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Christmas gift ..to buy or not buy

44070dart

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Here we go...
A couple years ago I sat down with the wife and said, "dear after 40 years of marriage, gift buying is getting old". There is nothing I want that I haven't bought ( within our income level, no Rolls Royce here) and she can do the same. So I think for the holiday we should not exchange gifts. Believe me guy's, it's NOT money related.

I think asking what do you want, the size (lord help you if it's too big) the color, and where to buy at the best price has gotten old. Especially when it's about the same sweaters, tops, and slacks each year. Also I don't know what to ask for anymore. If I needed it, I already bought it, and so did she.
We still buy for our daughter, her husband, granddaughter and close family, but not for each other. Other than our daughter, she wants to fabricate gifts we exchange to others.

We go out for a nice dinner on the 23rd of December to celebrate Christmas together. Last few years on her birthday we usually do dinner and a movie, then go away for a weekend.
I get the holiday growl each year from my daughter so I thought I would ask here. Let me be the first to say *** Merry Christmas *** :)
 
I totally agree with your post. Gift buying has turned into more of an obligation than anything. Christmas is for the kids. It means so much more when your that age than it does later on in life
 
Just like Birthdays.. Now we don't want them to come. My wife and I don't exchange gifts any more either.. And now my kids are getting older its not Christmas like it was when they were under 10 years old.
 
We're very similar.

If we see something that we think someone would appreciate or suits them well, we just buy it and give it then. Sometimes things just JUMP out at you.

Holidays are about being with the people, not the gifts.
 
Yea, I didn't want to spend that much money this year on xmas. Well, the shopping is done and I went way over what I was gonna spend. I'l never learn.. I do like being able to buy online tho', I haven't set foot in a store and I have received the stuff I ordered already.
 
My wife and I take a trip each winter if possible....that's our Christmas gift to each other.:thumbsup:
 
Solved the problem a few years ago. Gift cards. Rather than waste time & money on something that may not be liked, fit, expensive, etc. More bang for the buck as more can be purchased at post holiday bargains.
 
Haven’t bought a christmas or birthday gift for the wife in 20 years.
She hasn’t bought me a gift for just as long.

The kids get the gifts.
We don’t get caught up in any of it.
 
Solved the problem a few years ago. Gift cards. Rather than waste time & money on something that may not be liked, fit, expensive, etc. More bang for the buck as more can be purchased at post holiday bargains.

So if I buy you a $20 gift card, and you buy me a $20 gift card, what have we really done? It is like trading $20 bills. Why bother? Not razzing on you; this is just a realization that came to me a couple of years ago. Yes, we give money (gift cards) to the kids who need it and won't be reciprocating (at least not as much). But my wife and I either buy gifts (typically something non-essential that we would not spend money on for ourselves) or nothing at all.
 
Way ahead of you. The wife and I have never bought gifts for the other in our entire relationship. She’s Asian and that’s just not part of her culture. We’ve been together 18 years all told. When you think of all the commercial gift giving occasions in this country that’s a lot of gifts not purchased and a lot of stress avoided. We don’t do it for any occasion and I can tell you it’s refreshing to say the least. Her whole family is that way. No expectations. I do buy for some of the little kids and there’s Amazon for that. I live a stress free season in that regard.
 
Years ago, we were short on money and we agreed not to buy for each other. So I didn't and she got me something anyway. I felt like a heal. So the next year we said the same and I thought I knew what she was going to do again and bought her something. Well she didn't buy me anything and got real pissed at me. You can't win!

The whole idea of Christmas is giving. Get each other something. Don't discuss it ahead of time, just know what she needs and let what she gets you be a suprise. There is always something. Normally she is hinting around if you just listen. A lot of the time I would even make something. Keep it personal and it doesn't have to cost that much for someone to appreciate the thought behind it.

Merry Christmas
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Hate to disagree with you Kid but I have too. The whole idea of Christmas isn’t giving - unless it’s of oneself. We’ve made it that way because the U.S. economy runs on consumerism. The whole idea of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Christ. It’s nothing to do with giving gifts and all that comes with that fabricated tradition. I could go on and I won’t - but just had to say my piece. I realize many may not be Christians but for those that are ‘‘tis the reason for the season”.
 
If I think there's something she wants or needs I'll get it .
This year since our baby was born I thought a camcorder would be nice so I found a nice unit and got it for her , I gave it to her since we were doin alot of family events . But as metioned we buy what we need as we need it
 
So if I buy you a $20 gift card, and you buy me a $20 gift card, what have we really done? It is like trading $20 bills. Why bother? Not razzing on you; this is just a realization that came to me a couple of years ago. Yes, we give money (gift cards) to the kids who need it and won't be reciprocating (at least not as much). But my wife and I either buy gifts (typically something non-essential that we would not spend money on for ourselves) or nothing at all.
No, I didn't say "trade" gift cards, just that " I" did that. But, in your example, I would give a gift card of more value than received.
 
Hate to disagree with you Kid but I have too. The whole idea of Christmas isn’t giving - unless it’s of oneself. We’ve made it that way because the U.S. economy runs on consumerism. The whole idea of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Christ. It’s nothing to do with giving gifts and all that comes with that fabricated tradition. I could go on and I won’t - but just had to say my piece. I realize many may not be Christians but for those that are ‘‘tis the reason for the season”.

The reason the gift giving was started was to remind us of the three Wise Men bearing gifts when Jesus was born.

You can chose to get all wrapped up in the commercialism of the season and not the true meaning. I've seen it at a very young age and it has gotten worse. I choose not to but I do like giving gifts to my loved ones to let them know I'm thinking about them. It doesn't have to be Christmas to give someone a gift, you can do it anytime for no reason. Celebrating Christmas is a good time to do it.
 
The best gift is usually one that requires either an epiphany or a deep understanding or knowledge of the recipient. It's the thought behind figuring out or the depth of caring or knowing someone that makes for the best gifts.
Time is a valuable commodity, especially today, and taking the time to really think about what to give someone or taking the time to know someone well enough to know what to gift them, that is what makes for the best gift.
 
An appropriate book is a good gift idea if you are into gift-giving.

I always wanted to separate Christmas from the gift-giving by doing the gift exchange the first week of January (Epiphany Jan 6th). The added bonus of that is one could purchase a lot of stuff during the after Christmas clearances. However, my suggestion to do this was never taken seriously by the powers that be (if you know what/who I mean).

But presently, I don't want/need anymore stuff. I would prefer to start seeing less around here because I am tripping more and more over stuff I don't need and never use.
 
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