Overconsumption of goods ruins the holiday season

Rebecca Welte, Features Videos Editor • December 10, 2024

Many stores sell products of a wide variety with many different types for the holiday season, which can lead to customers buying an exorbitant amount as they feel like they have to buy each due to the increasing pressure from social media.

Over the past few years, Christmas has been overshadowed by materialism and overconsumption. Many people focus on how decorated their houses are compared to those of other people, some even having competitions to see who can have the most decked-out house. It was reported that almost seven billion dollars were spent last year around the world on decorations alone. Financial reports predict this number could be over nine billion dollars in the next five years.

Not only does overconsumption strike issues with decorations, but also with Christmas gifts and special holiday items. On popular social media sites, such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, many influencers do hauls of their Christmas gifts or other videos that show off holiday-themed goods.

While all of these videos can be fun and entertaining to watch, it eventually gets to a point where too much is too much. Many influencers create content that can make people feel bad about themselves for not having what these people have, since the average person cannot afford to buy the most expensive gifts on the market or five different types of Advent calendars.

Because of the increasing pressure social media provides to buy holiday decorations and items, money is being spent left and right during this season. In 2023, over one trillion dollars were spent on Christmas in America with the average person spending well over a thousand dollars for gifts, decorations, travel expenses and more. For a lot of families, especially those who may not have the ability to afford all of this, Christmas can be a very hard time. The demand to keep up with everyone else in buying holiday goods is especially detrimental and puts a damper on the spirit.

Christmas is supposed to be a joyful time spent with family and friends. It is a time meant to be shared with one another, seeing people who live out of town and whom you have not seen in a long time, giving and receiving thoughtful gifts from loved ones and celebrating. However, with all of the materialistic videos on social media that encourage others to spend so much on the holidays, the spirit of Christmas has really been lost. People spend more time focusing on what they need to buy and how they do not have what a certain influencer has than on what really matters: Their loved ones.

Overconsumption has really taken over so many aspects of life, and seeing the holidays get lost in it as well is a sad sight.

About the Contributors

Rebecca Welte, Tiger TV Features Editor

Rebecca Welte is a junior at NDB and is the Tiger TV Features Editor for the Catalyst. She has been part of the Journalism Club since freshman year and is excited to be working more with the Catalyst this year. When she's not working on the Catalyst, Rebecca is busy working on the yearbook as Editor-in-Chief, planning club meetings for Art Club, or taking pictures for the NDB social media pages. She also enjoys watching baseball, spending time with friends, and volunteering.

Lauren Zerella, Managing Editor

Lauren Zerella is a senior at NDB and is the Managing Editor for The Catalyst. She has been a member of the Journalism Club since her freshman year and is excited to strengthen her writing skills and learn more about Journalism throughout this school year. Lauren participates on the NDB cross country, track and field and soccer teams along with being a member of the National Honor Society Board. Outside of school, she enjoys reading and spending time with family and friends.