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Post by NanaKate on Nov 25, 2018 21:21:21 GMT
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RedSquirrelUK
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,724 
Location: The UK's beautiful West Country
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Post by RedSquirrelUK on Nov 25, 2018 22:28:12 GMT
Definitely. We're focussing on consumables or experiences as much as possible. We all have too much "stuff".
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LeaP
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,939
Location: Los Angeles, CA where 405 meets 101
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Post by LeaP on Nov 25, 2018 23:00:18 GMT
We don't really exchange gift anymore. My teens have everything a human needs for survival plus a ton of other things they don't need. I often think of "Fight Club".
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Post by lostwithout2peas on Nov 25, 2018 23:29:01 GMT
We stopped doing gifts on both my IL's and my side of the family once the nieces and nephews became teenagers. We give our own kids a few gifts they really want, but in all honesty, they have a difficult time making a Christmas list each year. We give our parents a gift and don't expect anything in return as they are all on limited retirement incomes. We have 6 great nieces and nephews who are all under 7 who we buy toys for but that's it. Me and DH don't even buy each other gifts. Instead we all bake and cook and spend the holiday together, laughing, talking, playing card games and having a bonfire. It's about being together, especially after losing our Dad 6 years ago.
It's very nice and there is no stress in the money spent and hoping the reciever likes what we got them.
Some years we do white elephant just for the laughs!
It works for us.
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psiluvu
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,217
Location: Canada's Capital
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Post by psiluvu on Nov 26, 2018 0:27:57 GMT
Our family of 4 DH, DD (19) DS(15)are going to Florida for Christmas week and doing a bunch of activities including going to a Raptors/Magic NBA game while there. That is our family Christmas present.
For my brother we are giving him and his wife a VIA rail gift certificate so they can some visit us.
My mom is the only one who is not getting an experience for Christmas. She is wheel chair bound in an assisted living facility so she will get some clothes, pjs, and treats she likes. We used to give her trips and experiences when she was able to walk.
Our kids already have everything they need and we support DD while in university so it makes no sense to give her cash when we do that every month anyways. DS has worked for a couple years and doesn't spend much so he just buys whatever he wants anyways and do DH and I
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Post by papersilly on Nov 26, 2018 0:35:40 GMT
I do. This morning, DH and I asked each other what we want for Christmas. Or answer was the same---nothing. We have everything we want or need. My extended family has all they want or need. It's hard to shop for the nieces because they are older now and have very specific tastes. most of the time, money is the better option over gifts. I went gift shopping for them last year, for the first time in years and frankly, I don't think I can top it this year. I'm fresh out of ideas. Part off me really just wants to go back to giving money so I can skip the shopping chaos and just enjoy the holidays with people instead of the mall or online shopping.
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Post by papersilly on Nov 26, 2018 0:39:51 GMT
Regarding rampant consumerism, I was reading an article that said only 1% of items purchased are still in use 6 months later. The rest is discarded or not used again. The burden on the landfills alone is enormous. Not to mention mounting credit debt.
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Post by bc2ca on Nov 26, 2018 0:53:08 GMT
We've never gone overboard crazy with gifting at Christmas and really only gift within the immediate family these days. We buy plane tickets for family members to visit us but that is really the only other gifting we do.
My favorite gift ever from DS was when he made me an oversized origami puppy. It looks just like our Bella and I loved that he thought of something unique and researched how to fold it. She still sits in the family room bookcase and has made me smile for 4 years.
ETA My favorite gift from DD is a photo she and a cousin recreated. The original has them eating popsicles while sitting on ride-on toys in our backyard. They had a really close window of opportunity during a November visit to Canada and managed to find, buy and paint a couple of ride-on toys from a thrift store and find a similar backdrop. Hair in ponytails, dressed in shorts & tanks tops while eating popsicles on a frosty November morning gave me a priceless gift.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 18, 2024 19:23:25 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2018 0:57:48 GMT
I would LOVE to do away with Christmas gifting. In someways I have. The grands all get a gc so they can shop for things they want and can use. This year I talked my sister into not getting me a gift but to take me to the movies instead. My mom will be the impossible one to not gift. She LOVES LOVES LOVES a box of anything with a shiny bow on it.
