better business blog

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The Easy Tree

22 December 2019

Ho ho ho! Or not…

This is an odd time of year really. Odd because some people spend money on presents they can’t afford, to give to people they’re not interested in. Odd because some people buy food to share with people they don’t really like.

And odd because despite the simple nature of the festive message (peace and goodwill) many people take it upon themselves to drag trees into their house, waste electricity by lighting up the outside of said house and burn fossil fuels as they race to buy up every possible combination of alcoholic drink and chocolate treat. A simple message becomes a complex dance of consumerism and needless expense.

I have spent all year reading about the threat of global warming, the realities of climate change and the problems caused by single use plastics.

As a result I am now issued with a paper straw at my favourite local burger restaurant. Issued with! Clearly I’m incapable of restraint here and am not to be trusted with a whole pot of straws, as I may take two and thus ruin the world. Paper straws are about as reliable as an election manifesto, in that they work for a bit and then go soggy and you have to bin them.

Am I the only one then to wonder about how much single use plastic we devour at Christmas? Am I the only one who wonders about people who preach about global warming and then turn their house into a lighting display for a month?

(Ahh Richard, you misery, it’s for the kiddies, so all bets are off at Christmas).

What I like about Christmas is that the email avalanche drops to a trickle, people take time to be nice to one another and that it tends to provide cranberry sauce producers with a little boost.

What I find uncomfortable is the hypocrisy, consumerism and debt that Christmas brings with it.

I’m not saying we have to be miserable, or puritanical. Maybe, just that we need to keep things in perspective.

We also need to remember that this is an awful time of year for many people too. Short days, cold weather and the pain of enforced jollity conspire to depress many of those who are missing people, or grieving for loved ones who have passed away.

My Christmas message therefore, is to keep it simple. We can all have a tree, but can make it an easy tree; we can all find a way to have the most straightforward, affordable and sustainable Christmas that makes the most sense to us.

We can make Christmas our own and not be coerced into actions that sit outside of our personal values.

I’m wondering if I can manage a zero Christmas next year. Zero spend, zero decorations and zero hassle. That may sound a bit mean minded, but when you think about it, it’s actually the most environmentally friendly thing to do. It’s also the most economically sensible thing to do at a personal level. And it’s good for the world too, as a whole.

Less debt, less interest paid out, more cash in the bank, all equals good business sense. This is a business blog after all.

A hassle free Christmas!

What do you think? Something to strive for?

Have a peaceful festive time, whatever your beliefs are, wherever you are in the world and whatever you are doing.

Next week: The End Of The Year Is Nigh!