Hello and welcome back to Mortgage Advisor on FIRE. This week I discuss Christmas, including financial tips, and discussing what the impact would be of cancelling it. Also, progress on my job search, and the usual financial updates.
Weekly Update
I had a few medical appointments this week which were all fairly routine, including a GP appointment about my ear pain, and some scans on my right elbow which has been painful for a few years now.
I had been using a spray for my ears but it didn’t fully resolve the issue and now I’m on oral antibiotics. There’s some suspicion I might have ruptured my eardrums at some point with an infection taking hold as they healed. Whatever caused it, it’s been annoying.
My elbow problems started in the summer of 2022 and despite lots of physio, it’s not healing. I’ve seen a couple of surgeons and had several scans which have not suggested anything that needs repair. The pain is real though. I’ve been seeing a new consultant who ordered a different type of scan, so hopefully, something will come of this.
This weekend we had a look around some of the Christmas markets in the city centre. To be honest, they were a bit dull. It was nice being out and about with Oana, and we had a nice lunch of poutine served in a giant Yorkshire pudding, along with spicy chicken tenders on Texas Toast.
If there’s one thing about this time of year I hate, it’s forced enthusiasm. I don’t think it’s as bad now as it used to be, but for a long time, it felt as though if you didn’t pretend to enjoy Christmas and get blind drunk through most of December, you were seen as miserable and a party pooper, just like me in the pic below:
This got me wondering about the possible economic impact of Christmas just being cancelled.
Cancelling Christmas
Christmas is a huge cultural and economic event, and cancelling it would have some far-reaching consequences. These would not necessarily be all positive or negative though. Let’s get into it…
Negative Impacts
Retail
Christmas is a peak sales period for retailers, especially in sectors like toys, electronics, clothing, and luxury goods. Without Christmas, retail sales would drop, especially in the fourth quarter, affecting profitability and potentially leading to job cuts.
This would have a similar impact on the hospitality and tourism sectors. Christmas markets, holiday travel, and festive dining contribute billions to local economies. Without the holiday, restaurants, hotels, and attractions would lose vital revenue. Which leads back to…
Job Losses
Seasonal employment spikes during Christmas in retail, logistics, hospitality, and delivery services. Without Christmas, many of these temporary jobs would vanish.
Charity
Many charities rely on donations during the festive season. The absence of Christmas could lead to a significant drop in funding for non-profits. Many people only donate at this time of year, and without that prompt to be charitable, some of these organisations would fail.
Positive Impacts
Reduced Financial Stress
Families often go into debt to fund Christmas spending. Without it, households might save money, leading to better financial health for individuals. Not having to worry about funding Christmas could have a massive impact on mental and physical health.
Environmental
No Christmas would reduce the environmental impact of excessive consumption, such as waste from packaging, energy for decorations, and carbon emissions from holiday travel. Also, a reduction in the amount of crap that is produced entirely for Christmas (a lot of which is plastic) can only be a good thing.
Economic Rebalancing
Without a single holiday driving consumption, spending might be spread more evenly throughout the year, stabilising cash flows for businesses. It would potentially lead to more mindful spending, and less “boom and bust”.
Improved Physical and Mental Health
Without the need to go “all out” on entertainment and gifts, people will not need to push themselves to the brink. The stress of Christmas, and the expectation to indulge to excess, is not good for physical, mental, or financial health. Yes, there are some benefits to treating yourself now and then, but this time of year seems to be all about excess.
Not Like Other Girls Retailers
My phone has not been working properly for some time with the microphone being the major issue. This is a problem when I’m taking calls from potential recruiters and employers. I’ve had the phone for over two years, which is not as long as I would like. However, a repair would have cost almost £600, with Apple also offering me £330 to trade in my 13 Pro Max. Based on these numbers, it made sense to just get a new phone.
I’d been putting off going to the Apple store because I don’t like the shopping centre it’s located in, and I find the arrogance of Apple off-putting. I like Apple products though, and I like the user experience. There’s just this cult mentality around the brand which I can’t stand. I’ve tried using Android a few times and it’s just not for me.
So, I decided to make the trip to Meadowhall and visit the Apple store. It was, as expected, busy but not crazily so. There were plenty of staff milling around chatting with each other and with customers. I was soon approached by one of their associates and this is how the conversation went.
Setting: Apple Store – Sheffield
Me: I’d like to buy a new iPhone, please.
Apple Drone 1: Ok, there’s over an hour’s wait.
Me: To buy a new phone?
AD1: Yes, we can book you an appointment.
Me: Sorry, I need to make an appointment to buy a new phone?
AD1: Yes, it’s very busy.
Me: But you’re literally stood with me and I know exactly what I want.
AD1: Even so, it takes a long time to go through the sale.
