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Its time to stop adult present giving
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Pumping Iron
08-12-2016
Originally Posted by gdjman68wasdigi:
“Agree Kitty, I get a lot of enjoyment buying people presents, I'm almost done, just need to get Saf something from the pound shop.

”

They do some lovely perfumes and cheap mouthwash at the pound shop.
Girth
08-12-2016
Originally Posted by Pumping Iron:
“They do some lovely perfumes and cheap mouthwash at the pound shop.”

Sometimes in the same bottle.
computermaster
08-12-2016
Completely agreed and anyone else who feels that way and has received presents, I can arrange for you to send them to me and I gurantee they will be destroyed immediately.
Jimmy Connors
08-12-2016
I never know what to get my sister (she already has everything) so I take her out for a meal. Just the two of us. Our kids do not attend. It's turned into a tradition now.

I may push the boat out this year and stretch to a Wimpy meal.

As for receiving gifts. I have a cupboard full of gifts that have not been used yet. Some stretching back 3 or 4 years. I could recycle them as gifts, but I can't remember who gave what!
Jimmy Connors
08-12-2016
Originally Posted by muggins14:
“About 5 months ago my older brother gave some sweetie money to my daughter - I asked her why she hadn't spent it and she said she was saving to get me something for Christmas, which is really sweet (no pun intended ). Whatever it is I shall treasure it because she's been thinking about it all this time.”

That's really nice.
calamity
08-12-2016
Originally Posted by Girth:
“Sometimes in the same bottle.”

Syntax Error
08-12-2016
Originally Posted by contrarian:
“Lets face it 95% of adult presents are superfluous and pointless and you diont need or want them. I mean buying a present for say inlaws wtf is that? I think after 16 you dont exchange presents?

Makes much more sense”

I wish more adults thought like this & Christmas would be far less stressful.
BlueEyedMrsP
08-12-2016
I don't mind shopping for people (adults or kids) who are reasonably easy to buy for. It's when you get the hard to please folks on your list that shopping becomes a chore. I just don't do it anymore. My daughter is at an age where she is a bit fussy, so cash is easiest. It's not exactly the "spirit" of Christmas or whatever, but it does make life easier.

There sure is a lot of tat that gets flogged this time of year in the shops. Years ago I would have bought a lot of that sort of thing for stocking stuffers. Not now.
muggins14
08-12-2016
Originally Posted by Jimmy Connors:
“That's really nice. ”

Of course, I may have overly hinted that Moseley Shoals by Ocean Colour Scene wouldn't be unwelcome
Syntax Error
08-12-2016
Originally Posted by BlueEyedMrsP:
“I don't mind shopping for people (adults or kids) who are reasonably easy to buy for. It's when you get the hard to please folks on your list that shopping becomes a chore. I just don't do it anymore. My daughter is at an age where she is a bit fussy, so cash is easiest. It's not exactly the "spirit" of Christmas or whatever, but it does make life easier.

There sure is a lot of tat that gets flogged this time of year in the shops. Years ago I would have bought a lot of that sort of thing for stocking stuffers. Not now.”

I think you've nailed it.

Cash or vouchers are by far the best presents for adults.

I have become my own father, in that I now give money or vouchers to adult relatives, as my dad always gave me cash, whereas my mother would buy presents.
BlueEyedMrsP
08-12-2016
Originally Posted by Syntax Error:
“I think you've nailed it.

Cash or vouchers are by far the best presents for adults.

I have become my own father, in that I now give money or vouchers to adult relatives, as my dad always gave me cash, whereas my mother would buy presents.”

Christmas should be enjoyable, not full of unnecessary stress. I've wanted to scale back on Christmas for a few years but always got guilted into not doing that from my mom. She means well and I love her, but she still thinks my daughter is a little kid who needs a massive lot of wrapped gifts under the tree to open on Christmas morning. If I had to put my shrink hat on for a moment, I'd say my father (her ex) ruined a lot of Christmases and she wanted a do-over when I had my kids. I feel like I'm finally doing it the way I want. She can tut at me if she wants.
gdjman68wasdigi
08-12-2016
Originally Posted by Pumping Iron:
“They do some lovely perfumes and cheap mouthwash at the pound shop.”

Thank god she is not high maintenance.
d'@ve
08-12-2016
Originally Posted by Syntax Error:
“I wish more adults thought like this & Christmas would be far less stressful.”

It's entirely a matter for individuals how they want to do it, there is no right way and no wrong way.

What we do in our family is get lists and choose from the lists for each other. It's not rocket science and not stressful. We sometimes delay buying things in the run up to Christmas in the knowledge that we can put it on our Christmas list instead.
Bex_123
08-12-2016
Originally Posted by Pumping Iron:
“I still enjoy giving and receiving presents, and always will.”

