Anyone else a little miffed at the amount of packaging at Xmas, also, those with kids, what were your main gripes with family and friends?

Burnt all of the paper, boxes (and some plastic :D) in my garden incinerator. A nice empty recycling bin.
 
In my early 20s I specifically asked my family to stop buying me "stocking fillers" as I was sick of getting useless tat and throwing it directly into the bin.

This year I said don't get me anything as times are tough for everyone and i'd rather they hold onto their cash rather than the rigmarole of trying to find a worthwhile present to buy each other!

The amount of packaging on everything is absolutely ridiculous, the amount of unnecessary plastic on food alone is abhorrent.
 
Still amuses me all the boxes in bins and bags, not broken down. Do people not realise the air doesn’t need to be recycled yet it’s taking up the space.
 
It’s a tough one for sure. We’ve definitely cut out rubbish stocking filler type things. Switched to recyclable wrapping paper and tried to be mindful of the nature of gifts. Edible gifts tend to be well received.

The main things to consider:

People celebrate Christmas differently
People express their love in different ways

Don’t fight it too hard, just try to enact the change from your side. I suspect as the kids grow up, the volume of gifts will naturally reduce over time.
 
No problams here.
I gave wife her cat diary unwrapped and she gave me a bottle of smelly stuff she gave me last year which I never got round to opening so gave it back for this year.
We do buy each other things during the year and call them birthday or xmas presents.
Got no kids of any sort in family as we don't talk to them.
 
dLockers said:
Peek consumer is mad at packaging and thinks the way to reduce carbon footprint is to continue buying tat for kids but don't wrap it. Also anything excess in his life he bins.
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clearly you didnt read my op. I dont buy tat for my kids, the extended family and friends do. I am trying to stop them buy telling them not to waste money on crap.
 
I agree on packaging point, we had been doing this for a few years where we swap big gift bags every other year to put gifts into (only while both kids still believe in Santa lol).
But for ones that don't, think it's actually right to point it out, schools seems to put a bit of effort into sustainability these days.

Gifts wise, I know the feeling, but if you are not going to use it, why not donate somewhere where they can out it to good use if you won't?
 
I do agree with less presents = a better Christmas. But it's difficult for parents, a lot of pressure from other parents and the feeling of kids missing out/being bullied/kids disgruntled.

I do wish it was far more family oriented and less about consumerism though.

Our family forever falls out with one auntie/uncle trying to keep up with the other and then competing. To the point my cousins/nephews end up with thousands spent. I think my nephew (10) had about £3k spent just from the parents - and they are far from rich.

Mostly in **** they won't use.
 
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I was slightly bemused by a camera my daughter got, it came with a small bit of paper with a QR code to get the online manual to save paper and resources. All good yeah?

But they then they package it with a thick paper, glossy, colour printed booklet of some photos other people have taken with a camera.
 
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