Consumer Christmas

[chouchouu]

I'm a member of a parenting forum and noticed some interesting customs regarding Christmas presents.

-parents giving their kids catalogues and asking them to write out a list of what they want. So if their kid doesn't actually want something they will push them to find something. Parents were actually complaining that their kids weren't interested in anything. It's just creating wants and then the parents go on to complain about how expensive Christmas is.

-everything is brand name. It's not a "doctors kit" it's a "DocMcStuffins check up centre" instead of a train set its a "power wheels Thomas the train with track" it seems that more than half the products need to be mentioned by brand and some are all brand so you're not even sure exactly what the product is. Nobody gives their child just a blanket, it's a Minnie Mouse plush blanket, a minions t-shirt and under armour hoodie.

-so many toys with supposed "learning" features. Baby tablets and things that sing the alphabet.

-people justifying buying mountains of stuff because "they just love Christmas" and want their kids to have a proper Christmas. Because obviously if you're not buying everyone stuff they don't need then you're ebenezer Scrooge and have no Christmas spirit. Bah humbug!

-people not listening to their kids and deciding that they need something bigger and better. So when someone's kid wants fancy sand instead they decide that's too messy and even though that's the only thing the kid wants instead they've bought them an x-box because obviously kid will love it more. I find this really sad. If the kid wants one simple thing for Christmas I don't think it's too much to set out a blanket and let them go to town. Their natural curiosity is being stifled in favor of the brightest and shiniest and then the parents complain about how expensive their kids are when that's what they've set them up for.

What are your thoughts?

[argonaut_astronaut]

...obviously if you're not buying everyone stuff they don't need then you're ebenezer Scrooge and have no Christmas spirit. Bah humbug!

I have been called scrooge more than once over the last few days. My kiddos are young still and have few expectations for christmas, but I can already see the consumer conditioning being laid down.

[Mr.Tako]

Funny - I just did a post about how to have a proper Christmas without spending gobs of money:

http://www.mrtakoescapes.com/2015/12/16/free-holiday-ideas-to-avoid-capitalist-christmas/

We have a 'proper' Christmas with presents and have guests over.  The biggest expense for us would have to be the food for the guests.  I haven't been able to convince them to eat rice and beans yet.

[Jeddy]

Someone on this forum once posted their Christmas rule to buy their child(ren) that I found to be fantastic:

1. Something you want
2. Something you need
3. Something to wear
4. Something to read

I thought that was perfect - four items that cover all the bases - a needed item, an item that the child truly wants, a clothing item, and a book. With four items, you can't really go overboard. It also sets the rules ahead of time so the child isn't upset that they didn't get 400 gifts. It encourages continued interest in reading. If the child makes a list for you/santa, they spend more thought on what item they truly need and what item they truly want - I think this pushes the idea that you don't want and/or need EVERYTHING, so take some care in looking at what you truly want/need - I think this will help as they get older too.

In terms of what everyone else is doing - ignore the noise

[chouchouu]

...obviously if you're not buying everyone stuff they don't need then you're ebenezer Scrooge and have no Christmas spirit. Bah humbug!

I have been called scrooge more than once over the last few days. My kiddos are young still and have few expectations for christmas, but I can already see the consumer conditioning being laid down.

I wonder how that is going to go for us in the future. My kids are three, they assume Santa is going to bring them one thing and that's what they will be told. As it is I've bought them one or two things each year and then they've received gifts from numerous other people. Last year a friend came over with several gifts from her alone, which was really annoying! Luckily our family tend to be very minimal in their own Christmas so I think that's the vibe the kids will generally get.

[chouchouu]

Funny - I just did a post about how to have a proper Christmas without spending gobs of money:

http://www.mrtakoescapes.com/2015/12/16/free-holiday-ideas-to-avoid-capitalist-christmas/

We have a 'proper' Christmas with presents and have guests over.  The biggest expense for us would have to be the food for the guests.  I haven't been able to convince them to eat rice and beans yet.

Food prices have generally gone down enough that I can generally absorb the christmas food into the regular food budget. Frozen turkeys are $25 at Aldi and can make a few meals. Many friends have made us Christmas foods so it really adds to the festivity of the season! Some good ideas from your article. We have a roll of butchers paper and the kids can decorate and draw on it for gift wrap. I bought them some Christmas themed stamps so they will be able to make Christmas wrapping paper for years to come!

[chouchouu]

Someone on this forum once posted their Christmas rule to buy their child(ren) that I found to be fantastic:

1. Something you want
2. Something you need
3. Something to wear
4. Something to read

I thought that was perfect - four items that cover all the bases - a needed item, an item that the child truly wants, a clothing item, and a book. With four items, you can't really go overboard. It also sets the rules ahead of time so the child isn't upset that they didn't get 400 gifts. It encourages continued interest in reading. If the child makes a list for you/santa, they spend more thought on what item they truly need and what item they truly want - I think this pushes the idea that you don't want and/or need EVERYTHING, so take some care in looking at what you truly want/need - I think this will help as they get older too.

In terms of what everyone else is doing - ignore the noise

I've seen that one around and it's a nice idea but we just keep it to two gifts in our household. One from us and one from Santa. They actually have a ton of books I got from a library closing down. Mil sends clothes for Christmas and I buy stuff and keep it in a box in their room for when they grow into it. Two gifts I think is quite appropriate in our case.