Why is Christmas so expensive?

easyhostmedia

easyhostmedia

Well-known member
Why is Christmas so expensive?

My eight year old nephew just said he would like an ipad for Chrismas (as if) as i have 5 to buy for.

when i was eight i was happy to get a board game like Monopoly or Mechano/Lego.

now and for the last few years its been Ipods, xbox,blackberry,PC, DS, Ipads, etc.
 
Christmas is only as expensive as parents, relatives and friends are willing to make it. I didn't grow up with many toys and I don't intend to buy many for my own kids. I certainly not going to be spoiling kids with expensive gadgets they want. Lavish gifts do more damage than good in the long-run.

If you really can't say "no" to your nephew, get him an $80 Android tablet if all he wants to do is play Angry Birds.
 
When I was that age all I wanted was a new bike :) You should discuss this with your nephew's parents and see if that's the only thing he wants.
 
I spend on average £30 each on my nieces and nephews as they get enough from their parents and other familiy members and it also seems christmas is all year round now as kids nowadays usually get techie stuff all year
 
As the others have said, it's only as expensive as you want to make it.

Last year, my wife made gifts for her neices and nephews. This year, she purchased one of those Pitures to Canvas deals, and snagged pictures from Facebook of the kids with the parents etc. With the groupon deal, she has now spent a total of $27 for all three families, and it's a picture that will last years.

I purchased a puzzle game for my nephew that once it's solved, it will give him access to $20. It's sure to keep him busy for many hours/days trying to figure out how to solve the puzzle. He's also got a version of Autism, so anything to keep his mind busy is a good thing.

In todays world, everything is more expensive, but then again, we also make more money than our parents did, and our grandparents. Technology has become so prolific that it's ingrained in our youth. All you have to do is look at a middle school and see how many of them have phones.

But in general, everything is more expensive. Bread no longer costs $0.25, milk is no longer $1.00, and Gas is no longer $0.75/gallon. Since we all make more money, we all have to spend more money on the goods we consume - this goes for Christmas too. My neighbour spent nearly $1500 on his kid, and he's only 3!! It's the wreckless spending of parents and their inability to say NO to their kid that drives the cycle. If more parents would pay attention to their children rather than just getting them a video game to keep them busy, the world would be a better place.
 
inetweaver said:
We our-self make it expensive :)

Thanks
Click to expand...

so if that the case i will go to my local store and say that i will give them £1 for an iphone5 then and expect them to give it to me for that price.

when i was a kid we got board games etc. now everything is electronic/computerised and cost 100 times more than board games
 
easyhostmedia said:
so if that the case i will go to my local store and say that i will give them £1 for an iphone5 then and expect them to give it to me for that price.

when i was a kid we got board games etc. now everything is electronic/computerised and cost 100 times more than board games
Click to expand...

I think he meant that you choose what to buy, not for how much money :). I guess there's a lot of pressure on parents nowadays, but then again kids have always wanted stuff, no matter if it's electronic or not. The important part for parents is to know when to say no. :)
 
attracthd said:
I think he meant that you choose what to buy, not for how much money :). I guess there's a lot of pressure on parents nowadays, but then again kids have always wanted stuff, no matter if it's electronic or not. The important part for parents is to know when to say no. :)
Click to expand...

true, but the title " Why is Christmas so expensive?" is getting at the fact of

xmas cards
wrapping paper/bags
postage stamps
xmas dinner
xmas gifts

all mount up to a massive expense in total and getting higher each year.

its like

easter
mother day

and now even they have teachers day

all becoming more commercialised and expensive
 
Just because someone charges "X" fees, doesn't mean that I'm going to pay it :) There are any number of local shops that usually sell Christmas Cards at $0.50 rather than the $3.00 that you find in Walmart or other locations. It's all about the hunt. For that matter, if you know you're going to send a bunch, jump on eBay, there's tons available. Really want to get personal? For a few dollars you can have a custom card made at Vista Print.

Instead of wrapping paper, use newspaper. It's just going to get ripped anyway. Want to go one step further? Use food coloring dye in a waterbottle and spray the newspaper. Kids don't care about the paper, it's the inside they want.

