– It’s perfectly fine that we don’t have packages. It’s good for nature, and then we get more time with the family, says Jakob H. Langeland. Instead of a package from the grandparents, the nine-year-old thinks time to play cards could be just as nice. – There are other things that are nicer than opening packages, because then you only get something for yourself, says Jakob. Parents Anne-Lise and Frank Petter H. Langeland are einige. For several years they have wanted to cut out presents, and this year they are getting serious about their plans. – It’s expensive, it’s busy, and you’re left with a bit of an aftertaste after Christmas. You feel like you’ve spent a lot of money, and maybe none of the presents really suit your taste, says the mother of small children from Sande in Sunnfjord. Economics professor hopes for new trend This year there will be fewer Christmas presents under Norwegian Christmas trees than last year. The rise in prices in society, high electricity prices and rising interest rates means that more people can’t afford it. The family has received a lot of positive feedback that they are cutting back on Christmas presents. Several have decided to do the same, and it seems to Anne-Lise to be absolutely top notch. Photo: ERLEND BLAALID OLDEIDE / news 4 out of 10 say they will spend less money on gifts this year than last year. Each of us will put another NOK 12,170 into shops in December. There is a decrease of NOK 500 from last year, according to recent figures from Virke. At the same time, online shopping is skyrocketing. November 2022 looks set to be the best month for online shopping ever. In the last two months of the year, online shopping is expected to be NOK 21.2 billion. In total, Norwegians will shop for NOK 66 billion in December. That is 5 billion more than in 2019. But due to price growth and inflation, it gives less goods for the money. Are Oust, professor of economics at NTNU, thinks it is brilliant that families are cutting back on gifts. – People often get gifts they don’t need, so in terms of personal finances and affordability, it’s a good thing to spend less money on presents, he says. Even he and the adults in the family cut out Christmas presents 20 years ago. The professor hopes gift cuts can become a new trend, which can also ease the pressure to give gifts for those who don’t have much to worry about. Jakob’s parents have talked a lot about the gift cut. Even the 9-year-old thinks it’s perfectly fine. Photo: Erlend Blaalid Oldeide / news – In that case, how can such a development affect the shops? – The Christmas trade is important for many shops, so it can probably worsen their finances. But supporting the trade stand cannot be the main point when we shop for Christmas. Center manager Wilhelm Tangerud at Sogningen storsenter in Sogndal is not worried about shopping stops. – But I am terribly excited about this year’s Christmas shopping, he admits, knowing full well that rising interest rates and rising prices have started to take their toll. Want the Christmas magic back Galina Eriksen and the family in Sunnfjord also stopped “gift exchange” a long time ago. – Many of our friends and family live far away, so we rather save the money for the times we meet, says the mother of three, who originally comes from Bulgaria. Galina and Øystein Eriksen would rather spend time with their family than buy lots of presents. Here with 16-year-old Martin (left), Livia (8) and Simen (10). Photo: private In the Norwegian part of the family, the children receive gifts, while the adults cut it out. Elisabeth Offerdal from Sørbøvåg in Sogn has also had enough of all the pressure to buy. – I feel the magic around Christmas is awakening, she says. This year she is making progress. Family mothers would rather spend their time and money doing something together with the family. – I would like December to be taken back, says Offerdal. Has a secret Santa In the family of Liva Sofia Devold Midtun, they have also had enough of the presents. A few years ago they decided to give just one present. Who you buy for is decided by drawing a slip with a name on it. On Christmas Eve, everyone has to guess who the gift is from, i.e. a kind of “secret Santa”. – It will be a fun thing and you really have to hone in on what you think the person wants, says the student. The future in our hands is happy to hear about gift cuts. They point out that if everyone had the same consumption as Norwegians, we would need 3.6 earth globes. – So we are forced to reduce consumption quite sharply, says Anja Bakken Riise in the organisation.
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Jakob (9) loves that the family cuts out Christmas presents – news Vestland
