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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.
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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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_%28shopping%29
How apt!
Keep it in December and then go at it 100%. It'll be much more enjoyable that way.
We seem to be giving more and more to the Government and what do they do for us?
I will be avoiding Sales in January because we will be hit by a massive 20% VAT on practically everything!
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!!!
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.
Celebrities have taken over the UK. Lets call it Celebrities Christmas!!
BANTA