Christmas shopping

In recent times I am increasingly alarmed by the consumer frenzy which appears to be gripping us. I am suffering from marketing-itis, where I find the endless screaming exhortations to buy are starting to drive me mad. For Christmas I am considering hiding in my local charity shop and taking a leaf out of my Estonian friend's book. 'Fion,' she told me solemnly last Christmas, 'in Estonia we only buy people presents that they actually NEED.'