I've never gone into credit card debt to buy Christmas gifts for my child. I've only gone into credit card debt once and I was 23, had no savings, and used my credit card to buy a plane ticket to visit my parents because my mom had fallen and needed surgery. It took me 6 months to pay off that debt and I swore I'd never do that again and immediately started aggressively saving for an emergency fund for expenses like that.

I avoid making Christmas too commercial by not buying too much stuff and focusing on things that are meaningful and not consumerist (time together as a family, traditions, spending time outdoors, making decor and crafts ourselves, listening to or playing music, going to free museums and holiday concerts, etc.). I buy my DD a small collection of gifts and avoid buying thing that are just novelties or will get played with once or are just buying into trends (no labubus, for instance).

I don't know, it doesn't seem that hard to do? Our Christmas Day doesn't even revolve around gifts. It's something we do but we also really look forward to making a delicious breakfast, going for a hike or walk if the weather permits, and then piling onto the couch to watch one of several Christmas favorites in the evening.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone else concerned that we are training our kids to practice unfettered consumerism aka 'Christmas shopping'. Other countries manage to have a meaningful Christmas season without buying tons of gifts that no one really needs or even worse going into credit card debt. How do you have a low gift Christmas without your children feeling deprived? How do you break the cycle of consumerism?

What other countries are you referring to? I think you have a fantasy in your head.

+1 it’s so annoying when people who clearly have a shallow understanding of other countries/cultures use their misunderstandings to criticize American culture.

It's a choice to do this. A very conscious choice. Just because your kid wants 14 things for Christmas doesn't mean they have to be given all of them. It's okay to just give six.

I actually just saw an ad for Christmas decorations at an art supply chain and wondered "are there people who really buy new Christmas decorations EVERY year?" I never have.

So maybe you are training your kids to buy and expect to get , but that's a choice you make by the actions you take. I have never done that.

Xmas is the worst time of year. Absolutely hate the constant buy buy buy

We solved it by announcing Xmas is cancelled.

Just reduce your spending or make gifts / create experiences. No one is forcing you into a level of consumerism beyond what you're up for.

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone else concerned that we are training our kids to practice unfettered consumerism aka 'Christmas shopping'. Other countries manage to have a meaningful Christmas season without buying tons of gifts that no one really needs or even worse going into credit card debt. How do you have a low gift Christmas without your children feeling deprived? How do you break the cycle of consumerism?

What other countries are you referring to? I think you have a fantasy in your head.

Dont spend beyond your means, OP. Try it sometime

Don't buy a thing. Problem solved.

We don’t go overboard.
We do experience gifts/activities.
We buy gifts for people, or make cookies/fudge for people too who we do together.
We don’t buy new decor or Christmas only clothing that we never wear again

Sounds like a you problem. Not worried at all.

Anonymous wrote:wow. what a novel topic. Thanks AI

You are having an AI hallucination.

If you are going into credit card debt at Christmas, don't complain that you can't afford necessities - like buying a house. Your house down payment got blown at the mall.

wow. what a novel topic. Thanks AI

Is anyone else concerned that we are training our kids to practice unfettered consumerism aka 'Christmas shopping'. Other countries manage to have a meaningful Christmas season without buying tons of gifts that no one really needs or even worse going into credit card debt. How do you have a low gift Christmas without your children feeling deprived? How do you break the cycle of consumerism?