Me: Why?
AD1: It just does.
Me: So you’re talking to me now. I can see other members of staff not engaged with customers, and you will not sell me a phone without an appointment.
AD1: Yes.
Me: Is there someone more senior I can speak with?
AD2
A couple of minutes later I was speaking with someone who was apparently senior. I’ll refer to them as AD2. The conversation went exactly as with AD1. By this point, I’d been in the store for over twenty minutes. AD2 explained that the process of selling a new phone takes approximately twenty minutes.
I don’t like being awkward. I hate shopping and I hate dealing with salespeople. In this case, I wanted to trade in my phone and make sure it was all done and dusted quickly, I thought an in-person visit was the lesser of two evils.
I then spoke with a third person, this time a manager, who was patronising and kept saying “Apple aren’t like other retailers.” As she gesticulated she managed to hit my arm. I looked down at my arm and then to her face; “Please do not touch me.”
Fortunately, at this point a salesperson became free and I walked away from the manager. By this point, I’d been in the store for half an hour already. The sales guy was great. We had a good chat about the phone and loads of other stuff including his travels in Japan, and the time he spent in Pakistan. It’s not often that I get great service, but this visit to the store saw both extremes of the spectrum, and fortunately, the sales guy was excellent.
Getting the phone…
My new phone is good although it will take some time to get used to the new features on the 16 Pro Max. The camera has new features, and the handset has several new buttons. So far I like it.
The thing that frustrated me today was not the fact that Apple wants to use an appointment system for sales. It’s the inefficiency I experienced. If their staff were going flat out and the store was rammed, I’d get it. The store wasn’t rammed though. If they took some of the staff doing the busy work, like trying to promote the appointment system, and had them actually serve customers, perhaps they wouldn’t need an appointment system.
John Lewis…
It reminds me of the issue I had with the John Lewis store in Sheffield. I predicted its closure a couple of years before Covid-19 hit in a blog post on my old site, Now We Live. I cited two reasons why it would close; a lack of sales staff and a lack of stock. Sales is simple if you have good staff and a good product, people will buy from you. John Lewis had a lack of both.
Many times I went to the store to look for a new TV, laptop, camera and so on. I’d see one I like, and be happy to buy it there and then, but I’d then be told they had no stock available and they could order it for me. I’d tell them it’s ok and look it up myself online, only to find it cheaper elsewhere (usually Amazon) where I could get next-day delivery. This was happening day in, and day out.
I’m not suggesting that Apple are about to go under. I am arguing that too many people in business take a simple concept and make it unnecessarily complex.
Job Search
I’ve got three irons in the fire, so to speak. I’m waiting to hear back after two interviews for the first job, and I’m waiting for the results of an assessment I completed for a second job. I’ve got an interview lined up for a third one, following an informal chat.
I only have a few days left before going on holiday, and I’ll be on leave for the remainder of my notice period. It’s so strange that this chapter of my life is ending, as it’s been a third of my life, and the bulk of my working life. I’ve met some great people in this job, and I wish them all the best even if we don’t stay in contact.
There’s a tendency, despite what people intend, for people to lose touch once they no longer have a reason to speak, such as work. A friend of mine suggests that people have to share interests or hobbies outside of work to remain friends, and that makes sense. As the saying goes, out of sight, out of mind.
Job Sites
Before this current job search, I had not had reason to seriously look for work for over a decade. The main websites I’m using to search for roles, like Indeed and Reed, are if I’m being polite, not good.
One of the major problems is that the filter options don’t work. If you try to filter just remote jobs, you end up with jobs that state they’re remote, but in the description also state you have to attend the office. There are also a lot of scam listings where employers ask for free work as a demonstration of your ability.
I’m a bit old-fashioned when it comes to browsing social media, shopping sites, or for work. I don’t want an algorithm to determine what I see; I want filters that work, and I want to see things listed in order, whether that’s chronological, by price, or another standard metric.
What I’m Doing
Listening: The Hidden Space: The Glass Book Two by Nathan Hystad.
Watching: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine; MasterChef: The Professionals.
Gregg Wallace
The allegations against Gregg Wallace are mounting, with reports claiming he has engaged in sexist and racist behaviour. I have no idea if it’s true or not, but I don’t expect him to be presenting MasterChef again anytime soon. I’ve always found him a little bit annoying but I don’t generally like trial by media. Hopefully, the investigation will get to the bottom of it all.
In more general terms you would think that people would learn by now that being misogynistic, racist, or generally being an asshole, does not fly in civilised society. This sort of behaviour needs to be called out as soon as it occurs, and it needs to be understood that not challenging this behaviour in the moment simply allows it to spread.