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Post by lesserknownpea on Nov 26, 2018 2:20:27 GMT
In a brighter note, I like to save my money and hit the Goodwill early in January. So many brand new things donated.
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Post by stacmac on Nov 26, 2018 5:14:26 GMT
Definitely. We're getting better, as a family. We now just do one larger gift for our siblings rather than 3 small - we make it something that person really wants/ needs. Same with cousin gifts so we only buy one.
Hubby and I no longer do gifts, we have an experience with the $ instead. Go out for dinner etc. This year I broke the rule and got him a blanket!
I still get Santa stockings for the kids but they don't get overloaded and I stick to quality over quantity. I know I'm lucky to be in the financial situation where we can do that. Also, my kids are members if a toy library - it's the best! So we don't buy toys at all except for some at christmas and birthdays. I'm finding that changing little by little is the way to go. And I re-use all my decorations etc from year to year. This year I'm sharing lights with a neighbour đ
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Post by refugeepea on Nov 26, 2018 5:24:09 GMT
I agree with the article except I'm indifferent to the religious tone; more-so about the excessive waste. I've been married a long time as well as over ten years in this home. There's so many things I need to throw away or donate. We don't exchange gifts with adults or children on both sides of my family. We decided long ago our kids get enough crap from their own parents. Our family is large and it's impossible to please everyone.
Me and my husband buy things as we need them. We might buy more around Christmas because of Black Friday deals. Things for the home like a vacuum and cookware. This year our "gift" is going to be a dishwasher.  So yeah, it might look like we "go crazy" but it's things we are going to use throughout the year not necessarily because it's Christmas.
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Post by tentoes on Nov 26, 2018 5:28:28 GMT
We are spending most of our Christmas money to help send our pastor on a mission trip this coming year. We still have enough left to buy our grandchildren presents.
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Post by refugeepea on Nov 26, 2018 5:30:01 GMT
In a brighter note, I like to save my money and hit the Goodwill early in January. So many brand new things donated. I had a friend in high school whose tradition was to go shopping the day after Christmas with her mom for her gifts. I thought it was brilliant! |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 18, 2024 19:23:25 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2018 5:33:42 GMT
Weâve cut way back on our gift giving. We used to do name exchanges between all the inlaws, we had to get parents gifts, sometimes we even got all the married inlaws gifts. Plus our own children. Weâve always spoiled our children at Christmas, but we donât spoil them with materialistic stuff throughout the year so I donât feel bad for that.
It got so stressful trying to figure out what to buy, and then often not getting the right thing so it was wasted money. We said no to that. Then we started cutting back on parents gifts too. We did get a few eye rolls from the inlaws side but it made life easier.
Then the kids all started a name exchange with their cousins. I finally said Iâm no longer doing the kids Christmas gift exchange unless everyone is ok with what the actual kids would find to give as a gift. Itâs always been all the moms posting photos of exactly what their child wants from each store and then the moms run out to buy all the gifts and inevitably one kid doesnât get what they wanted and then theyâre crying. This year Iâm fed up, two of our kids have to buy for kids from one family. A few days ago my SIL posts on our family group that whoever has her kids can pick up the presents she bought at the inlaws and we can just pay her on Christmas. I find that frustrating, why are we even doing a name exchange if weâre going to buy our own kids their gifts like that and then have a âkidsâ gift exchange.
Our kids are all teens now and donât know what they want. They finally said clothes, iTunes cards and few other everyday items. These are things we normally provide, so we had a good discussion about making some changes. Weâve decided that we all love family experiences, so rather than spending a ton of money on things they donât really want weâre going to take a family vacation.
