What, if anything, are you doing to combat the comercialism of theseason? OT, but WTH

Sherry's post about the commercialism of the holidays got me thinking.
Some years money is really tight and we don't have a choice but to keep
the season simple. Other years we have plenty of money and the hard
thing is not to go overboard with giving. Last year was a tight year
and I just handed each person $20, took them to the dollar store, and
said, "bring in Christmas." I don't remember much of it, as I had that
really bad flu that was going around, but everyone said they enjoyed
themselves.

But what about this year, when we will have some extra money after
re-financing the house, and the temptation to put the dollars where the
heart is will be there? I talked it over with Rob, and we're talking
about handing each person $140 and saying bring it on in. That is $20
per person we're buying for, including the pets. We might buy a couple
of movies or a family present, but that depends on how much money we get
back from the escrow, and how much we put on the bills.

We're also going to cut down on the baked goodies, and the hype. Our
biggest event will be to drive around the neighborhood scoping out the
lights. We'll watch movies and relax.

Our most cherished New Years Eve tradition is to rent a bunch of movies,
order a pizza, and watch them all. We pause at Midnight to pound pan
lids together or set off a few fireworks, but that's it.

So, what are you doing to lessen the commercialism of the season? What
are your most cherished traditions of the season?

Pam S.

On Tue 23 Nov 2004 10:26:59p, Tanada wrote in
rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
hlink.net):

So, what are you doing to lessen the commercialism of the
season? What are your most cherished traditions of the season?

My mother has emphatically told us (kids) that this year, we are not
to buy her or my dad presents for Christmas. They want us to take
that money and spend it on a needy family that they were "given" and
buy them things that they need. A daughter of good friends of theirs
volunteers for a group that tries to provide the necessities of life
to families that they find out about. One family is assigned to any
who want to help them. After reading your post (I haven't caught up
yet, so I haven't seen the thread with Sherry's post that you're
referring to) that I'm going to tell my mom that I don't want
presents, either, and that whatever they would spend on me should go
to the "family".

--
Cheryl

On Tue 23 Nov 2004 10:26:59p, Tanada wrote in
rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
hlink.net):

So, what are you doing to lessen the commercialism of the
season? What are your most cherished traditions of the season?

My mother has emphatically told us (kids) that this year, we are not
to buy her or my dad presents for Christmas. They want us to take
that money and spend it on a needy family that they were "given" and
buy them things that they need. A daughter of good friends of theirs
volunteers for a group that tries to provide the necessities of life
to families that they find out about. One family is assigned to any
who want to help them. After reading your post (I haven't caught up
yet, so I haven't seen the thread with Sherry's post that you're
referring to) that I'm going to tell my mom that I don't want
presents, either, and that whatever they would spend on me should go
to the "family".

--
Cheryl

"Tanada" wrote in message
link.net...

So, what are you doing to lessen the commercialism of the season? What
are your most cherished traditions of the season?

Now that my parents have two grandchildren to think about, we are going to
stop the madness and concentrate on the people who enkoy Christmas - the
kids. If you ask any of us adults we all just grown and secretly admit we
don't enjoy the season at all - its just one big horrible hassle, fighting
people inthe shops, worrying about what to get and making sure every body
get sthe same value, and don't even *start* me on my ungrateful self centred
rude obnoxious selfish in-laws (oh, wait, I started anyway) that we have to
deal with.

So, for my relatives at least (Joel won't be talked out of spending far too
much on his, he's trying to compensate because their mother passed away and
a father (or stepfather in Joel's case) doesn't give a fig about his
children) each couple is going to buy 1, just one, $20 gift for each of the
two other couples in the family, and concentrate on Cary and his cousin,
Sarah. Of course, that still means I have to figure out what to get Sarah,
who, much like Cary, will be far more interested in the ribbons and wrapping
paper than whatever is on the inside, but at least we won't go nuts this
year.

