Ananya: Hi, I’m Ananya Chaudhary.
Zaid: And I’m Zaid Naqvi.
AC: Welcome to our podcast! Today we’re discussing a time that all of us experience — the holiday season. This magical time of year is filled with food, laughter, festive decorations and of course shopping sprees.
ZN: While this time of year is supposed to celebrate the blessings given to us in our lives and offer us a moment to be grateful for friends and family, it has become overshadowed by mass spending and overconsumption.
AC: Exactly, I mean, let’s take a look at last week. On Thursday, we were sitting with our families going around the table reflecting and being grateful for what we have, but then not even 24 hours later, we were battling strangers to buy things we probably didn’t even need because of Black Friday sales. We’re thankful for what we have for one moment, but then completely lose sight of that gratitude as soon as we see that 50% off tag.
ZN: And really it’s not just Black Friday. Thanksgiving is followed by Cyber Monday, and then Super Saturday, a series of holiday sales leading up to New Year’s Eve. These days of massive sales create a sense of urgency, which taps into someone’s fear of missing out on deals, in order to encourage consumer spending. As a result, this year over 183.4 million people planned to shop in-store and online during Thanksgiving weekend, almost 20 million more than the pre-pandemic era in 2017.
AC: We’re bombarded and overwhelmed with ads basically telling us that we need to find the perfect gift or buy more in order to make our loved ones happy. For example, the jewelry company Pandora directly associates love and gift-giving in their holiday campaign, with its #BeLove going viral on social media. In their ads, they say “A charm that says I love you, that’s the best thing to say.” But how did we get to the point where showing how much we love or are grateful for another person is defined by how much we spend on them?
ZN: Absolutely. Another thing we need to take into consideration is the long-term impacts of this overconsumption. The environmental impact of mass consumerism increases by more than 25% between Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, showing massive increases in garbage each year as all those plastic toys and wrapping paper bought by shoppers end up in landfills. As we buy more, we see more packaging, more plastic and more waste that either is incorrectly recycled (as 25% of items are incorrectly placed in recycling) or often can’t even be recycled. As a result, our landfills and the environment pay the repercussions of our active consumerism, with the shipping of millions of packages drastically increasing our carbon footprint.
AC: Along with this, there is financial stress that comes along with the holidays, as there is pressure to buy the perfect gift for everyone, leading to overspending. Bankrate’s Early Holiday Shopping Survey states that 28% of holiday shoppers are stressed out about the cost of holiday shopping.
ZN: Despite this, some argue that holiday shopping is a tradition that kicks off the holiday season. Gift-giving for many is about showing appreciation for their loved ones and spreading joy. The holidays are a rare time when people go out of their way to express love and generosity and while the commercial aspect can be overshadowing, there’s an emotional value in giving back that should not be ignored.
AC: I agree, it’s like in the holiday classic “A Christmas Story,” where the main character Ralphie desperately wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. While his parents say “You’ll shoot your eye out!” and all the adults in his life object to him getting a BB gun, in the end when Ralphie’s father surprises him with the BB gun, it’s a symbol of his understanding and gratitude for Ralphie. It’s a classic movie for a reason. It shows the act of gift-giving is beyond an item’s material use — it’s recognizing and fulfilling someone you love’s desires.
ZN: I completely agree, but a balance needs to be found. The problem is when we lose sight of what gift-giving during the holidays is supposed to be about: showing someone that you are grateful for something. Buying things on sale is not a problem. In fact, I completely understand the allure of getting more for less. However, when we start seeing people leaving Thanksgiving dinner to camp out at the mall or get into physical altercations over Black Friday sales, it becomes problematic, leading to serious physical harm.
AC: When we replace the idea of gratitude with buying a new phone, we miss out on what makes this time of year special. Instead of focusing on how many gifts we can pile under the tree, we need to think more about the value that comes from the gifts: will it be temporary or lasting?
ZN: Plus, we need to think about more sustainable ways to celebrate, maybe giving handmade gifts instead of buying something new, or maybe even replacing gift-giving with new traditions such as baking with your family or doing an act of community service.
AC: While community service initially may seem like a weird thing to gift someone, it is actually really sweet. Recently, I read an article in the Washington Post about a man named Andrew Duhe in Virginia, paying over $4,400 to sponsor the adoption of 40 shelter dogs. This act of kindness was done as a present for his wife, Jennifer Duhe’s, 40th birthday because each weekend the couple goes to the local pet shelter to volunteer. Over time, this tradition became near to the couple’s heart, and Andrew knew this donation would mean more than jewelry or flowers ever could. In reaction, Jennifer said “[She] was incredibly touched that [Andrew] did something on that large of a scale, knowing what matters most to [her]. It’s honestly the most sentimental and perfect gift [she] ever got.”
ZN: Andrew and Jennifer are just one of numerous examples. Community service and even just spending time with your loved ones can not only reduce waste but also help replace the focus of consumerism and materialism with memories, bringing back the true meaning of the holidays.
AC: Thanks for joining us today as we explore the impact of overconsumption on our environment, credit cards and the true meaning of the holiday season.
ZN: As we continue through the remainder of this season, we hope that you consider these points and take a moment to reflect on what truly matters to you during the holidays. Thank you for listening! Until next time, we wish you happy holidays and hope you can resist the urge to overspend!
