The most wonderful time of the year? I don’t think so. I like the song (when sung properly by a man), but I just cannot agree with the sentiment.
It used to be wonderful when I was a kid. And I’m sure it still is for my kids. But even so, the capitalist takeover has ruined it. Yeah, I know… think about the ‘true meaning‘ of Christmas. But it feels like that is the true meaning at this point… spend and consume and spend more. Besides, the ‘true meaning‘ has always been lost on me. I am not even a little bit religious. I’m not even sure I can honestly say I have a religion at all.
And that whole ‘giving back‘ thing… ‘don’t do gifts at all‘…? Umm… no. My kids would hate me forever… and I wouldn’t blame them. I don’t have much to give but I’m giving it to my kids. And no, just giving them my love isn’t enough. [So corny… Barf.] That’s just not how Christmas is. Christmas was always about Santa to me. Fuck, it’s bad enough that my nephew is a little shit and he brags if he gets more gifts than my kids. I’m not going to have them get nothing!
So… Christmas has become a bit of a nightmare. The crowds everywhere… the traffic… the rampant rudeness… and the needless spending of far too much money… the greed… even the guilt… Ugh. Damn, I hate to even leave the house on the weekends. January can’t come soon enough for me.
Seriously…
Those gifts pushed as ‘stocking stuffers’ that cost $50 or more each? Maybe you’ve got money coming out your ears (or somewhere else), but I think it’s safe to say that most of us don’t. If I actually filled a stocking with these things, I’d already be at least $500 in the hole before I bought anything else. Only $99.99! Makes a great stocking stuffer! Bite me.
All those sales and crazy people freaking out on Black Friday to get televisions and thousand-dollar iPhones and other such large purchases… are they buying gifts? Are they really spending in excess of $1000 on a single present? Does everyone get one? Who gives out giant televisions as Christmas gifts? Damn… I wish I had that kind of money to spare. I still wouldn’t buy those things… but I wish I had the means to do so.
And the overload of cringe-worthy jewelry store commercials on television is nauseating. I have to keep a bucket by the couch so I don’t make a mess when I throw up. That one where the woman keeps dropping hints until the guy catches on…? If you have to ask him to buy it, it’s not the thought that counts because he didn’t think of it. It’s a meaningless piece of metal you guilted him into buying. And all the overly cheesy ones? With their horrible jingles and taglines? Just shoot me.
And the cars. Forget televisions… do people really buy someone a fucking car for Christmas? Maybe I’m a cynical bitch (really, no question) but I think she married him for the money.
I think I’m done bitching now. Probably. Stay tuned, though… I may still post my letter to Santa…
©2017 what sandra thinks
what sandra thinks 
I was gonna mention the car thing, but you beat me to it. I love my wife, a lot, but she’s NOT getting a fucking Lexus for Christmas! To me, and this does not include me by the way, Christmas is about all the things you mentioned, but add excessive debt to that list as well. Credit card debt: the gift that just keeps taking. Resist people! It’s not worth it! 😃
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Oh yes… debt. That’s a big one. Which, I guess, results from all the other stuff.
I wish I was 5 years old. Christmas was so magical… I loved it so much. Now I dread it.
Oh… and then you see those ‘heart-warming’ news stories about some kid who donated all his gifts to the less fortunate… and you feel guilty and crappy. Come on! Is that story really supposed to make me feel good? Bite me!
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Hahaha! Ya’ know, Bite Me would’ve been a good name for your Etsy account! You could be the new Maxine, that Hallmark lady who rails on everything. 😃😃
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Haha! I can still be a sarcastic bitch… but yeah, “bite me” would have been a good name for that. Maybe I can have a collection of “bite me” cards…
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Exactly! There’s a smart assed reaction for EVERY occasion. I’m certain of that. Those would sell like hot cakes. 😃
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Crap… Do I need to set up a second store?!? 😲
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Hahaha! Maybe. I think this might be right in your wheelhouse. 😃
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I think I would do something like “bite me by paperbag designco”… with a modified logo. Because a whole new store is too much… and harder to promote… even though I suck at that anyway…
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Hahaha. You do not suck. Bite? Maybe. But you do not suck. Well…..anyway, you know what I mean. 😃
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Are you just setting these up for me now?? I do suck… under the proper circumstances. 😛
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Hahaha! Would I do such a thing?……😃😃
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Of course you would!
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Maybe. 😈
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Bitch as much as you like – I agree eith you. The season has become way to commercial and stressed mean people in stores…not my cup of tea, the reason I try to use Amazon. The kids (bigger kids now) know that their gift will be a small “token” from me and that I’m the boring Aunty that talks about “presence” over “presents”.
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The spending is out of control. And I feel guilty when I receive gifts, too, because I can’t afford to properly reciprocate… so even receiving is stressful!
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I feel you. Years ago, friends and I decided to simply give each other cards and then simple phone calls to say hey. No one wants the stress.
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I think that’s true. But it does get messy with kids. And I have one sister who always buys gifts even if we agree not to. I get why, though. She is single, works ALL the time so she has the money, and she travels all over Europe for work so she finds little things here and there. But she expects nothing… she’s crazy like that…
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She gets joy from it.
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She does. She’s very generous. I just made her a graphic she wanted for something at work… nothing official… but she told me she was going to pay me! She is nuts!
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Oh oh oh…could she garner up interest for your shop? If she does all that traveling, she could be a perfect networker for you.
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I need to ask her about that. I’ve been nervous to share the “big” shop… the RedBubble one… because of its name. I may need to change it…
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Good opportunity…
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Couldn’t agree more. Three months of stress,queing, traffic jams, then you have to fake happiness when you’re so tired and broke you just want to hide under the duvet! At least its a good excuse to drink more wine!
