How right you are. Even working in a bike shop, the whole holiday rush puts things in an entirely different (read: crappy) perspective.I think working retail really helps you become bitter about it all
Amen. I worked at a bike shop during the Holidays last year, and vowed never to do it again. So far I've lived up to it!The thing i hate is people coming in 10 minutes before you close on Christmas eve and thinking hey its the holidays they will stay open late for me. I made sure those doors were locked at close everyday last week except once and i paid dearly for it. I basically told people when the door was locked and they were banging on the door, "hey, just because you didnt plan better for the holidays doesnt mean that I have to pay for it." the funny thing is both my bosses agreed.
i totally agree with you, but my issue isn't my family (there's only my mom and she gives me $$ now) it's my co-workers. geez what's wrong with a bottle of wine (if anything). one of my co-workers gave me a 4cup coffee maker - i already drink coffee AND the one i have is double the capacity. good thing there's a gift receipt. oh and i specifically told her NO GIFT. ugh. i just gave her a gift card to a store she likes.I think it's also frustrating because every year I tell my family that I don't want anything for Christmas (and I really mean it), and instead of just listening to me and maybe giving me something generic and small like a Best Buy gift card or whatever, they go out and buy me all kinds of ridiculous books and CDs and clothes that I will never use, and it just shows me that they don't have a clue about who I am, what I do, or what I would possibly want/need. It really makes Christmas a pretty miserable time of year for me.
you shoot people off-duty too?it's all good here...i got call of duty 4!!
So don't do it. Seriously - if the money craziness gets to you, don't get sucked into it. It makes the holidays so much nicer not to worry about potential debt, did I spend enough on so-and-so, well they bought me something so I have to buy them something, keeping up with other's spending and so on.I'm with you, Ben. I like getting together with family and eating and drinking, but the stress and the rush and the spending just...it really gets on my nerves and kills the whole "spirit" of the thing.
This is how we are. We don't do gifts, especially not for people we barely know, like co-workers. I opted out of secret santa every year at work. People thought I was a stick in the mud but I just didn't think it was fun. No one did, that was the issue. Everybody always got someone they didn't know or didn't like and no one ever had fun doing it.So don't do it.
I'm going to edit what I posted a bit ago. We do get gifts for family, but not big ones. We don't bag out of gift giving completely, but we do focus only on family and not on getting sucked into the games that go along with it. And we do try to put a little thought into it - but not to the point of exceeded our budget for the holidays which we keep very small. Especially when you know you can't win (snarky, rich inlaws who never say thank you come to mind)Not doing it is easier said then done. I've and begged my father not to exchange gifts and he still does. Last year I didn't buy gifts and felt like a real dick when they still ended up getting me something.
Every year I end up getting gifts from friends I would never even think would do so. And it is usually cash or a gift certificate, it makes no sense. Once again I end up feeling like an asshole because I have nothing in return. I might as well just hand them back a $20 bill and say We just exchanged equivalent values of cash, Merry Christmas. It is ridiculous.
This is why Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. The whole point is to just get together with friends and family and hang out. No pressure to do anything else except be nice to each other.
Fixed. To stop the giggling. Happy Boxing Day, Buddy.My wife and I dont really do the gift exchange thing but I did get her a couple little things. A fancy new toothbrush, a new razor (and I am not trying to drop any hints you evil monkeys), a DVD and a cd. That was more then enough.
i could shoot some gism for you.Thanksgiving Rocks!
When it gets corrupted with consumerism, capitalism, any kind of gism... I'm going on a shooting rampage.
i don't really hate it, i hate the shoppers. working retail really does make you hate the holiday season.Well, it's 366 days later (leap year, remember?). Who's up for round two of this thread?
This year I'll be trying very hard to bite my tongue and keep my mother happy.
Dude. Try to be grateful.Well, it's 366 days later (leap year, remember?). Who's up for round two of this thread?
This year I'll be trying very hard to bite my tongue and keep my mother happy.
Concur.No, I'm not Jewish or Muslim or Buddhist. No, I'm not poor or underprivileged. No, my family is not a bunch of trailer-trash alcoholics. But I still hate Christmas. Bah humbug.