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In the past, I have spent thousands of dollars $$$ on Christmas gifts for many relatives. I have devoted many hours on weekends and evenings fighting the crowds at the Mall. All for what, a few people saying a quick thank you and then putting the gift away in a closet.
I think I was fooled into believing that I had to buy a gift for everyone to be a regular person and a good family member. This year I have announced that I do not want any gifts or will I buy a gift for any adult in the family. My gifts for the kids will be my time or an experience, not a material good.
Am I wrong? Will people like me destroy the American economy? Will we destroy Christmas?
In the past, I have spent thousands of dollars $$$ on Christmas gifts for many relatives. I have devoted many hours on weekends and evenings fighting the crowds at the Mall. All for what, a few people saying a quick thank you and then putting the gift away in a closet.
I think I was fooled into believing that I had to buy a gift for everyone to be a regular person and a good family member. This year I have announced that I do not want any gifts or will I buy a gift for any adult in the family. My gifts for the kids will be my time or an experience, not a material good.
Am I wrong? Will people like me destroy the American economy? Will we destroy Christmas?
I think that sends an angry message to people, like, well, you've all been so ungrateful, how's this for christmas: nothing!
why not just do something thoughtful but less expensive, like give people books on poetry or bake cookies or whatever? i budget about $20 per person for christmas and i'm going to buy everything before thanksgiving. i think simple gifts are always the best.
Location: Sitting on a bar stool. Guinness in hand.
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20 bucks
Quote:
Originally Posted by GreenMachine
I think that sends an angry message to people, like, well, you've all been so ungrateful, how's this for christmas: nothing!
why not just do something thoughtful but less expensive, like give people books on poetry or bake cookies or whatever? i budget about $20 per person for Christmas and I'm going to buy everything before thanksgiving. i think simple gifts are always the best.
Agreed. $20 is about right budget for each person and simple gifts are better. Also home made/self made gifts mean more to family members. At least I my family this concept has worked for the last 5 years.
Am I wrong? Will people like me destroy the American economy? Will we destroy Christmas?
I don't think you're wrong at all. Christmas shouldn't be about gifts (though there's nothing wrong with exchanging gifts). It seems to me that you told everyone well in advance that you don't want to exchange gifts, so there shouldn't be any hard feelings. You should be able to enjoy the holiday with friends and family, just like everyone else.
My sister only buys for the children in our family not adults. I see nothing wrong with this. I personally only buy gifts for immediate family (husband, parents on both sides, siblings (3 total) and their children (5 total) and that's it). I don't spend a fortune on people ($100/parents so $50 each, $25 each/siblings, $25 each/children, hubby varies from year to year). Last year I bought each of my coworkers (6 total) a tree ornament ($4/each). To me it's the thought that counts NOT the dollar amount. I try to stick to these figures but if I see something that I KNOW my sister is going to LOVE and it's over the $25 then I buy it (i'm talking $10 over not $100 over).
I think you are helping destroy Christmas, and I think you come off as a Scrooge. But that is just me. Christmas is once a year, and is a special holiday unless you don't make it special for yourself.
I think you are okay...you are not ruining Christmas. It should be about good food and time with the family. It's not worth all the stress and fighting for a parking space and last minute shopping for a material item. It's a joke how Americans scramble around year after year buying bigger and more expensive items just to keep up with the coolness factor.
Like noted above, Christmas may be a once a year special holiday, but you're not forced to buy everyone you know some special gift to make them happy.
Our local homeless shelter has a program each year where for $10 you can give a "night of shelter" to a homeless man, woman or child.
One year I donated a night of shelter for each of my immediate family
along with their gifts they received a card that said
"A night of shelter has been donated in your name"
this was the best $70 I have ever spent and everyone thought it was a great idea
this is a really good thing for those "they don't really need anything" folks on your list
If you are planning on giving your time or an experience to your kids at least take the time to makeup a nice certificate or even give them an item that has something to do with your gift.
I really like the idea of ornaments especially if you have a tag that says from to and the year, every year when they decorate they will see the ornament and remember you
Our local homeless shelter has a program each year where for $10 you can give a "night of shelter" to a homeless man, woman or child.
One year I donated a night of shelter for each of my immediate family
along with their gifts they received a card that said
"A night of shelter has been donated in your name"
this was the best $70 I have ever spent and everyone thought it was a great idea
this is a really good thing for those "they don't really need anything" folks on your list
If you are planning on giving your time or an experience to your kids at least take the time to makeup a nice certificate or even give them an item that has something to do with your gift.
I really like the idea of ornaments especially if you have a tag that says from to and the year, every year when they decorate they will see the ornament and remember you
The shelter thing would be a good way to teach kids about compassion and stuff like that. How do I convince my nephew to give up his Xbox so other people can sleep and eat?
How about this -- can you bake? If not, then you might have a nearby bakery. Buy some inexpensive decorated tins at a dollar store or elswhere and fill the tins with holiday cookies. Send the adults a tin of mixed holiday cookies - this way they know you thought about them and the cookies will be eaten. Just tell folks that you are sorry, but these are tight times ... they will be happy you thought of them.
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20 bucks