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I’m not much of a drinker but this is the time of year I have a little!
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There are times when I feel like not minding my own business and offering you suggestions to sway your thinking, because I’m rude like that, but this time I have to say I am aligned with you in so many ways on this issue!
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Hey… if everyone was supposed to mind their own business, my thoughts probably shouldn’t be all laid out for all to read… Just saying… 🙂
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👌😏💙
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I agree! The pressure to spend yourself into oblivion is crazy. Things don’t make you happy, especially when the credit card bills come. The whole system is rigged to guilt you into ‘giving’ what you can’t afford. And its hard on the kids, especially I think. well, it’ll all be over in 2 weeks and we can get on with things….
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Except that my son’s birthday is Jan 19th… It never ends! But… he’s easy. And he’s a good kid who isn’t Mr. Greed. 🙂
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That’s pretty awesome! 🙂
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He does love money, though. I’m glad for that because he’s a saver… 🙂
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Oh good for him! That’s so mature and responsible! And easy for you, as well!
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Yes. He saves up money and chocolate. The chocolate just to make it last… not saving it forever… because eww. 🙂
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Saving chocolate? Is he practicing to be a monk or something? Because… damn! Who saves chocolate?!? 😮
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He wants it to last… it’s like he thinks the world is going to run out of chocolate… LOL. He just ate his last few treats from Halloween last week!
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Letter to Santa? Ah, but have you been a good girl all year? He will know if you haven’t.
I agree, kids have to have presents, but why adults? Most people do not NEED anything as a gift. Make the big decision and, from next year, tell every adult, for whom you normally buy, that you will not be buying presents. Instead you will be donating to a charity (of your choice). We did it years ago!
Occasionally, surprise people and buy them a small gift for no reason at all. It is much more valued. Low value, but useful, such as gardening gloves, books, theatre tickets.
Do it. Santa will be pleased because he will have less to deliver.
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I barely buy for any adults right now. Really it’s just my mother. And those are only small things because she never wants me to spend much on her anyway. But… even if I were to save money by buying fewer gifts, that would be because I need to save money… I still wouldn’t be donating. Maybe I’m the Grinch, but spending less is at least half of the goal… or maybe more than half. Hell, I need people to donate to me! That’s sort of a joke… but my most requested gift for years has been money. I’m jobless. I can’t afford to donate to anything other than my own bills.
And no. I’ve never been a good girl. But I think Santa will understand.
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Giving to charity does not have to involve money. Become a trustee, or governor of a school, help out at a homeless shelter, soup kitchen, whatever you are comfortable with, and before you say you are not comfortable with any of them, DON’T. Just do it.
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It’s not going to happen. I don’t think you fully understand how hard things like that are for me. Impossible, pretty much.
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I do, really I do. I’m just trying to push you a little.
Hugs.
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They really don’t even make it easy to find things like this. If it was required of me, I might be able to do it… but I’m not sure.
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I only buy Christmas presents for my mom and granddad, mainly because they guilt me into doing it. I’ll never forget the 30 min lecture my granddad gave about how buying things for family shows how much you love them. BAH HUMBUG! I hate Christmas shopping.
What I love about Christmas are all the festivities, dinner parties, decorations, spending time loving on family not bribing them, remembering the true meaning–because I am spiritual, not religious (too many negative connotations), but miss me with all that mass commercialism shit. I’m like the Grinch. If I never have to buy a Christmas present ever again I’ll call myself lucky! Ain’t nobody got time for that shit!
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Yes. Everything you said! I do not equate gifts with love. I’m unemployed. I can’t afford to spend a lot. That doesn’t mean I love anyone any less! (It just means I end up with more guilt…)
There are some fun things about Christmas… I agree. I just hate that the commercialism has taken over so excessively.
I also identify closely with the Grinch! 🙂
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Christmas can be a nightmare, indeed. But fear not, I have a Christmas song to cheer you up:
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Oh god… I think I’m deaf now! Also, that thing in his mouth does not look like a musical instrument.
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Bonus! That flutist is amazeballs! 😀
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Yeah, I could use a bonus. 😛
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A bonus is good! 😉
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I hear ya! I dislike Christmas just as much as you do. I don’t do gifts, but not having kids, I can get away with it.
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At this point, I admit, most of my kids’ gifts come from other relatives… not so much from us. We buy them little things randomly throughout the year… because we are crazy. At Christmas, I let my extended family do the majority of the shopping for them.
But yeah… Christmas shopping and gifts… ugh!
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Little things throughout the year sounds like the way to go.
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I think so. Spread the love… 🙂
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Yep! 🙂
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I’m with you in hating Chri$mas! For me, the worst part is thinking about all the emptiness those shoppers are trying to fill.
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Oh, that’s so true. It’s not even satisfying for me. Sure, I want to make someone smile but I don’t need a gift to do that!
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I agree, also. I am ok with Halloween and Thanksgiving, but after that, it looses me for the reasons you gave. It do not get depressed, but I feel frustrated. I am happy and I love to see others happy. But the traffic and crowds are such downers.
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It has become too much. I miss the way it was when I was a kid!
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Gosh yes. I agree with this post so much. I am so sick of seeing all the “gift guide” posts here on WordPress too!! Maybe I need to also keep a trash can nearby so I don’t make a mess when I vomit.
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Haha… Yes, I am done with it! Had a mini meltdown while trying to shop yesterday! Can’t wait until it’s over…
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Aw…hope you’re feeling better! I’ve done all my shopping on Amazon. I can’t handle the shops at all.
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That is the way to do it! I need to hurry now if I want to order so I get everything before Christmas…
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