As to Joel's family, I'm trying very hard to adopt the Christmas spirit with
them and be thankful that I have enough that we can give them something,
despite the fact that they couldn't be bothered to give anything - and I'm
not just talking about material things - in return.

Yowie

"Tanada" wrote in message
link.net...

So, what are you doing to lessen the commercialism of the season? What
are your most cherished traditions of the season?

Now that my parents have two grandchildren to think about, we are going to
stop the madness and concentrate on the people who enkoy Christmas - the
kids. If you ask any of us adults we all just grown and secretly admit we
don't enjoy the season at all - its just one big horrible hassle, fighting
people inthe shops, worrying about what to get and making sure every body
get sthe same value, and don't even *start* me on my ungrateful self centred
rude obnoxious selfish in-laws (oh, wait, I started anyway) that we have to
deal with.

So, for my relatives at least (Joel won't be talked out of spending far too
much on his, he's trying to compensate because their mother passed away and
a father (or stepfather in Joel's case) doesn't give a fig about his
children) each couple is going to buy 1, just one, $20 gift for each of the
two other couples in the family, and concentrate on Cary and his cousin,
Sarah. Of course, that still means I have to figure out what to get Sarah,
who, much like Cary, will be far more interested in the ribbons and wrapping
paper than whatever is on the inside, but at least we won't go nuts this
year.

As to Joel's family, I'm trying very hard to adopt the Christmas spirit with
them and be thankful that I have enough that we can give them something,
despite the fact that they couldn't be bothered to give anything - and I'm
not just talking about material things - in return.

Yowie

Dennis and I have never really been into the whole gift thing. Sounds
unromantic, but we'd just prefer to buy something for ourselves,
together. For xmas, we'd much rather get together with friends and
family and bring a nice dish of food, or dessert, or some wine and
have a good time talking.
My parents long ago told me to stop giving them gifts, and they don't
get me anything either. It's so great, I love it this way. No
hassles, no pressure. I can enjoy the season. I mean, we do bring
them souvenirs from Thailand when we go home. But we don't send xmas
presents or birthday presents. And we wouldn't be buying presents if
we still lived there. It's just too commercial and you never end up
with what you wanted anyway.
--
Britta
Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's
covered in fur!
Check out pictures of Vino at:
http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album



"Tanada" wrote in message
link.net...
Sherry's post about the commercialism of the holidays got me
thinking.
Some years money is really tight and we don't have a choice but to
keep
the season simple. Other years we have plenty of money and the hard
thing is not to go overboard with giving. Last year was a tight
year
and I just handed each person $20, took them to the dollar store,
and
said, "bring in Christmas." I don't remember much of it, as I had
that
really bad flu that was going around, but everyone said they enjoyed
themselves.

But what about this year, when we will have some extra money after
re-financing the house, and the temptation to put the dollars where
the
heart is will be there? I talked it over with Rob, and we're
talking
about handing each person $140 and saying bring it on in. That is
$20
per person we're buying for, including the pets. We might buy a
couple
of movies or a family present, but that depends on how much money we
get
back from the escrow, and how much we put on the bills.

We're also going to cut down on the baked goodies, and the hype.
Our
biggest event will be to drive around the neighborhood scoping out
the
lights. We'll watch movies and relax.

Our most cherished New Years Eve tradition is to rent a bunch of
movies,
order a pizza, and watch them all. We pause at Midnight to pound
pan
lids together or set off a few fireworks, but that's it.

So, what are you doing to lessen the commercialism of the season?
What
are your most cherished traditions of the season?

Pam S.