Same, I love deciding what presents to get my loved ones. And receiving them is always good of course

This year is awesome as it's the first time in four years I've not been a poor student so I can actually afford to buy them things again! So I've really enjoyed buying presents for both my parents, my boyfriend, and some friends.
gdjman68wasdigi
08-12-2016
Originally Posted by Bex_123:
“Same, I love deciding what presents to get my loved ones. And receiving them is always good of course

This year is awesome as it's the first time in four years I've not been a poor student so I can actually afford to buy them things again! So I've really enjoyed buying presents for both my parents, my boyfriend, and some friends.”

That's what it is all about Bex, have a great Xmas. X
d0lphin
08-12-2016
Originally Posted by contrarian:
“not when 95% are pointless and unwanted

My partner asked what do you want for christmas and my reply was nothing (in my head I said because I am not a child)”

Maybe the problem is that you are ungrateful? I appreciate the gifts that people have taken the time to choose for me and I enjoy buying for my (grown up) children, husband. mum and sister.
SeasideLady
08-12-2016
Used to buy for parents and brother, but parents now passed away. My brother decided 20 odd years ago that we should just buy for each others children and not bother with presents for ourselves. This is what we've done ever since - every birthday and Christmas we just send a card but no presents. The nieces and nephews get money gifts in their cards until they're 21, and then it stops. The only people I buy now for are my own children, and one gift to put in for the secret Santa box at work !
Mint
08-12-2016
I only buy for children as they aren't expected to buy anything in return. I only receive gifts from bosses and I don't need to buy anything in return. Exchanging gifts seems pointless to me and cancelling each others gifts out.
BadLadAsh
08-12-2016
Originally Posted by contrarian:
“Lets face it 95% of adult presents are superfluous and pointless and you diont need or want them. I mean buying a present for say inlaws wtf is that? I think after 16 you dont exchange presents?

Makes much more sense”

Speak for yourself.
ChipPaper
08-12-2016
I've completely stopped with adult present giving and receiving come Christmas and I much prefer it. I have two nephews and two nieces whose Christmas presents are all bought and I'm done for the season. My two best friends and I are going out for a few drinks and that's our gift to each other. I've never bought presents for my parents as they always said that our money is ours and not to spend it on them, and I'm not going to start now.

I'm working, I'm earning my own money, and if something comes along that I want, I buy it. I have everything that I want (that's reasonably priced, of course) and so there isn't anything I really want or need gifted to me. Of course, if someone does decide to buy me something I will be grateful but truth be told, it would only be something I could do without, in which case I think 'please don't spend your money on me, keep it for yourself' ,(I finally understand my parents now).

Obviously it's a personal thing, and some people love to give and receive presents at Christmas. I'm just glad none of these people are my immediate family I know some people might accuse me of being a Grinch but with money being tight, and friends and family having mortgages, rents, bills and babies to pay for, I'd actually be happier knowing none of their money is going on me this Christmas.
Nosedive
08-12-2016
Originally Posted by Madridista23:
“Hmmm.... Bah, Humbug much? ”

I think responses like this show just how brainwashed we've become by the all marketing hype. For a number of years now I've had to keep very quiet to my work colleagues and acquaintances etc about not doing christmas presents. They can't seem to comprehend life without christmas presents yet they all moan about the impending shopping lists and how worried they are about not knowing what to get and battling the crowds.

We stopped doing christmas presents except for the children years ago. Then when the children grew up (now in their twenties) we started doing a secret santa. Even this became a little trite as the sort of gifts we were exchanging were more novelty gifts than full on proper presents, so that has stopped too.

Or if there was really something I wanted then submitting an anonymous request might well yield it, but then that would mean doing without something small and affordable for a month or two that I could particularly do with treating myself to.

I remember one year I particularly wanted a black silk bow tie, one that you tie yourself, NOT one of those clip on pre-made types. Guess which one santa eventually got me?

I missed out on about three Christmas Dinner and Dances waiting for that present too, when I really could have done with just going out and buying one straight away.
Safi74
08-12-2016
Originally Posted by Girth:
“Sometimes in the same bottle.”

I'll look forward to it!
Safi74
08-12-2016
Originally Posted by gdjman68wasdigi:
“Thank god she is not high maintenance. ”

Indeed I'm not!

I love buying presents for the people I love. Sussing out what they may like and trying to think of a few surprises along the way. I love a good pair of novelty socks too!
Brandy211
08-12-2016
Originally Posted by Jimmy Connors:
“I never know what to get my sister (she already has everything) so I take her out for a meal. Just the two of us. Our kids do not attend. It's turned into a tradition now.

I may push the boat out this year and stretch to a Wimpy meal.
”

Are there still Wimpy Bars about?
Brandy211
09-12-2016
Originally Posted by benjamini:
“I'm 65 now and in my childhood and teens gifts and Christmas was a religious event and essentially for children, I don't ever remember adults getting anything except a packet of shortbread ,times change and christamas is a wholly different occasion. ”

My father is 82. I always remember his mother sending him a bottle of Old Spice each year
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