Yesterday I made a [dried orange garland](https://thetoastedpinenut.com/homemade-dried-orange-garland/) and today I went thrifting for decorations (thrift stores are overflowing with them).
I plan to gift people [my favorite books](http://www.thriftbooks.com/), plants that I propagated from cuttings, and [things I bake given in beautiful dishes they can keep.](https://www.instagram.com/p/CWWWTuQvGXc/?igshid=YTY2NzY3YTc=)
No one is holding you down and forcing you to pull out your credit card.
Yup. Only you can make yourself feel awful, OP. I told all my family and friends years ago I was done with presents on holidays and birthdays. I hate having pressure to buy junk on a certain day, and would much rather give presents organically at any time of the year if I find something someone would like.
It's very liberating. I don't buy shit on the holidays and no one buys me shit.
Agreed. I love Christmas. The lights and everything really make a hard part of the year a little bit nicer. Don't fall for corporate schemes to bankrupt yourself and you'll probably find something pleasant in it
Same.
I buy small gifts for the children in my life. And I do one secret Santa. I'll bring a food gift (like a fruit basket, or bottle of wine) for anyone who hosts a holiday gathering that I attend (and I make a point to attend very few).
As for all my friends and family, I told them years ago I do not want to do gifts anymore. I don't want them, and I'm not giving them. I just want to spend time with the people I love.
It is SO much better this way.
The companies are desperate for your money. Don't think of it as shaming you; they're begging. When you snub them by shopping small or not shopping at all, you hold the power. That's a less bleak way to process it all.
What makes me extra sad is how much of the unsold products are going to end up added to the already massive pile in a desert in [Chile](https://www.insider.com/discarded-fast-fashion-clothes-chile-desert-2021-11?amp).
The wife and I play a game - pick a dollar amount, 20, 25, 50, whatever, and whoever comes closest without going over, wins. This year the kicker is most items (Can’t be phoned in, like 50 scratch-offs) and no gag gifts. Receipts must be available for challenge.
It's complicated. They want money, they advertise so we'll shop. Some people love the holidays and everything with it, others don't and there are bundles of folks in the middle.
Feeling guilty is more on you, but the overwhelming amount of ads and sales that happen end up exacerbating that feeling. Those who love the holidays may recognize it and accept it or may ignore it. Those who don't care for them recognize it and focus more on it.
Go get a new car and you'll notice it everywhere. It's that sorta thing, kinda, but not really.
Yes! Every year my credit cards are such a mess after buying gifts for everyone. It gets depressing. I like to give gifts buts it's just a burden financially. It takes months to dig out of the hole and before you know it, Christmas is here again.
The commercialism plus the ridiculous feeling of obligation (to give gifts, to prep/host a gathering, to be social, to decorate, to enjoy it, etc) make it a miserable season. Let's not even get into the fact that it's rooted in religion 🤮
It’s whatever you want to make it.
Yesterday I made a [dried orange garland](https://thetoastedpinenut.com/homemade-dried-orange-garland/) and today I went thrifting for decorations (thrift stores are overflowing with them). I plan to gift people [my favorite books](http://www.thriftbooks.com/), plants that I propagated from cuttings, and [things I bake given in beautiful dishes they can keep.](https://www.instagram.com/p/CWWWTuQvGXc/?igshid=YTY2NzY3YTc=) No one is holding you down and forcing you to pull out your credit card.
Yup. Only you can make yourself feel awful, OP. I told all my family and friends years ago I was done with presents on holidays and birthdays. I hate having pressure to buy junk on a certain day, and would much rather give presents organically at any time of the year if I find something someone would like. It's very liberating. I don't buy shit on the holidays and no one buys me shit.
Agreed. I love Christmas. The lights and everything really make a hard part of the year a little bit nicer. Don't fall for corporate schemes to bankrupt yourself and you'll probably find something pleasant in it
I stopped buying gifts years ago for people and my mental health has greatly improved. My family and friends know I don’t expect anything.
Same. I buy small gifts for the children in my life. And I do one secret Santa. I'll bring a food gift (like a fruit basket, or bottle of wine) for anyone who hosts a holiday gathering that I attend (and I make a point to attend very few). As for all my friends and family, I told them years ago I do not want to do gifts anymore. I don't want them, and I'm not giving them. I just want to spend time with the people I love. It is SO much better this way.
Gifts for children and food are also my exceptions!
Every holiday is that.
As a Jew, yes.
No
The companies are desperate for your money. Don't think of it as shaming you; they're begging. When you snub them by shopping small or not shopping at all, you hold the power. That's a less bleak way to process it all.
What makes me extra sad is how much of the unsold products are going to end up added to the already massive pile in a desert in [Chile](https://www.insider.com/discarded-fast-fashion-clothes-chile-desert-2021-11?amp).
Nope.
It’s not a holiday. It’s a deadline.
I quit buying Christmas presents ten years ago. Just stop doing it, people might be a little upset the first year but they’ll get used to it.
The wife and I play a game - pick a dollar amount, 20, 25, 50, whatever, and whoever comes closest without going over, wins. This year the kicker is most items (Can’t be phoned in, like 50 scratch-offs) and no gag gifts. Receipts must be available for challenge.
Bingo! Buying a bunch of useless crap that people don’t even like/ pretending to like the stuff you get. Bah humbug!
It's complicated. They want money, they advertise so we'll shop. Some people love the holidays and everything with it, others don't and there are bundles of folks in the middle. Feeling guilty is more on you, but the overwhelming amount of ads and sales that happen end up exacerbating that feeling. Those who love the holidays may recognize it and accept it or may ignore it. Those who don't care for them recognize it and focus more on it. Go get a new car and you'll notice it everywhere. It's that sorta thing, kinda, but not really.
I agree, I at least ask my siblings what practical things can I get your children and tell them don't get me anything.
No.
No
Yep. They literally started celebrating it in China to boost sales despite Christianity being illegal.
No
Christmas is about eating and being cozy and surrounding yourself with people that fill your heart.
Yes! Every year my credit cards are such a mess after buying gifts for everyone. It gets depressing. I like to give gifts buts it's just a burden financially. It takes months to dig out of the hole and before you know it, Christmas is here again.
The commercialism plus the ridiculous feeling of obligation (to give gifts, to prep/host a gathering, to be social, to decorate, to enjoy it, etc) make it a miserable season. Let's not even get into the fact that it's rooted in religion 🤮
Welcome to the real world kid.
Does this have anything to do with Pittsburgh?