The Ethics of Christmas Presents

Kentucky Fried Panda · Post by **Kentucky Fried Panda** » 25 Dec 2007, 14:27

This article got me thinking. Or should I say it reinforced my recent Yuletide philosophy.
We all own far too much already, so this year I only gave wine, chocolate and cash. I only gave cards to the neighbours, to maintain good relations really. I got moaned at for asking aloud how many trees die to provide the western world with Christmas cards/wrapping every year.
I didn't wrap any of the gifts, gift bags from last year, so they might be good enough for the recipient to use again for someone else.

Merry Christmas everyone and a bah humbug to you all.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 25 Dec 2007, 15:27

I'm 200 miles from my family, and there was no point anyone sending me cards or presents as I only visit my official "home" once in a blue moon to collect my post, so I might not get them until Easter! So if no one sends me anything I don't feel guilty about not sending them anything

.

Apart from a few Christmassy programmes on the radio it doesn't seem like Christmas anyway. Here in Cornwall the sun's shining, the sky is blue and it looks just like summer from my warm cosy van. I don't have the slightest inclination to succumb to this seasonal consumerism

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 25 Dec 2007, 18:28

Instead of presents to my family, I give money to HIPPO, a small charity run by vegans who specialise in helping African families become self-sufficient in crops and irrigation, whilst being against sending livestock which consumes scarce resources.

Since doing this, one sister is doing the same (contributing to charity) and I've set others thinking about doing the same.

I have everything I want. I don't need anything that anyone is willing to buy me.

rabbit_hop · Post by **rabbit_hop** » 25 Dec 2007, 19:41

Hugely interesting article, Haggis. And well done for sticking to your original idea of wine, chocs and money!

Conscious of the resource plughole that the season inevitably is, and being of a mind to celebrate Yule rather than the traditional Mammonite Christmas, I was initially determined not to accept any gifts "for Christmas". So my original response, when asked what I'd like "for Christmas", was for nothing, or, at a pinch, food... "I don't really want anything, but you can make me a cake or a loaf or something if you'd like."

They would then immediately ask, "But what would you like as a 'proper' gift, I mean, aside from the cake I'm going to make you?"

"Well... nothing, as it happens. The cake will be fine."

"Oh, come on, you must want some 'real' gifts... It's Christmas!"

"But I think I've already got everything I need."

"There must be something you want, surely? How about a...."

And they were desperate to be parted from their cash. Our whole society connives in this, and I gather that it's much worse if you have a T.V. set, because of the endless advertising. We end up feeling duty bound to shower with presents those who themselves feel duty bound to shower us with presents. With the above little vignette playing out repeatedly over the last couple of weeks, and worrying about imminent accusations of bahhumbugdom, I'm afraid I wilted a bit, and under duress agreed to accept (and give) a small number of presents - as long as they fell into one of three categories: practical, edible, or readable! This tat-avoidance scheme seems on the whole to have worked...

Blessed Yule / Merry Christmas to all ... and best hopes for 2008!

Mean Mr Mustard · Post by **Mean Mr Mustard** » 28 Dec 2007, 19:33

Got some spare cash over Xmas.

Went to charity shops, for ?32 got myself 4 pairs of trousers including some brand new chinos with the original labels still on, and two pairs of shoes.

Still need more shoes and boots while they are relatively cheap, now, that's got to be a sensible PO / financial crash preparation. Thirty years worth of shoes, maybe that's 10-15 pairs? Best to clear out the charity shops before the sheeple feel the recession and notice the bargains to be had.

And even better, the charities benefit, leaving me feeling doubly smug today. "Keep the change..."

syberberg · Post by **syberberg** » 28 Dec 2007, 22:04

Mean Mr Mustard wrote: Still need more shoes and boots while they are relatively cheap, now, that's got to be a sensible PO / financial crash preparation. Thirty years worth of shoes, maybe that's 10-15 pairs? Best to clear out the charity shops before the sheeple feel the recession and notice the bargains to be had.

2-3 years' for a pair of shoes? Get yourself some good boots mate. I've got a pair of German Para Boots that have lasted me 8 years of hard work. Only had to resole them once so far and eventually they needed an inner-sole, but they're a great piece of kit IMHO. Got them for about ?25, so that's what?...?3-ish a year?

