The C word already and we've not taken summer hols yet.

Nobody ever saved the world by keeping their money to themselves. Go out and spend it - wisely - and keep people in jobs, keep shops open, keep your village, town or high street alive.

I don't think having coffee or eating out is a waste. My Dh & I had lunch in a newish independent cafe today. I thought it was excellent for a number of reasons.

It has returned an old, abandoned building to useful life and is furnished with 'pre-loved' tables and chairs. It employs a number of staff. It serves as a link to the local community. It had a free swap-a-book corner and a local information point. It sells healthy food and drinks sourced locally wherever possible. It attracts tourists into the area as it's on a cycle route. Finally, it was going like a fair today, with customers ranging from an aged lady with a zimmer to a young baby with family so is obviously providing a great service to its town!

We could all sit in our own homes & workplaces drinking our own coffee but the price of a coffee out was well worth it to see the value this new cafe has brought to people's lives.

Is buying yourself a coffee or a meal out really wasted on you Oldbatty ? Don’t we all have an obligation to take care of ourselves as well as others .

Don’t you deserve a small treat once in a while ? Punishing yourself won’t save the world you know. I firmly believe that this is not a rehearsal so you owe it to your self to live it to the best of your abilities .

to be honest, I can be a bit silly with wasting things but it is small in comparison to some. I feel bad is I chuck out an out of date yoghurt.I waste money on coffees out and meals out.

I guess my parents were the war time generation and that still loomed large whereas now its a case of " I spend therefore I am".

But are we the generation Oldbatty that relentlessly pursues that more stuff equals happiness?

I don’t think we are . We’re the make do and mend generation , the guilty for spending our money generation , the generation that actually hopes to repair things rather than just rush out and buy new.

I think you’re preaching on the wrong forum - it’s a much younger generation that maybe has that attitude.

That post was in reply to oldbatty

Yes, I do agree with you there, but it's not just C*******s is it? The juggernaut of consumerism is driving through all aspects of our lives these days. It's no longer just the 'must have' latest clothes, but the 'must have' latest smart phone, tablet, X-Box games, TV's, coffee machines, and so on ad infinitum. We complain that nothing is made to last any longer, but a lot of that is driven by people who don't want their gadgets and devices to last, as they wouldn't look so cool with last year's model. The level of consumerism in first world countries is obscene.
I came across something on Facebook which read "If one million women bought their next item of clothing secondhand instead of new, we would save 6 million kg of carbon pollution from entering the atmosphere." Food for thought! (though of course, I don't necessarily take everything at face value on Facebook!!)

Katek, the latest bright idea from the council is that the town pays for the electricity the lights use. Firstly, the residents already pay a not inconsiderable amount of council tax and second, who's going to work out how much electricity is consumed?

It might be a juggernaut for you, Oldbatty, but our Christmas is still a tree, some presents, some nice food and a chance every couple of years for all my family to get together.

I have to say, didn't Jesus himself receive some pretty pricey gifts? Gold, frankincense and myrrh didn't come cheap!

OK, sorry for my rant. But the balance is all wrong. People need work certainly and if its making crackers, so be it.

But surely there is something wrong with us ,if we relentlessly pursue the idea that more stuff equals happiness.

Can you remember a few years ago when it was a tree, a dinner and gifts for the family. It now seems like some huge juggernaut of consuming stuff.

And if we did all 'dare to dream' and 'started now... and refused to buy into it' there would be hundreds of businesses at risk of closure and thousands of jobs lost. People depend on us pulling crackers for their very livelihood oldbatty. Would you see them all out of work? Would you see more homeless people on the streets as they can no longer pay their rent?
Now that really would 'make a difference' wouldn't it?

Bureaucracy SueDonim......drives me crazy! Firm filling, licences, PAT testing, new regs every year, working out loading for each lighting column, it’s a bigger task than people realise. Hope your ftiend’s DH manages to get through it all without too many problems.

Katek a friend's husband is dealing with the issue of xmas lights for their little town at the moment! Like your panto, it's a long, involved procedure, with many boxes to tick.

Personally I feel there may be two different issues here. I agree it's far too early to shops at to be starting to focus on the season yet, leave that until end of November onwards for my liking.
But for those of us who enjoy or need to start thinking ahead then the time is whenever we choose.

I’m dealing with C****** from February onward as work starts on village panto (script writing, etc) from that point. Auditions are in June and rehearsals start September. I also have admin details to address with council re our C lights from May - have already attended two consultation meetings with them. Maintenance and repair also have to be organised and funds raised to cover costs. Planning for C fair has also started as stall holders have to be booked in early.

C is almost a year round event for me and that’s without our own C factored in. None of these activities would happen if we willing volunteers (!!) didn’t start dealing with them early in the year.

Well oldbatty we're not religious but we do like to all get together at Christmas and to give our loved ones gifts.We do ALL support charities all year round and volunteer too...so please let us have our fun without making us feel guilty ,life can be quite hard enough for some of us and its lovely to see a smile on their faces .

of course nannaa you giving uo your sandwich wont save the world, anymore than me giving up my " silly seasonal overspending" will save the world. But think....dare to dream....if we all started now ( as it appears the madness is up on us) and refused to buy into it, we could amass a fortune which could be diverted to really make a difference.

grannyactivist, that sounds so lovely and genuine.

I have grandchildren, children, Godchildren, foster children, friends and wider family and I like to buy them presents for a certain December festival. So, I buy a few gifts every month, usually at sale prices and make the best I can of my limited funds. I celebrate the birth of Jesus* and His life all year round and one way I do so is by volunteering my time and skills to people who have very little in the way of material goods.
*I do not believe He was born in December, but accept that is when His birth is generally celebrated.

I’d be happy enough to give up the work of Christmas, but I will never give up Hogmanay

I shall enjoy pulling crackers whilst trampling on toys* and feeling smugly overfed this year with all my family around me, including two GC who I will not have seen for 18mths by this December.

* not Lego, though. That hurts to trample on. I'll be jumping up and down on my baby GD's soft toys instead.

Did you just call me smug, overfed and a toy trampler Oldbatty ? ?

You don’t know me from Adam so as they say in my neck of the woods ‘ best you wind your neck in !’

Giving up my box of Lego, turkey sandwich or cracker isn’t going to save the world ! But feel free to give up yours !

The Christmas crafting fabric collections are out already wince

" why not" because people have nothing. It stinks. Smug overfed, people pulling crackers and trampling over toys.

I’m with you Paddyann I do it through the year as it’s best for my budget and I often can buy in sales.

‘why’ ? Oldbatty , because I can. Because I want to. Because putting the religious reasons aside , it’s a time for my entire , far flung family to get together enjoy each other’s company and the joy of giving.

I guess my answer encapsulated is ‘why not’?

please somebody explain to me why?

If you are a Christian and believe the 25th December is when Jesus was born I fully understand.