Bah, Humbug!

[Tekdivr]

Originally Posted by Lulubelle

Precisely why I buy gifts early in the year, so that I don't have to enter retail hell after September. Can't stand it. Hate shopping in general, really hate it when retail world is butchering such an important holiday. Now I actually can enjoy Christmas, and Christmas carols, because I haven't been inundated with them.

+1,000 Start early and use the internet as much as possible.

[snagel]

It's sad when Christmas means, "spend money" "worry about the perfect gift for someone" "If you didn't save up money then watch out for the credit card bills in January". To top it off, turn on the news and hear about the poor retailers who are predicting a lower return this year. Duhhh, a lot of people are out work! The retailers response is to start Christmas in September. I walked into a Lowes store the first week of September this year in shorts and there it was, the Christmas Trees already up.

It literally p!sses me off that Christmas has turned into such an event of spending money. Every year my wife and I talk about setting ground rules with the whole family that you can only spend maybe $25 on a gift for one person in the family and we would try and find the real purpose of Christmas. Doesn't happen with a 15 year old who wants all the latest gadgets and his Grandmother who is willing to spend her retirement on him.

Once again, I'm going to try and get through Christmas and try and remember what it truly means. But, heck, we have to get through Thanksgiving first....what a wonderful holiday, the same as Christmas without all the BS - just food and football.

Sorry for the Rant,

Snagel

[TJDiver]

Stand fast, snagel. My wife and I also tried to do the same for several years, and it finally took. We have convinced most of the family to only buy for the kids...and then, keep it reasonable. My wife's mother was also the biggest obstacle in that effort...and, his aunts. Since my son's Nana and aunts want so badly to spend that money on him, their response was to get him something reasonable...and then, top it off with savings bonds. He probably has between $2000 and $3000 socked away with those things so far. We don't mind that so much...they'll compliment his college fund nicely...and, it's something that builds towards the future, rather than becoming next year's yard sale fodder.

[Diver Kat]

Ever think about the Christmas candy? ... it's been sitting on the store shelves since October - or earlier .....

And I'd at least like to get past Turkey Day before I'm beat over the head with Christmas Muzak, trees and decorations everywhere!

I too am a mostly on-line shopper ... only problem when I shop early? I hide the stuff around the house, then forget where I hid it! One year I found a present for my daughter 3 months after Christmas!!

[redsoxphan]

[scubadiver888]

I find it funny that people associate Scrooge and a negative attitude towards Christmas but in the end Scrooge was a bigger celebrator of Christmas then most other people.

[navyhmc]

Originally Posted by scubadiver888

I find it funny that people associate Scrooge and a negative attitude towards Christmas but in the end Scrooge was a bigger celebrator of Christmas then most other people.

I think that it's hopeful wishing...

[Zeagle Eagle]

Ah,c'mon guys. You can't be serious. I mean who doesn't like Grandma got run over by a reindeer or the chipmunk song.

[scubadiver888]

Originally Posted by Zeagle Eagle

Ah,c'mon guys. You can't be serious. I mean who doesn't like Grandma got run over by a reindeer or the chipmunk song.

YouTube - Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer by Dr. Elmo

[navyhmc]

One of my all time favorite Christmas songs!

I can't search youtube from work, but try to find some of the stuff from the Hampton String Quartet. They have a CD out called "What if Mozart wrote Have Yourself a Merry Christmas" Your favorite Christmas songs set to a string quartet ensemble.

They also have "What if Mozart Wrote Born to be Wild"...