[Margaret Pilkington]

You said that Christmas is what you make it.
If you do not like the consumerism, then the answer is in your hands.....don't buy anything other than what you would buy for any other day of the week....turn into work....you might have to walk it as there will be no public transport(some people DO want to celebrate with their family).
Stop worrying so much about what other people do with their lives.
If they are daft enough to buy presents all year round, but still overspend on the plastic, that is their lookout....unless they are asking you to pay the bill that is.
Just get on with living......and perhaps if you really want to make a difference and experience the real meaning of Christmas, maybe you might like to help out at a place where the homeless are given a hot meal, a shower and some new clean clothes.
Maybe, just maybe that would give you a little perspective on your own life. Make you appreciate what you have got!