Does this time of year piss you off as much as it does me? Once again....like every year...my wife and I get into another damn argument about how much freaking money we are going to spend on presents. Right now we have medical bills up the butt and her she may or may not have a job come January 1st. BUT she is hellbent on buying our children everything under the sun. I know she wants to get them a DVD each from us, and to me..that is all they need. They might get a small present from "Santa" but that should be it. She thinkgs a DVD is not enough...WHY?? When I was a 7 years old all I got was ONE gift and it was awesome. Aparently in this damn day and age they need tons of presents. Though my 7 year old NEVER really asks for anything or needs anything...why wife insists he needs this or that. It ticks me off. I HATE the commercialization of this time of year and can't wait fot it to me over. Sorry for ranting...and trust I LOVE the holiday season...but I hate how money has to be thown into the equation. Oh yeah..and according to my wife...I'm the A**hole. Sorry honey...just trying to make sure we have bills for January and beyond. Is that so much to ask????
I don't have a rant as good as yours Bobblehead. For me, I have no beef with Christmas itself, but I don't like: - Christmas Music all the time . . . I was in Microcenter the other day, and they were playing bad Christmas music -- this is what we have to look forward to for the next month and a half (ugh). I CANNOT stand it - Commercialism -- everyone says they hate this, but then we all buy presents, etc. for people. What I don't like is really just the attitude that a lot of folks have, and how people will go nuts trying to get the "hot" toy of the year - Christmas movies -- except for a few notable exceptions, I can't stand all the (mostly bad) Christmas movies and crap that comes out during this time of year - Santa Claus -- I don't like the whole Santa Claus thing. My parents never did "Santa Claus" for us, so maybe there's just a disconnect. I dunno, I just don't like it. I also tend to feel depressed around Christmas (which as I understand is fairly common). Part of it is how it's dark for so much of the time during winter, and part of it is probably seeing all the happy couples and families and everything, and me being alone. I think as much as anything I just want the season to be over. I like spending the time with my family, I *LOVE* Christmas trees, I enjoy Christmas lights and some Christmas decorations, and I enjoy the Advent season of the church. I don't have any beef with the "Christmas spirit" of giving, etc., but I do wonder why we can't have that spirit all the time, rather than just during one month of the year. Oh, I almost forgot -- the other thing I hate is receiving presents. I've never been comfortable receiving presents (I have no idea why), and fwiw I don't ever really need anything. I tell everyone that if they are hell-bent on giving me something, donate money to a charity or something along those lines. But no one ever does that -- instead I usually get a bunch of stuff that I don't need and usually don't really want.
Each kid should get 3 presents minimum...even if your on a budget. I also hate when people try to use the "when I was growing up...I only got such and such"...like that applies to the family line going forward. Does that apply to things like..."oh...when I was growing up...my Dad beat the crap out of me with a belt until I was purple on the back of my legs and couldn't sit down...so why should my kids be raised any different"?
A DVD isnt a very fun present. I mean, you watch it once, then you know whats gonna happen. Cant you find some other gifts for your kids and still stay within the budget? Hell a new NBA basketball is about the price of a DVD and encourages active kids.....or a bunch of nerf stuff....or anything to keep your kids away from the idiot box.....
Ah the time of year when mass amounts of people suddenly get shot-up with a dose of stupidity all while credit card companies rejoice...a scam I tell you, a scam.
On one hand, I definitely agree with you that someone needs to take responsibility and be aware of what needs to be budgeted to handle the important things; you don't want to be stuck not able to pay the bills. That is pretty vital. On the other hand, a DVD would be the ****iest Christmas ever.
I blame X-tians for X-Mas. We have to do someting about X-tianity. Maybe not banning and persecuting them, but a little repression wouldn't hurt. Other religions do sensible things on their holidays-- like slaughtering goats and ****. You guys should convert. As for the children, just keep it real with them, tell them you don't have money right now and Santa hates children of parents who do not have money.
Man, you get no sympathy from me. When I was growing up, we didn't have a lot of bread, but Christmas was always wonderful. I had a stay-at-home Mom, and Dad worked two or three jobs (the university didn't pay a great deal until he became a department chair). Maybe it was growing up during the Depression, but Dad was busting his butt to do what he could for our standard of living. We didn't get hugely expensive presents, but we got a whole bunch of stuff, and it always seemed to be what we really wanted. I remember getting a new bike, shiny and sitting under the tree, and I was ecstatic. It didn't matter that it wasn't the best in the neighborhood, or even close to it. I would try to get into the spirit, man. What's a DVD? Heck, you can rent one. Use your imagination. Surely, you guys can come up with a bunch of things that won't break the bank. By the way, I'm agnostic, but I have always loved Christmas and the season, and still do. Good luck!
this is exactly why i stopped shopping for holidays. everyone expects to get a gift, and when they don't get what they want, they just return it. it's a waste of my time. i only give out presents when it's least expected. they appreciate it more. people think i'm just being a cheapass, but i don't give a ****. i'm not wasting my time shopping just b/c it's the holidays.
Great post... Personally, I think buying present for everyone you know is just asinine. However, buying presents for your own children (including step, adopted, or out of wedlock) is fine, but no need to do it beyond your means. So maybe we can come up with gift ideas that don't cost a ton? How old are your kids? What do they like to do (besides watching DVD)?
Christmas - A time when corporations apply maximum pressure to get people to spend money they don't have to buy crap no one wants for people they don't like. Get the kids what you can afford, have a nice family gathering. (and buy yourself a bigscreen!) One could say about religion: The desire of illusion is fulfillment.
I hate X-mas when you grow up and there are no kids around. Then, it is an exercise in futility. And, my brother always has to go out and buy the farm. He will buy everyone a ton of gifts...mostly stuff that you don't need. He's always gotta do everything for everyone. I hate living in the shadow of that. I don't even try to upstage him when it comes to shopping for gifts. I just let him have it all his way. Every year...same crap. He always goes overboard. You may find it ridiculous for one to complain about a brother who goes overboard every X-mas year. But, I find people who do that seem to have some kind of materialistic approach to trying to make people happy. It really does sicken me. I would be happy to exchange one or no gifts every X-mas going forward. The biggest thing is...noone in my family really needs anything. Noones is holding out on anything. It really is futile. So, yes, I hate it now. I loved X-mas growing up, though.
