me and hubby, just to give a donation to charity, they need it more than we do. Our children will get gifts but nothing extravagant, children don't differentiate between things that cost a fortune and those that are inexpensive and it's usually the latter that they play with more. Christmas is a time to think of others less fortunate than you, and to spend time with your loved ones, not about racing around the shops spending all your money on rubbish presents and leaving yourself in debt to start the new year,

[B00]

So shall I assume you aren't getting me a prezzy this year wendy? :-(

I agree on the commercialisation of it, it has gone too far, but I still can't help going a bit overboard on prezzies for Mr Boo and Mini Boo, especially Mini- love to see her face when she opens 'em.

[BBWCHATT]

Wendy - now that I am an old lady - I tell my family - "please don't buy me any more stuff". I have so much "stuff" now that I have every closet and nook and crannie stuffed with "stuff"!!! My favorite presents now are when they just make up a personalized gift basket for me with my favorite expensive shower gels, shampoos, bath products, etc. OR one with my favorite - too expensive to buy allll the time - snacks, foods and candies.

[JoolsTwo]

I agree it is far too commercialised. Our family are all in agreement so we don't buy any presents for each other, we make them. Just small jokey things, if for any reason we can't make them then we have agreed to buy from the charity shops. We have far more fun that way than we ever did when we were chasing around the shops trying to find something suitable for each other. We have no children in the family at the moment, so things will probably change a bit once there are grandchildren, but only a bit. :-)

[marvinparvin]

I totally agree with Wendy. I have no need whatsoever for presents/cards/tinsel/turkey etc etc Roll on New Year.

[wallis1007]

Totally agree. If I want something then I go and buy it. If I can't afford it then No one is likely to but for me!

[shaneystar2]

No ..you are not the only person person Wendy. I have been doing Christmas for more years than I care to remember and quite frankly it is just another chore that I can do without .For a long time now we have had an agreement in our family that we do not buy one another presents only the smalls as I call them The great and great great nieces and nephews. Mr S and I don't buy each other anything. Our sons we buy for and vice versa but only something small .We don't need anything .I have enough "stuff" to see me out and don't need another box of smellies that I cannot stand the smell of.As long as I can have a nice lunch with a few drinks and have my family round me I am quite happy. I can remember chasing around years ago to get the latest Transformer toys for my sons for Christmas ....and getting so het up about it that they would be so disappointed if I couldn't get them. I remember haring up to Hamleys in Oxford Street after a hard days work just to get the wretched things .Yes ....it was a picture to see the look on their faces but I have done my bit .I have no guilt these days about wanting to have a quiet stress free Christmas .Enjoy your Christmas in the way you want to enjoy it .All good wishes to you and yours.

[Alibobs]

I agree with you Wendy, I count my blessings every day and am very fortunate but I do have my eye on a nice pair of boots for Christmas. I certainly don't need any new boots but I want them!!!!! If Christmas weren't on the horizon I'd probably just buy them anyway!

I remeber collecting a pre-ordered Buzz Lightyear from the Disney Store on Christmas Eve and being convinced I was going to be mugged for it!! I was so thrilled with it when I got it home I made Buzz leave messages on all my family's answerphones! My son was so delighted with it and still has it even though he's now a 6' 3" rugby player. It still talks too!

[curiosity]

I can see your point, but I think that people who say Christmas is too commercialised, is because they are responding to this commercialisation, either by getting stressed over it, or deciding to banish any good that can come out of Christmas. Lumihum, I actually don't agree with charity donations on behalf of Christmas presents, that's worse than a book token to someone's self esteem! LOL! Basically let's not all get wound up by whether we are going for the hype or not, feel comfortable with "our" christmas and accept that. My belief is though that as people we are like bank accounts emotionally, if we give all the time we end up in the red, we need to have something put back in, otherwise we'll get overdrawn. Christmas, regardless of whether it's a mink coat or a bag of chocolate coins that's given to you, is a deposit and is better than any charity donation, that we do all year round. Christmas provides a reason to accept things whether we like it or not.

[daisy48]

I think we're blessed to be able to say "There's nothing I need". My hubby and dont buy for each other anymore as there's nowt we ever want but we give our adult kids the money now,much easier. For my inlaw's easy. Sherry for my MIL with her fave smellie's and Whisky for my FIL with a giant bar of choc.

[bubblegum-31]

i couldnt care less whether i get any presents for xmas or not and im being honest, as long as my kids get plenty and are happy, just seeing their faces light up on christmas morning is a present for me i love it

[daisy48]

Huh! Why was reply reported?

[WendyS]

Not me reporting your reply Daisy. It seemed a perfectly innocuous response to me, but I've occasionally had questions or replies removed and never understood why

[daisy48]

Weird eh Wendy? LOL I left out the MY:-/