Holiday spirit, or should I say materialistic mindset. Break out the Christmas trees, food, and the stress of getting your loved ones gifts. As the holidays approach, we forget to enjoy the time being with family and friends during this time. Instead, we see the holidays as an obligatory gift receiving and giving season. Who cares about family when you can get a brand new Hydro Flask for free?

No one appreciates gifts from the heart anymore. People would rather receive a brand new iPhone than get a handmade scarf. During this year’s holiday season, consumers will spend an estimated, $1,007.24 which is a 4.1 percent increase from the before estimated $967.13 and $637.67 is estimated to go to just gifts. The more we spend, the more the heartfelt homemade gift looks like a cheap way to save money. The holidays are the busiest time of the year but also the most profitable, this year’s predicted holiday sales spending is between 717.5 to 720.9 billion dollars. Gifts are not only valued by you, but also to the company who sells them on a huge demand.

Children can be greedy. During, Christmas their list can be quite extensive. Moms in 2016 had planned to spend 271 per child and one out of ten moms would pay as much as 500 dollars on children’s gifts. Resulting in children to think since Christmas is around they will get more presents. Enhancing the importance of materialism in their lives. Children are so susceptible to their surroundings, their peers, and media, affect their thinking. Advertisers spend 12 million and up to make ads geared to the youth market and children watch 40,000 commercials per year. The more kids want, the more they rely on material possessions to make them happier

The jolliest time of the year is coincidentally also the most dangerous time of the year. Black Friday, the Hunger Games for the best deals of the season. It is a literal battle against neighbor to neighbor or stranger to stranger. People today would fist fight for a discounted gaming system or kill for the toy their child wants. In 2017, 174 million people shopped on Black Friday to Cyber Monday. Also, in 2017 a man had shattered his hip due to an altercation. In 2016 one man had helped a woman brutally beaten in a Walmart parking lot. How do we promote peace on Earth when people are rolling out of strip malls on gurneys.

It also does not help that we as consumers can buy anything with a click of a button. As a result, 57 percent of people who have an Amazon account, shops regularly on Amazon for all their needs. When online shopping many people do not interact with anyone, it is all on screens and the internet. Which promotes no human contact and more time spending on our screens. Thus, creating a gap between our peers and ourselves. All in all, 76 percent of online users shopping on Amazon to complete their holiday lists.

We are not the sole party to blame. Companies purposely make their products eye catching. They will also, have your favorite celebrities endorse their products. Such as Dwayne “the rock” Johnson’s new shoes with Under Armour had sold out in 30 minutes. The more idolized a celebrity is the more business and money create for the retail companies. As the bright colors come back into style, the demand for color clothes is up. The creative director for Gucci has revamped their classic design with a wide range of colors and designs, making the company a 48.7% jump in sales just in the first quarter of 2018.

Our desires to want more, is only justified by wanting to impress our peers and show off. We as basic human enjoy when we make ourselves feel like the better person. Given the choice to make 50,000 dollars and everyone else makes 25,000 or make 100,000 and every one make 200,000, many choose the first option. The constant need to gratify how great you are, is making people resent you, not befriend you.

Be thankful this holiday season because happiness in material objects only lasts a short time, family, and friends are forever.