SueDomin personally, we too will have our usual family Christmas and a quiet New Year. However, we have invitations to umpteen Christmas events, every organisation from sports, pensioner's and social clubs to the WI and day centre, now has a night out, party, pantomime visit, disco, booze up in the run up to Christmas. Being retired, we do not have any works or staff events to consider. We will not be attending any of these, giving DH's health as an 'excuse'. Each of these events costs a small fortune for tickets,food/drink not to mention party clothes, hairdos, raffle prizes/tickets and taxis. We will however be attending 4 events at our DGC's schools and helping out with catering at 2 other Children's parties.
For working parents with young children it can be a nightmare arranging childminders and transport for their own and their children's events but nonetheless all those I know in their 20/30/40s will be putting on their glad rags and partying the nights away 'be there or be square' I suppose. This is the 'excess' I refer to and I haven't even started on the relentless advertising, the 'need' for new furniture/carpets/redecorating, houses decorated inside and out, enough food to withstand a siege, etc. etc.
Enough is enough.