We went to the pub and had burgers and beer on Friday night and then did some Christmas shopping afterwards. The problem was...we bought nothing. Nothing made the grade giftwise and we are very careful with the Christmas budget. Even though we were not looking to buy any more Christmas crap $9 for a Christmas ornament? Really? Mass produced yet and not even hand made. Obviously we are the minority as others seemed to be snapping this crap up in a somewhat economically depressed area. What is wrong with people? These are the same ones who are the first to complain when gasoline for their six cylinder truck shoots up from $1.08 CAD per litre to $1.29 CAD per litre overnight. Come to your senses!
I know, I know, I am talking to already converted people on this blog but the public just keep burying themselves in more debt.
People are still losing jobs. More charities than ever before are vying for the same dollars.
I just needed to vent....
I get it- we had a heck of time doing our shopping for the kids. We had to really look at and judge what each product was..no always easy. I hope we managed to have fewer items- but well made, interesting, inventive toys etc... for our kids....It was especially hard for our 9 yr old DD--Just WHAT are toy makers ( and we) teaching our girls anyway? We are also NOT buying anymore ornaments- strictly homemade here ( although we do cheat and buy premade wooden from or fancy paper with which to start)
ReplyDeleteKids love homemade ornaments - they feel like they have a hand in things. Our shopping is going much slower this year with so much thought to both the object and price. Parents with young kids have a landmine at the stores to figure out this Christmas.
DeleteI get it, too. And it's not just crap stuff folks are spending money on. It's crap food, crap entertainment... it's crap all the way down! What really irritates me is seeing what crap food stamps are buying.
ReplyDeleteI know, we have almost entirely cut entertainment out of our budget except once a month a restaurant outing. If push came to shove that would go too. I never see first run movies - if you wait you figure out what the really good ones are. I just finally saw the third movie Eclipse - might actually rent the fourth one. Won't see the fifth until it comes out on DVD. Scratch made food is better for you and costs less - it does take more work but there is a bigger payoff in the end.
DeleteI'm totally with you! We have never had this hard of a time picking out gifts, but this year it just feels like there's more crap than ever lining the shelves. It's getting harder to find something that will last & stand the test of time. We rarely buy ornaments anymore since we love crafting them, so the only purchases I've really made so far are some more crafting supplies for gifts & ornaments. Hopefully more people will come around & realize handmade is better & Christmas is about family not cheap plastic toys:)
ReplyDeleteI look at all the ornaments on my tree and about 30% are made by different members of my family including the kids when they were little. Kids don't even want or like all the stuff that is out there. If a kid has one cool toy three cool toys does not make him any happier.
DeleteThis year I'm making and thrifting all my gifts and avoid retail like the plague. Full stop. I think the same thing while out shopping and can't understand it either. It's an economic depression, yet people are out there shopping like crazy? Hmmm...I think I'll just get my winter garden started instead :)
ReplyDeleteWinter garden sounds good - some people still don't get that retail does not equal happiness.
DeleteI am so loving the fact that I have no desire to add more stuff to my life! I went into the local $2 shop the other day looking for something specific (but I can't remember what it was!) and the amount of cheap imported Christmas decorations that were in there. OMG. Stuff everywhere! And I was so delighted not to bring any of it home! Yay me!
ReplyDeleteYeah, it makes you run to minimalism, doesn't it?
DeleteMy sons said they don't want anything for Xmas so we are skipping gifts this year. They will still get their new pjs (bought at Superstore and got one $10 gift card when I spent $50), a silly t shirt (ThinkGeek and got one half off with the other two) and their stocking stuffers, all on sale. I plan to knit them all Dead Fish hats from my yarn stash, pattern is free on Knitty.
ReplyDeleteI love gag gifts - great idea!
Delete