As most of the shops, online and on the High Street, gear up for their busiest time of the year, Money Matters has decided to have a bit of a rant over the ways in which those clever marketing chaps persuade us to part with our money. Don’t let me stop you doing your Christmas shopping or remembering your loved ones’ birthdays, but please don’t fall for some of the gimmicks that are used to persuade us to part with our cash.

I’m going to be generous and throw in wedding anniversaries and the odd Easter Egg as allowable. But let’s start with an ‘old faithful’ – Valentine’s Day. Why on earth do you need to be told to let the love of your life know that they’re still your number one by buying gifts that have been increased in price specifically for the occasion? Do it on a random date and save yourself a small fortune! You’d have enough left to repeat the exercise and get double the benefit!

It’s like money going up in smoke

Valentine’s Day has been a ‘celebration’ for many years, but last week’s offering of Halloween is a more recent phenomenon. It’s been imported from the United States and involves us paying out for pumpkins, scary costumes and countless treats. What are we celebrating anyway? It’s just like money going up in smoke.

Next week that happens literally – Bonfire Night. ‘Celebrating’ a failed bomb plot of 400 years ago by setting off fireworks is hardly a politically correct activity if you ask me, but nobody lighting the blue touch paper is celebrating Guy Fawkes. They’re doing it because of the social pressure to be seen to be setting fire to their money. Can you believe that?!

A trick to get you to spend more than you need to

Later this month, the Americans are at it again. Exporting the idea of ‘Black Friday’. Not content with this being the busiest online day of pre-Christmas shopping, we are now pressured into spending far too much money too early in the process, just to get the ‘best bargains’! It’s a trick to get you to spend more than you need to.

Sadly the power of TV and online advertising drives us into joining in or being deemed a poor parent or partner. Call me Bah Humbug if you will, but I’ve let Halloween pass unmarked and won’t be involved on 5th November or Black Friday. And I’ve a whole weekend on the 23rd and 24th December to find myself a few Christmas bargains!