Stamps are getting expensive - but that's where the internet comes in. Forget about the card all together and send one online (or a video). When I ship stuff to my sisters, it gets sent to ONE of them, and they distribute it to the other and their kids. One shipping price via UPS is better than multiple smaller ones.

Christmas Dinner can be purchased at Thanksgiving. Buy the turkey, freeze it. By the Veg, freeze that too. You don't HAVE to have a lavish dinner just because everyone else is.

The main point is that you don't have to spend the money that they want you to spend. Yesterday, a kid came to my door wanting me to buy Magazines for some charity thing. I told him I didn't need magazines, but I'll give a donation, so he turns to the page and says that'll be $77. I told him that I had $20 to donate, and he insisted on the $77. I guess they don't have the ability to just DONATE, you must purchase something. At that point, I told him that I could no longer help as they didn't provide the means for me to do so. I can afford to donate $20 today, but I couldn't afford $77.

You pay what you feel comfortable with - it's always been that way. The fact that people go into debt buying things on their creditcards for Christmas is crazy. But it's something people always do - and as long as they continue to do it, merchants and manufacturers will continue to raise their prices.
 
When next generations come, your 8 yr old nephew will tell their children, "When I was your age, all I wanted for christmas are Xboxs, and yet now you wanted a new car?!?"
 
Artashes said:
I didn't grow up with many toys and I don't intend to buy many for my own kids..
Click to expand...

I never watched TV when I was growing up and now I almost never feel compelled to watch it now. Same science really, although I do think it's generally more expensive for all since there's probably more exposure these days.
 
handsonhosting said:
Just because someone charges "X" fees, doesn't mean that I'm going to pay it :) There are any number of local shops that usually sell Christmas Cards at $0.50 rather than the $3.00 that you find in Walmart or other locations. It's all about the hunt. For that matter, if you know you're going to send a bunch, jump on eBay, there's tons available. Really want to get personal? For a few dollars you can have a custom card made at Vista Print.

Instead of wrapping paper, use newspaper. It's just going to get ripped anyway. Want to go one step further? Use food coloring dye in a waterbottle and spray the newspaper. Kids don't care about the paper, it's the inside they want.

Stamps are getting expensive - but that's where the internet comes in. Forget about the card all together and send one online (or a video). When I ship stuff to my sisters, it gets sent to ONE of them, and they distribute it to the other and their kids. One shipping price via UPS is better than multiple smaller ones.

Christmas Dinner can be purchased at Thanksgiving. Buy the turkey, freeze it. By the Veg, freeze that too. You don't HAVE to have a lavish dinner just because everyone else is.

The main point is that you don't have to spend the money that they want you to spend. Yesterday, a kid came to my door wanting me to buy Magazines for some charity thing. I told him I didn't need magazines, but I'll give a donation, so he turns to the page and says that'll be $77. I told him that I had $20 to donate, and he insisted on the $77. I guess they don't have the ability to just DONATE, you must purchase something. At that point, I told him that I could no longer help as they didn't provide the means for me to do so. I can afford to donate $20 today, but I couldn't afford $77.

You pay what you feel comfortable with - it's always been that way. The fact that people go into debt buying things on their creditcards for Christmas is crazy. But it's something people always do - and as long as they continue to do it, merchants and manufacturers will continue to raise their prices.
Click to expand...

I was making the same point. If you want to be lazy, you'll pay more and that's ok if you can afford it. But most people don't get it really. If you ask them the reasonable question - why are you doing this, why do you spend X amount every year for useless things or for ones you can get for cheaper, you'll get a "That's what you do" or "Everyone else does it" answer. I'm not saying people should feel bad for spending on a holiday but it's gone a little overboard recently. I blame advertising! Its whole point is to desensitise people and make them feel good for spending money, no matter if they can afford it! Ok, end of rant. Been watching too much Mad Men recently. :D
 
Well, as they say " the only constant in this world is change", so what is very good for us before may not be good today. Modernization is taking it's place, now we have to save up when Christmas is coming pretty sure there will be more nephews and niece who would bug us for expensive gifts :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Supporters

Back
Top