Many years ago I realized I was very grumpy and un-thankful around Christmas time. I pondered on it, and realized that almost nobody bought me presents I really wanted, and after laying out cash for presents, I felt I just was not getting a good return on my cash outlay. I got some friends & younger relatives to open up & discovered that others felt the same way. So I began telling people to buy themselves gifts instead of buying them for me, and I would do the same. It took several years (& really pissed of some family members) but I stopped buyiong all gifts (except for my parents & my lover), and I more-or-less stopped the in-flow of gifts I neither wanted nor desired.

Back when I actually had a discretionay income, I bout myself stuff I wanted around this time of year. I bought them now because prices are often cheap in this season, and in January. These days I have no discretionary income, so I just observe the Christmas rush from as large a distance as possible.