Ever got Christmas and/or Birthday gifts that you thought to yourself, "I'm grateful, but what the heck is this and what will I do with it?" You may also think, "I thought they knew what I liked, what I'm about?" I know there are those family members that only afford something from a Dollar Store. I had an old girlfriend once that her family gave me a pair of Black Dress Socks for Christmas. I never wore Dress Socks and didn't have any. I never went anywhere where I'd wear them. Ok, just what did I think in my mind, "Now I know why I buy my own Christmas and Birthday gifts!" Now, when family and/or friends know what you like or "what you are about", but still get something very "off of the wall" as a gift for you, what do you think?
I agree with @Beth Gallagher , it is the thought that counts when someone gives you a gift and they took the time to make it or find it. It means they cared enough to try and get you something that they thought you would like, and if they only have enough money for a dollar store gift, then that is kind of like the woman in the Bible who gave her small coins at the church, and God honored her because it was a lot of what she had. If you only want to get stuff that you want, then buy it yourself, and ask people not to give you any gifts.
Very true! That's what we done to family members. When one member gives us something we won't use, we will wait until the following Christmas or Birthday and give it to a different family member. However, whatever it is, sometimes that can't be done. Then it winds up going to the Goodwill. We bought a portable DVD Player to use on our boat. It was a regular DVD Player, not a Blue-Ray one. Since we hadn't used it much, we decided to send it, with a few regular DVD's, to my wife's brother for Christmas last year. Thing is, he's more into watching College Football, NFR and NASCAR than anything else. And, he's not nearly as electronic "techy" as wife and I. Don't even know if he's even used it! He doesn't volunteer much info on what he does to the family. Sent a very small metal Digital Camera to my older cousin 20 years ago for Christmas. Someone gave it to us as a wedding gift in 2001. It was bought at Sears, because we seen the exact same camera in 2000 while in a local Sears. It had to connect to a computer to upload/download any photos that it took. It didn't use a card. We had used it a few times, but the pictures came out very small and not that clear. We wound up buying a much more expensive Digital Camera. She had a computer, but knew very little about computer use. The camera/accessories went into her closet and, unless she gave it to someone, it's still there. Again, gave something "electronic" to a family member that knew little-to-nothing about electronics. So, a person really has to watch who they give something to.
Funny, Yvonne, that's exactly what I did for years, well except for the black socks year, before I met my wife. My first Christmas/Birthday after meeting my wife, she actually bought me gifts that I totally wanted and I done the same for her. Basically, since that first Christmas/Birthday, we have always shopped together for things we each want. So, today, each of us know exactly what we get from the other................and it's always great and things we want! Her family will sometimes give us great gifts and sometimes, not so great. But, that's just the way it is. My wife's older sister will give her clothes that she (older sister) likes, not so much what my wife likes. They both have very, very different interests and lifestyles.
I know it's the "thought" that counts, however, when it's something that would never be used or really seems to be sort of "stupid" looking or whatever, then the "thought banks" start laughing. It winds up at the Goodwill faster than into the closet.
The giver would probably be happy if you recommended that you no longer exchange gifts. Sounds like a pointless exercise anyway.
Now, what the SIL (wife's older sister) has sent us for our Birthday's that was very nice and "good" was a Gift Card to Longhorn Steakhouse or one to Boot Barn.
Well, Beth, one Christmas that my wife was still unemployed, we did let her older sister know that we wouldn't be sending anything to anyone for Christmas. The sister said "no problem" to us over the phone. The last two years, and this year, since she is still working, we sent a $30 Visa Gift Card to everyone (10 family members) for Christmas.
At some point my 5 siblings and I decided we would no longer buy gifts for each other (but we bought gifts for nieces & nephews.) The exception we made was to give homemade gifts, if people felt like it. Except for couples, gift-giving to adults is horribly awkward. It's a burden to the giver to figure out what to buy, and it's a burden on the receiver to tell a convincing lie. edit to add: This is what gift cards are for, although I've told people that I didn't really like that thing that I bought with their gift card, just to keep them on their toes.
We don’t buy gifts for adults only the little kids ( I’ve got Grandkids 18/29 / 31 ) and then my eldest son got married in his mid 40’s for first time so he has kids 8/9/10 but after this Christmas I will just give them gift cards or money cause they have way way to much . Hubs and I used to buy something for each other then it got all to hard and we started giving each other money ( silly really ) So about 4 years ago I started putting $1 and $2 coins in a christmas jar if I have them to spare ( from housekeeping / food money ) not bill money they are all paid direct debit … We’ve just paid ourselves $250 each from the Christmas jar to buy what we want , I’m planning on getting myself a new cutting mat ( sewing ) and a rotary cutter , got both already but they are old and getting crappy
Well, we got gifts we wanted that we bought together, but the family's gifts were rather odd. Wife's older sister had the wedding cake top from our wedding reception in 2001. Actually, my wife's mother had it, but after she passed away, the older sister found it. She told us yesterday that she had tried giving it to us three different times for Christmas, but didn't want to give it up. Don't know what that was about! It was our wedding cake topper, but now we have it. Then they gave us mostly Christmas decor. The gifts were nice, BUT, Christmas decor???? Things that are only used/brought out at Christmas?? Told my wife that we will tell the family that we request Visa Gift Cards next year. We spent out $300 for $30 Visa Gift Cards for the family.
Not that you asked for my opinion, but why not just announce to the family that you won't participate in any more gift exchanges? Just swapping gift cards is a pointless exercise, so just wish each other a Merry Christmas and forget the gifts.