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Christmas is far too commercial these days

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Can anyone remember a time when Christmas wasn't about hammering the plastic or digging so deep into your bank account overdraft facility that you would still be trying to shovel your way out of debt for the next six months?

Personally I think that the whole commercial thing has gone way too far.  Christmas used to be a time spent with family and friends. We'd of course exchange a few gifts but we would have put some thought into it and it was about giving someone something that you thought they would appreciate.

These days Christmas is nothing more than a massive shopping exercise where stressed out shoppers tear up and down the high street laden with carrier bags full of pre-packaged and impersonal gift sets.  The shelves of the high street retailers are packed with boxes of identical bath sets and useless overpriced gadgets.  It's a kind of weird two-sided feeding frenzy with the high street shops on one side keen to unload all this junk and make as much profit as possible.  On the other side we have hoards of manic shoppers eager to spend whatever is left in their bank account or credit card.

Christmas is too commercial these days So consumer spending is supposed to be good for the economy is it?  But what about the current level of debt carried by people in the UK on loans and credit cards?   What about the recent soaring oil prices which will inevitably lead to increased transportation costs and home energy bills?   What about the state of the UK property market?  We have over inflated house prices and mortgage lenders still happy to dole out mortgages to prospective buyers that can barely afford them!   I reckon as a nation it's time to draw in the purse strings and think a little before hitting the plastic this year.

lining the pockets of some fat cat...

Why not for a change instead of splashing out at M&S and the like; go into your local Oxfam shop or Help the Aged charity shops and pick up a few gifts there instead?   Spread the word to your friends and make this year a charitable Christmas!   Instead of lining the pockets of some fat cat or inflating the share prices of some big brand name you will be spreading a bit of Christmas cheer to someone who really needs it.

After all, that is what this is about isn't it?


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BANTA

BANTA

BANTA
28/12/15 BANTA
-2
The Gloom Begins

The Gloom Begins

Americans call the day after Thanksgiving, the traditional day when shopping for Christmas presents begins, Black Friday!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_%28shopping%29

How apt!
17/11/13 The Gloom Begins
2
Samson (Delilah's too busy to post)

Samson (Delilah's too busy to post)

It's a real shame isn't it because it 'thins it out' so to speak. When I was a child Christmas was a special time. The build up started in early December and culminated in 2 or 3 special days. Now it is almost 25% of the year and it feels somewhat diluted as a result. Being an adult also has an obvious impact but I do think it would be so much better for everyone if it reverted to the old ways. I'm not a huge fan of 'the good ol days' as they generally weren't that great, but Christmas is one a few exceptions.

Keep it in December and then go at it 100%. It'll be much more enjoyable that way.
15/11/13 Samson (Delilah's too busy to post)
-6
Greed is Evil

Greed is Evil

It's November 15th. There's already a Santa's Grotto in our local shopping mall. There should be no sign of Xmas before Advent. Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before December 25. That should be well nigh early enough for the greediest of the commercialists. I sincerely hope the Santa's Grotto fails as a business. It look quite uninviting anyway.
15/11/13 Greed is Evil
5
Alien 3

Alien 3

Oi ! I agree and am sick of having Christmas stuff appearing in September. It's pathetic the way people fall for it. There needs to be a national law against advertising anything Christmas related before November. One day it probably will begin in August. Sad.
03/09/13 Alien 3
4
Oi

Oi

Let's resurrect this great gripe as to my complete bewilderment running through Freeview channels this morning (searching in vain for something to entertain through the ever increasing shopping channels), I alight upon bid tv who in their wisdom are running a campaign "let's get ready for Christmas". It's the 3rd SEPTEMBER!!! Sooner or later someone is going to break the barrier and start going on about this commercial cash cow time of year in August. What is the matter with these people? The media have a lot to answer for.
03/09/13 Oi
-6
rednose

rednose

Yes, xmas is now a commercial matter and the true meaning has been pretty much lost.
07/12/12 rednose
-11
Who voted for this damn govern

Who voted for this damn govern

20% VAT - reminds me when the Tories hit us with the heavy duty Poll Tax and it stayed with us forever.

We seem to be giving more and more to the Government and what do they do for us?
15/12/10 Who voted for this damn govern
-13
Who voted for this damn govern

Who voted for this damn govern

I am absolutely broke too! I cannot afford Christmas and I will be in serious debt when the Sales start.
I will be avoiding Sales in January because we will be hit by a massive 20% VAT on practically everything!
15/12/10 Who voted for this damn govern
-16
xxxx

xxxx

Reflecting on this article again, YES Christmas is too COMMERCIAL!!l Bl**dy VAT is going up 20% in January 2011 !!!! Is this legal! Tories live in the middle ages - TAX, TAX, TAX and give to the RICH.
It makes me so angry that we work just to pay bills, taxes, bills, taxes and if anything is leftover, well I feel guilty to buy myself the smallest treat! Meanwhile, the filthy RICH demand more from us.

Bl**dy Xmas ! It has made me totally broke!!!
15/12/10 xxxx
-20
xxxx

xxxx

Why is Scrooge your hero, 'Abolish Christmas'?
Putting Christmas aside, Scrooge was a nasty employer who expected people to work till late for a pittance. All he care for was his money. He never helped anyone and never wanted to.
Scrooge came to his senses, eventually and took the opportunity to help and joined in the Christmas spirit.
I think you are a lonely, old miserable person who hates the world.
15/12/10 xxxx
-6
Abolish Christmas

Abolish Christmas

Scrooge is my hero. Christmas is for sickies. For greedy, nasty people. Think of the billions we are pouring down the drain towards the oriental economies. Xmas is an economic disaster for Britain.
15/12/10 Abolish Christmas
-4
Celebrities rule ok

Celebrities rule ok

I love Christmas but omg, it has turned into Barbie world. I now Burlesque has become a product added to the Christmas spirit. They talk about burlesque like it is the same as going to the hairdressers.

Celebrities have taken over the UK. Lets call it Celebrities Christmas!!
15/12/10 Celebrities rule ok
-1
Mark

Mark

Quite simple - don't send any Christmas cards. Actually, I haven't bothered sending any for a few years now and thankfully people have almost stopped sending them to me. The eCard equivalents are much more fun and you don't have to carry a bag of old ones up to the supermarket to be recycled in January. Such a waste of resources because some many people feel they have to send out cards because everyone else is doing it. Look, if you were more thoughtful, considerate and friendly to the people you know throughout the rest of the year you wouldn't feel obliged to make such a special effort at this time of year!
13/12/10 Mark
5
Stop Xmas

Stop Xmas

How can I avoid sending any Christmas cards this year?
13/12/10 Stop Xmas
5

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