What Not To Buy This Holiday Season

A list of five things to not buy this holiday season, and our favorite alternatives

I love the winter holidays. I love the lights, the coziness, the food and the way it brings people together.

However, the consumption and the expenditures of the holiday season are not my favorite part of Christmas or the holiday season.

What Not To Buy This Holiday Season

1. Ugly Christmas sweaters

I know I sound like the fun police and so be it. Ugly Christmas sweaters were charming when they were accidentally tacky because Grandma just made them that way. Every year they get more outlandish, more intentionally tacky, and more covered in random objects. A polyester sweater covered in tinsel and Mardi Gras beads doesn’t even try to be even a little bit sustainable. Couple that with the fact that half of them try to have a funny saying about tequila on them? Pass.

What I think we should do instead: Buy wool sweaters being sold by grandmas at craft fairs. Scour thrift stores to find grandma-made wool sweaters donated by ungrateful grandchildren.

2. Household items stamped with Christmas word art as décor.

For example, hand towels in the bathroom that say “Here Comes Santa”.  Wall art displaying “Have yourself a very Merry Christmas”.

I prefer subtlety and investing in household items that haven’t overstayed their welcome by Boxing Day.

What I prefer: more versatile items that evoke the holidays rather than announce them. Cozy and warm hues, patterns, textures. Think plaid throw pillows covers you can easily switch out come spring. Velvet curtains you can use all winter to stay cozy. Maybe even a thrifted piece of art depicting a winter scape.

3. Anything that sings when you squeeze it or plays 10 second clips of various holiday songs on a loop

What you should do instead? Protect your mental health.

4. “I need something else – this will do” gifts

I specifically mean the kind of gifts you add to give bulk. You may think you need to add to a gift for the sake of adding to a gift so you grab a glittery purple candle from the dollar store. It becomes less about whether the recipient likes purple, glitter, or candles, and more about volume.

My opinion? Give less items with more intention.

5. LED light décor

This is subjective but I’m not crazy about all the décor items that light up, you know the ones you find at Costco shaped like snowmen and sleighs? Not only is it all very pricy, but it feels a bit cold to me. I want my Christmas to feel warm and cozy, and flashing Santa Clauses make me feel like I’m in a Walmart. I don’t want my home to feel like a Walmart.

Again, this is subjective, but my suggestion would be to invest in flameless candles and save the lights for the tree. At least you can use flameless candles year-round.

What Do You Think?

Do you agree or disagree with our list of what not to buy this holiday season? Let us know in the comments below, and happy holidays!