Why Do We Do This? 46 Billion Dollars of Gifts Are Returned Or Exchanged Every Year!
Posted: Tuesday, December 27, 2011
by elle kynzer
Every year I am appalled at the monetizing of Christmas, and every year I ask the same question...Why? Why do we put ourselves through this charade. Our commercialization of Christmas has caused the real purpose of this holiday to be forgotten. This is supposed to be a celebration of Jesus birth, and the Nativity, Jesus baptism, and The Magi gifts throughout the twelve days until The Epiphany. Saint Nicholas gave gifts to the children, the precurser to Santa.
Walmart and Macy's were being reported by Reuters today, as the sales majority of the 469 billion dollars of retail gains for this 2011 season; up 3.8% from last year. Where is our money going; China, India, Japan and other non Christian nations, and although Walmart employs Americans, it's not enough.
I give flowers in the beginning of December to important older widow women in my life, but early enough that it requires no reciprication. At times, when we are planning family meals on Christmas Eve, we will draw names for an exchange, if gift giving is normal for in-law family members. That name drawing was done on Thanksgiving in years past. Those exchanges had agreed upon dollar limitations under $20, and weren't personal items that would need to be returned.
If 46 billion dollars of gifts(-10%, 2011) were returned as predicted, which are described as mostly clothing, jewelry, and electronics, then that means 469 billion dollars are being spent overall. That's good for China's economy, however, it is not so good for the person who spent days and lots of gas plowing through stores, and searching for that perfect gift. We have more disappointments at Christmas because of expectations, and more suicides due to loneliness, than at any time of the year. Change expectations; improve life.
Why, as an intelligent people have we allowed something so wonderful to be transformed into a nightmare, that puts people in debt and creates unbelievable stress in those who can't afford to give extravagant gifts; or tortures others- who are upset their family can't afford to give them expensive things, or the perfect Christmas.... in their eyes. As a society, we should re evaluate our priorities. The gifts we should be giving are of ourselves; time. Unwanted gifts end up being donations to Goodwill, Salvation Army, or regifted, if not returned.
Consumerism has become a God to some, and we see it in the obsession with shopping, and collecting things. In our area, the days before Christmas were the time family brought fruits from Florida, that we all shared. A family member went to Florida, and brought home lots of fruits in a truck, as parents ordered/paid according to a list. The anticipation made it hard to wait, and such joy over something so simple as a fruit. We laugh about it now, then it was great. No returns, and it was healthy too. Expensive gifts were out of the norm.
Little people will want to be given gifts, however, the parents need to set boundaries, if they don't want the grandparents to spoil their children. Limit the number of gifts, and ask for real thought to go into the choices. Maybe you love gift giving so much you won't be realistic, but remember that choices have consequences in terms of future attitudes, and expectations.
The concept of drawing names mean simplicity and it's far less expensive, that means an unexpected downturn in the economy will not ruin the holiday. If you decide to change things for the next year, it is best to write a family newsletter explaining these changes soon. Why? So that others aren't operating on the 'old premise' of gift giving. There may be others in the family who would welcome this change, as they are tired of the same old stressful shopping.
Today, as I passed Walmart on the way home, there were just as many cars in the parking lot returning gifts, as there were buying in the last few days before Christmas. We have lost our way over the prosperous years, as to what Christmas is really all about; family. Let's spend more time together around meals. We should get to know our families better, and reach out to those in the community who are alone, poor, or depressed. What example are we setting for a future generation, who already has to pay our national debt in the future? Treasure simplicity. Less is More!
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Heavens, Elle, those figures are astonishing. All the money spent on stuff nobody even wants... Imagine if everybody who spent that money said let's put this money into a foundation for American families who are struggling.
As for the Asian economies benefiting, yes they do, but not the people doing all the work. So many Asian workers get paid absolute dirt.
You're right, Christmas is supposed to be about love. Great article, thanks.Please log in to respond to this comment.This 'commercialism" has been programmed into us via television, and even the rejections of Christ and Merry Christmas place a focus on Santa and Secular giving. This is the reason I have written so many articles this past week on "What Christmas is and is not about". At some point we have to clear out our subconscious programming, and get back to NOT being pawns in the retail industry's ad campaigns and place the emphasis on family and what is really important in life.
And yes, you are right...the people in Asia doing the work to make this junk we buy are almost slaves. The government of China does not even have a fair trade policy with America. We are financing our own demise....it's amazing how we march right down the path of destruction, and applaud the people leading us to poverty.
Consumerism is behind all of the global treaties. Americans have so much now, that new consumers are being created out of third world countries where wages are low, and the lust for things drive them to want to be like us. Sad, but true.
Thanks for commenting and understanding.Please log in to respond to this comment.We definitely need to become more conscious of the price we and others pay for our consumerism. I think learning to be accountable for the consequences of our desires is our big challenge now.
Feed the beast and it eats you alive...Please log in to respond to this comment.
Great article! I really agree with you but I must admit that I too have fallen into the trap of doing the Christmas thing. But it is almost exclusively with my immediate family. There aren't any little kids and presents are not exchanged with extended family. We've stopped buying trinkets and we have everything we could possibly want as I've said. So it becomes doing something inventive. Like a special trip or dinner - a dog sled ride or a zip line adventure. Well you get it. I wish it wasn't that commercial too.Please log in to respond to this comment.
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