I can understand that companies need to make money, but seriously, is Kmart so cash strapped that they need to start the hype machine in September? Granted they didn't start selling anything until October, but the 'Christmas Store' section of the website had a somewhat ominous "coming soon" teaser that showed up halfway through September – nearly 4 months before Christmas. Oh, and as soon as the online store finally showed up, the physical stores were once again filled with Santa hat adorned flamingos.

Does the looming idea of crippling seasonal debt a THIRD OF A YEAR beforehand make it more special? Or is this an example of mega-stores "being responsible" and giving their less-well-off customers more of a chance to spread-out their buying to have less of an impact on the end-of-the-year? Hint: no, no it's not. It's entirely about making more out of their biggest earning quarter. They couldn't care less if you're actively considering suicide so you can claim life insurance to cover your Christmas debt ('cause apparently that's a thing – what a time to be alive!)



Hot on the heels of the earliest companies that jumped the gun, the first mass-marketing on television started in October with the first 'Winter Christmas is coming' ads appearing, urging anybody that still watches broadcast TV to start preparing (of which the viewership is a much higher percentage than your average 'I only pirate TV on my schedule to stick-it-to-the-man' hipster wannabes would like you to believe).

Did we all somehow forget when Christmas was? Can't I just watch a rerun of Friends without the constant reminder that Christmas is on the same day it is every year? Let's all agree to never change the day Christmas falls on – the ad agencies wouldn't be able to keep up with the new demand for reminder ads that start during the Easter break.