Dennis and I have never really been into the whole gift thing. Sounds
unromantic, but we'd just prefer to buy something for ourselves,
together. For xmas, we'd much rather get together with friends and
family and bring a nice dish of food, or dessert, or some wine and
have a good time talking.
My parents long ago told me to stop giving them gifts, and they don't
get me anything either. It's so great, I love it this way. No
hassles, no pressure. I can enjoy the season. I mean, we do bring
them souvenirs from Thailand when we go home. But we don't send xmas
presents or birthday presents. And we wouldn't be buying presents if
we still lived there. It's just too commercial and you never end up
with what you wanted anyway.
--
Britta
Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's
covered in fur!
Check out pictures of Vino at:
http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album



"Tanada" wrote in message
link.net...
Sherry's post about the commercialism of the holidays got me
thinking.
Some years money is really tight and we don't have a choice but to
keep
the season simple. Other years we have plenty of money and the hard
thing is not to go overboard with giving. Last year was a tight
year
and I just handed each person $20, took them to the dollar store,
and
said, "bring in Christmas." I don't remember much of it, as I had
that
really bad flu that was going around, but everyone said they enjoyed
themselves.

But what about this year, when we will have some extra money after
re-financing the house, and the temptation to put the dollars where
the
heart is will be there? I talked it over with Rob, and we're
talking
about handing each person $140 and saying bring it on in. That is
$20
per person we're buying for, including the pets. We might buy a
couple
of movies or a family present, but that depends on how much money we
get
back from the escrow, and how much we put on the bills.

We're also going to cut down on the baked goodies, and the hype.
Our
biggest event will be to drive around the neighborhood scoping out
the
lights. We'll watch movies and relax.

Our most cherished New Years Eve tradition is to rent a bunch of
movies,
order a pizza, and watch them all. We pause at Midnight to pound
pan
lids together or set off a few fireworks, but that's it.

So, what are you doing to lessen the commercialism of the season?
What
are your most cherished traditions of the season?

Pam S.

badwilson wrote:

My parents long ago told me to stop giving them gifts, and they don't
get me anything either. It's so great, I love it this way. No
hassles, no pressure. I can enjoy the season. I mean, we do bring
them souvenirs from Thailand when we go home. But we don't send xmas
presents or birthday presents. And we wouldn't be buying presents if
we still lived there. It's just too commercial and you never end up
with what you wanted anyway.

That's great. I agree, I find the commercialism so invasive - it's
everywhere! My family celebrates Christmas and they all get together
and exchange gifts. Fortunately for me, I live 3000 miles away from
them so I don't have to deal with it. Yes, we're Jewish, but it's
not uncommon for American Jews to do something on Christmas. As for
me, I stopped celebrating it quite a few years ago.

A few years ago my mother and I started donating to each other's
favorite charitable organizations (usually animal shelters) as an Xmas
gift, but at this point, I can't even afford to do that. So I'm just
telling them to please not send me any gifts, and please don't expect
anything from me. As you say, it's just more *stuff* that nobody needs.

Joyce

badwilson wrote:

My parents long ago told me to stop giving them gifts, and they don't
get me anything either. It's so great, I love it this way. No
hassles, no pressure. I can enjoy the season. I mean, we do bring
them souvenirs from Thailand when we go home. But we don't send xmas
presents or birthday presents. And we wouldn't be buying presents if
we still lived there. It's just too commercial and you never end up
with what you wanted anyway.

That's great. I agree, I find the commercialism so invasive - it's
everywhere! My family celebrates Christmas and they all get together
and exchange gifts. Fortunately for me, I live 3000 miles away from
them so I don't have to deal with it. Yes, we're Jewish, but it's
not uncommon for American Jews to do something on Christmas. As for
me, I stopped celebrating it quite a few years ago.

A few years ago my mother and I started donating to each other's
favorite charitable organizations (usually animal shelters) as an Xmas
gift, but at this point, I can't even afford to do that. So I'm just
telling them to please not send me any gifts, and please don't expect
anything from me. As you say, it's just more *stuff* that nobody needs.

Joyce

Tanada wrote in message
link.net...

So, what are you doing to lessen the commercialism of the season? What
are your most cherished traditions of the season?

Pam S.


I love making the nut roast on Christmas morning with Ade, working together
whilst we listen to the carol service on the local radio station. Neither of
us are Christians, but there's something wonderfully nostalgic about singing
along to those old songs.

Jeanette