I Hate Christmas!
- Thread starter TheLondonCyclist
- Start date
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derrick
The Glue that binds us together.
- Location
- On the edge of London
Three grandchildren two daughters one son, my wife my wifes mum and dad my mum and a couple of close freinds, oh and two son inlaws,
on the road
Über Member
It's simple, don't buy presents for anyone.
This is one part of Christmas I dislike too. The assumption/expectation that you will buy gifts.
We buy very few gifts for extended family and when money is tight - like this year - we buy even less.
I refuse to buy anything for mr 6's dad as he has been so rude in the past about things we've given and he never says thank you.
His family have an "only for the children" rule, but neither of his brothers buy for my children so I no longer bother for theirs.
Then there are his sister's two, one of which is now 21 and earning more money than me! He gets a risque calendar as a joke every year and his sister gets a diary with a tenner inside.
Then there's only my Gran, Aunt and Uncle who live together so we usually send a hamper of some description, but not this year as I'm just too poor.
I think you need to be honest and cut down the present list. It gets a bit daft with people exchanging token gifts just to save face.
Failing that, is there anything you could make?? Salt dough decorations or mince pies??
When you have children the easy out is to send a photo of said child and everyone's happy!
We buy very few gifts for extended family and when money is tight - like this year - we buy even less.
I refuse to buy anything for mr 6's dad as he has been so rude in the past about things we've given and he never says thank you.
His family have an "only for the children" rule, but neither of his brothers buy for my children so I no longer bother for theirs.
Then there are his sister's two, one of which is now 21 and earning more money than me! He gets a risque calendar as a joke every year and his sister gets a diary with a tenner inside.
Then there's only my Gran, Aunt and Uncle who live together so we usually send a hamper of some description, but not this year as I'm just too poor.
I think you need to be honest and cut down the present list. It gets a bit daft with people exchanging token gifts just to save face.
Failing that, is there anything you could make?? Salt dough decorations or mince pies??
When you have children the easy out is to send a photo of said child and everyone's happy!
machew
Veteran
Christmas is not so much the season of giving but of trading. Commerce is nearer our nature than charity, so we strive to exchange gifts of precisely equal value. We resent the friend whose gift is unexpected, forcing a late run to the mall to reciprocate. Like accountants, we must settle the books and rid our balance sheet of debt.
Often, lest we surprise each other with unwanted gifts, we tell each other what we would like: in brief, we run each other's errands.
Since, in exchanging presents, everyone's net gain is null, I prefer the more efficient gift of not giving.
Often, lest we surprise each other with unwanted gifts, we tell each other what we would like: in brief, we run each other's errands.
Since, in exchanging presents, everyone's net gain is null, I prefer the more efficient gift of not giving.
I find a framed photograph of you and said family member/you and your family/your kids etc is a great gift especially for grandparents.
One of the great things about this gift is that it can be as expensive or low cost as you want. Frames can be bought from poundland if you're on a budget, and high quality 6x4 photoprints are £1.60 posted from Tesco's online photo service.
It's also very personal, and something you go to an effort to put together, so is generally well appreciated.
One of the great things about this gift is that it can be as expensive or low cost as you want. Frames can be bought from poundland if you're on a budget, and high quality 6x4 photoprints are £1.60 posted from Tesco's online photo service.
It's also very personal, and something you go to an effort to put together, so is generally well appreciated.
Mad Doug Biker
Banned from every bar in the Galaxy
- Location
- Craggy Island
Yes, just like the Salmonella plan in the Turkey thread, sending everyone a picture of Noodley is a sure fire way of making sure nobody will ever want a present from you again. REEESULT!!
mr_hippo
Living Legend & Old Fart
With my first wife, she always wanted me to write a list out and I alwas got the same thing every year "I did not know what to buy you so I bought you nothing; I'll get somethimg for you in the new year sales!"
I started a new tradition with my late wife in Bangkok. No bithday or Christmas presents but if I saw something that she may like, I just bought it for her and it did not have to be anything big or fancy! She done the same with me..
I started a new tradition with my late wife in Bangkok. No bithday or Christmas presents but if I saw something that she may like, I just bought it for her and it did not have to be anything big or fancy! She done the same with me..
uphillstruggler
Legendary Member
- Location
- Half way there
local amdram panto tickets, always good fun and you spend time with them, laughing.
my families are costing £191 all in for 18 of us - bargain
my families are costing £191 all in for 18 of us - bargain
BigonaBianchi
Yes I can, Yes I am, Yes I did...Repeat.
- Location
- Iskele TRNC & Mordor UK
Having people in your life to buy gifts for is a special thing. Treasure it.
Christmas this year is going to be difficult, with us loosing our Mum in April. My sister and her husband can't really afford to buy their children presents this year ether. My Nephew has been very spoiled and is demanding presents, he doesn't understand that things cost a lot of money. He is used to seeing stacks and stacks of stuff, and to be honest, he never plays with toys as he is always on computer games of some description.
I have just about enough money to feed 7/8 for five days over the Christmas period. I think having nice food and good company is better than buying rubbish that possibly wont last.
I was really upset when my sister said that it might be better if I didn't go there for Christmas because it wasn't going to be much fun.
I have just about enough money to feed 7/8 for five days over the Christmas period. I think having nice food and good company is better than buying rubbish that possibly wont last.
I was really upset when my sister said that it might be better if I didn't go there for Christmas because it wasn't going to be much fun.
jayonabike
Powered by caffeine & whisky
- Location
- Hertfordshire
Count yourselves lucky, its my Mrs birthday 3 days after Christmas.
jayonabike
Powered by caffeine & whisky
- Location
- Hertfordshire
We buy Christmas presents for each other, our Son & my Mum & thats it, no other family members get a present. They might get a card if they're lucky, but then I've never been that close to my extended family.
Arch
Married to Night Train
- Location
- Salford, UK
If you want to be clinical about that, it's true.
However, in my family we usually say something like "Oh, I'd like a new bathrobe" and the choice is down to the giver. So there's still an element of thinking about the person, and their tastes, while making sure it's in the right ballpark. And then there's still care put into wrapping it, and the enjoyment of all sitting together for a period on Christmas morning, opening the presents, sipping a glass of wine, chatting, breaking open the chocolates....
Even when it's something very specific, (Like this year, I asked my sister for a specific CD), it's often something that we wouldn't actually get round to buying for ourselves. Christmas is a prompt to treat ourselves, by proxy.
Also, we all enjoy finding little extra surprises for each other, over and above the 'known' gifts.
I love giving presents, I find I have to stop myself from adding more and more to the list, especially for those I know and love the most. I wouldn't much care if I got nothing back, as long as I knew they were made happy by what I give them.