Giving up partway through the story…
I’m in the middle of a series by Nathan Hystad but I’m not sure that I’m going to finish it because it’s dull and I don’t have that urge to pick it up and listen to it some more. I hate not finishing a story I’ve started though, so I might just have a read at the plot summary and see what happens that way.
Deep Space Nine
We are nearing the end of season two of our DS9 rewatch. It’s my seventh, maybe eighth rewatch, and I’m still noticing new things. The amount of world-building and foreshadowing is insane. I know there are arguments out there that DS9 was ripping off Babylon 5 but even if that’s the case the former was the better overall show than the latter. B5 told a great story but the production value was lower and it’s aged badly. DS9, on the other hand, in some ways hasn’t aged a day.
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Financial Update
Assets
Premium Bonds: £15,200.00.
Stocks and Shares ISA: £89,987.73.
Fuck It Fund: £34.94.
Pensions: £89,534.77.
Residential Property Value: £237,447.00.
Total Assets: £432,204.44.
Debts
Residential Mortgage: £185,094.90.
Total Debts: £185,094.90.
Total Wealth: £247,109.54.
Not much to report from my finances this week. It’s that regular lull between payday and getting the monthly bills out of the way.
As you read this we will be in December, and on the home stretch to Christmas, and I thought it would be wise to share some best practices when it comes to Christmas spending.
Do
Set a Budget
Decide how much you can afford to spend overall and stick to it. Include gifts, decorations, food, and travel in your budget. Christmas is a short period that comes around every year. There’s no need to break the bank every single year.
Plan Ahead
Start shopping early to avoid last-minute rushes and inflated prices. Create a list of gifts and prioritize them. It might be a moot point for this year, but you may be able to buy some gifts for 2025 in the January sales
DIY Where Possible
Consider homemade gifts or decorations. They’re personal, thoughtful, and often cheaper. It’s not always about how much you spend on a gift, but rather the thought that goes into it.
Track Spending
Keep a record of your purchases to ensure you’re staying within budget. I love spreadsheets so this doesn’t feel like a chore to me. It’s easy to get carried away with buying gifts and tracking what you spend helps prevent this.
Secret Santa
Secret Santa can be fun in large friendship or work groups, and you can even choose a specific theme or spending limit. I’ve had some great Secret Santa gifts and a few that have made me question what sort of impression I’d made on the gift giver. Either way, it’s good fun.
Don’t
Don’t Overspend
Avoid feeling pressured to buy expensive gifts or keep up with others. There will always be someone who has spent or received more, so just accept that and get on with your own life. Overspending on gifts is just idiotic as no one benefits from it. Each year hundreds of millions of pounds are spent on unwanted gifts that are never used.
Don’t Ignore Hidden Costs
Unless specifically requested I would avoid buying a gift that requires another purchase from the receiver. For example, buying a gift that requires specific batteries but then not providing those also. Or buying a subscription to something that will require the receiver to subscribe for longer to get the full benefit. You’re not buying someone a gift, you are buying them an obligation.
Don’t Use Credit Cards…
…unless you can pay them off in full without paying interest. Anyone who values thoughts over material possessions would not want you to get into debt to provide a gift.
Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute
Procrastinating can lead to panic buying, which often costs more. Make a plan with enough time to allow you to research gifts and avoid impulse buys.
Don’t Ignore Sales Psychology
Beware of “limited-time offers” or “buy one, get one” deals that may push you to buy unnecessary items. A similar concept is where you are given a discount code which requires you to spend money on something to receive said discount. This is not a saving; it’s a way of manipulating you into buying something you had no intention of buying.
Don’t Forget to Communicate
Discuss expectations with family and friends, especially if finances are tight, to avoid awkwardness. Maybe agree to not get individual gifts and instead pool resources on a group experience.
Don’t Consume To Excess
Christmas is a time to enjoy good company and good food, at least it is to me. However, as I’ve gotten older I’ve realised that much of the food and drink consumed at this time of year is not stuff I actually enjoy or crave; it’s just bought and consumed out of habit.
For the past few years, we’ve been gradually scaling back what we buy and what we use. We aren’t depriving ourselves, but rather are focusing our money on what we actually want and will enjoy. For example, instead of buying a dozen bottles of some soft drink, we’ll buy less of one we really like. It’s the same principle with biscuits or cheese; buy less, but buy better quality.
That’s all for this week. Thank you for reading, and I hope you have a great week ahead. If you have any thoughts on this week’s post, please leave a comment below.
Disclaimer
The views and opinions in this blog are my own, and do not represent the views or opinions of my employer, nor should they be considered advice.
If you want personalised financial advice, seek an appropriate professional. If you are in financial difficulty, seek advice via the resources below:
Biolink
You can now find all my social media pages by checking out my Biolink:
bio.link/davidscothern.