Life is less stressful when you take away the pressure of buying all the Christmas Gifts. Just enjoy the moments.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Nov 26, 2018 5:44:37 GMT
I agree with the article except I'm indifferent to the religious tone; more-so about the excessive waste. I've been married a long time as well as over ten years in this home. There's so many things I need to throw away or donate. We don't exchange gifts with adults or children on both sides of my family. We decided long ago our kids get enough crap from their own parents. Our family is large and it's impossible to please everyone.
Me and my husband buy things as we need them. We might buy more around Christmas because of Black Friday deals. Things for the home like a vacuum and cookware. This year our "gift" is going to be a dishwasher. So yeah, it might look like we "go crazy" but it's things we are going to use throughout the year not necessarily because it's Christmas.
This is us for the most part too. There are very few people we buy actual gifts for anymore simply because so many people we know and love are downsizing and donât want more stuff. I have no problem giving people consumables if I know they will enjoy them and/or share them when they have guests show up. Most of what we buy each other at this time of year is stuff we need anyway, so we buy it when the deals are good and wrap that stuff up. ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ DD is getting to an age where she doesnât want as much stuff. Her total wish list is less than ten things and she struggled to come up with what she did. We also have a ton of stuff we need to donate, sell or toss. |
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Post by refugeepea on Nov 26, 2018 5:50:56 GMT
Her total wish list is less than ten things and she struggled to come up with what she did. We also have a ton of stuff we need to donate, sell or toss. That's my youngest. We have a box full of mostly dollar store balls. He could not care less about most kid things. I'm out of ideas for "normal" things he may or may not play with. It's not worth the hassle. I'm going to put a bow on things he likes to eat. He'll be thrilled with the right brand of croutons. If he gets a package of bacon I'll be the best mom ever! |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Nov 26, 2018 15:48:52 GMT
Her total wish list is less than ten things and she struggled to come up with what she did. We also have a ton of stuff we need to donate, sell or toss. That's my youngest. We have a box full of mostly dollar store balls. He could not care less about most kid things. I'm out of ideas for "normal" things he may or may not play with. It's not worth the hassle. I'm going to put a bow on things he likes to eat. He'll be thrilled with the right brand of croutons.  If he gets a package of bacon I'll be the best mom ever! I hear ya. My kid asked for âslow rising squishiesâ. Ugh. Just what we need, a bunch of pieces of memory foam. I looked on Amazon and there was a random box of these things for $20-25. I showed it to DH and asked what he thought. His response: ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ âIf it will make her happy, get it.â  I hate buying crap like that but she plays with them and repaints them, etc. so I guess. I remember liking toys until I was... Nevermind, I STILL like toys! |
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Post by giatocj on Nov 26, 2018 16:15:15 GMT
Yes...very often. I'm not a fan of Christmas and if it weren't for my two grandsons we would go away for the holiday.
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Post by malibou on Nov 26, 2018 17:50:02 GMT
Super duper low key here. Always have been.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Nov 26, 2018 18:29:27 GMT
Using stuff on hand to make a few things, the kids will like what they get...... Others? Nice things but if they don't like them, they can trash it all!! Making a few wreaths, nothing special, for neighbor across the breezeway and friend on the 3rd floor.
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MaryMary
Pearl Clutcher
Lazy
Posts: 2,975
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Post by MaryMary on Nov 26, 2018 18:51:22 GMT
I am 100% over gifts. I donât want gifts from anyone. I only like giving gifts to my kids and some of my closer siblings. Thereâs an Adam Ruins Everything about gifts that is exactly how I feel. No more gifts.
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So yeah, it might look like we "go crazy" but it's things we are going to use throughout the year not necessarily because it's Christmas.
I hate buying crap like that but she plays with them and repaints them, etc. so I guess. I remember liking toys until I was... Nevermind, I STILL like toys! 