And, once I've got a new pair (I'm going to get at least 2 pairs), the old pair will be turned into fun plant-pots. I'll also swap the laces over from the old to the new.

As the recession starts to bite, E-Bay should be interesting to watch.

eatyourveg · Post by **eatyourveg** » 28 Dec 2007, 22:43

Yeah boots, clothing etc high on my list.

A thought, when you buy say boots or trousers, buy all the same make in the same colour, won't be so noticeable later that you are always equipped when those around you are making shoes from old tyres, they'll just think you are very carefull.

Kentucky Fried Panda · Post by **Kentucky Fried Panda** » 28 Dec 2007, 23:04

I've got so much workwear stored away I should be ok for a few years. You should try it, put on dark blue combats, a dark blue shirt with a company logo and steel toed boots and you're rendered almost invisible.

syberberg · Post by **syberberg** » 28 Dec 2007, 23:54

greg wrote:Yeah boots, clothing etc high on my list.

A thought, when you buy say boots or trousers, buy all the same make in the same colour, won't be so noticeable later that you are always equipped when those around you are making shoes from old tyres, they'll just think you are very carefull.

That's a good bit of advice there. Wouldn't have thought of that.

I tend to go for Army Surplus as the kit is built to last and you can't go far wrong with it. Need a good, warm shirt? Get a Norgie!

amused_dude · Post by **amused_dude** » 30 Dec 2007, 10:27

This year I told my family and friends that I didn't want gifts for Consumermass. My friends totally respected my anti-consumerist stance if only so they wouldn't have to spend money on me. One of my sisters didn't buy me anything, but only after I assured her I really didn't want anything. However my mother still bought me quite a few presents. They wern't big things, mainly books, but I intend to share them around as much as possible when I'm finished with them. I think this is important- we have to make the best of a bad situation.

I ended up buying small presents for my mother and two sisters, even though I didn't want to, because I knew how upset they'd be if I didn't. Does anyone have any tips on how to avoid this guilt-buying in the future? (My family don't give a damn about the planet)

This is my first post on PS. Is there an introduction section anywhere?

Keela · Post by **Keela** » 30 Dec 2007, 12:14

Hi amused_dude! & welcome. (Love the name!)

We gave quite a few food items this year for Christmas. I took a jam and chutney making spree in the summer and made more than the family here could eat. So loads of those given out. Fruit mostly grown at home, jars recycled and sugar bought in - not too bad eco wize I think.

Of course there were the 'other' things too. We live in two worlds at the moment and I guess our Chrissy pressies reflected both angles. My eldest 2 children are studying: one for A levels and one for an HNC - we bought them each a laptop.

As I see it we can't fully opt out of this world as it is now. (Tempting as it might be!

)

Sally

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 31 Dec 2007, 04:20

I persuaded my wife that we should cut down a bit this year as our "children" are now 25 and 27. We did but my elder daughter didn't. I've also been trying to get them to not rap small stocking presents. They do, I don't, but I think the idea is taking hold gradually.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 31 Dec 2007, 18:30

Other 1/2 and I have a 'present truce' between us (this comes from someone's marvellous quote in a film(?): "She's the kind of person who uses presents as a weapon" !!)

Lots of people got LED torches, warm nightwear and weather-related stuff in our family this year: I got given "A life stripped bare" (that chap in London trying to wipe out his C-footprint): been meaning to gat it for ages that was a class present!!

JonB · Post by **JonB** » 31 Dec 2007, 21:09

Our daughter is rising 2, so we had a great one.

Wooden toys, trike, dolls - stuff she will love to death and last. Gran got her a dolls house.
We did not go mad and set a budget for her and for each other.
Although the missus thinks I'm mad, I got (as requested) good wellies, edibles, a very good DIY book, booze, and a good mechanical, wind up watch. Result!

Mr Livered · Post by **Mr Livered** » 01 Jan 2008, 17:22

RenewableCandy wrote:Other 1/2 and I have a 'present truce' between us

We also had a present truce, which we decided upon sometime early in December. The problem was I spent most of the month worrying that SWMBO didn't actually mean it and there'd be an awkward moment on Christmas Day...

Got away with it though