Christmas Presents...In or Out
Hi, Duffy Brown here and I’m getting into the spirit of Christmas.
Okay, I know this sounds very Scroogeish but I’m really serious about the present in or out question. Maybe because I’ve reached a point in my life where I have enough “stuff” and do not need or want more. Fact is, I’m getting rid of “stuff” and do not want to backfill with more stuff I’ll want to get rid of in five years from now.
I love giving presents but do not like getting them. Mostly because I think...Where in the heck am I going to put this? Or I look really bad in black and now have a black sweater to replace the one I just consigned.
And...thank the Lord...my kids agree. Believe it or now, we do not exchange Christmas presents!
Oh, I give the grandkids prezzies as there has to be something under the tree and I really do love shopping for them but I would have no idea what to give my kids. They are so picky and what I give them would probably wind up in my black sweater category.
But we do celebrate a ton! We focus on food and getting together and cracking a nice bottle of wine or braking out decadent chocolates or springing for that special dinner or going out to a really nice restaurant or...you get the picture. We’ve done this for seven years now and I have to say I do not at all miss the present side of Christmas.
So what about you? Do you exchange presents with your family members? How do you handle the black sweater problem? Do you Secret Santa or draw names or make lists?
Whatever you do Celebrate the season!
Hugs, Duffy
Okay, I know this sounds very Scroogeish but I’m really serious about the present in or out question. Maybe because I’ve reached a point in my life where I have enough “stuff” and do not need or want more. Fact is, I’m getting rid of “stuff” and do not want to backfill with more stuff I’ll want to get rid of in five years from now.
I love giving presents but do not like getting them. Mostly because I think...Where in the heck am I going to put this? Or I look really bad in black and now have a black sweater to replace the one I just consigned.
And...thank the Lord...my kids agree. Believe it or now, we do not exchange Christmas presents!
Oh, I give the grandkids prezzies as there has to be something under the tree and I really do love shopping for them but I would have no idea what to give my kids. They are so picky and what I give them would probably wind up in my black sweater category.
But we do celebrate a ton! We focus on food and getting together and cracking a nice bottle of wine or braking out decadent chocolates or springing for that special dinner or going out to a really nice restaurant or...you get the picture. We’ve done this for seven years now and I have to say I do not at all miss the present side of Christmas.
So what about you? Do you exchange presents with your family members? How do you handle the black sweater problem? Do you Secret Santa or draw names or make lists?
Whatever you do Celebrate the season!
Hugs, Duffy
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Barbara
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Nov 30, 2016 12:24PM
Our family still gives presents, but I have carefully steered them into buying consumables. I too am in the stage of life where I am trying to get rid of excess-and boy there is plenty of that! So except for the young newlyweds in the family, I give a lot of gift cards-including ones for the local meat market and grocery store. For a son who lives in another state, I have purchased gift cards to a supermarket in his town online. He can splurge or use them on necessities-whatever makes him happy. My favorite presents are the amazon gift cards I get-and spend happily on ebooks and such! I do ask for lists in case there is something I can fulfill for someone, but as we all know, that can be close to impossible sometimes! Most important is our Christmas Eve dinner together with all family and any friends who want to come-as well as any people we run into without a family to celebrate with. That evening is the greatest gift of all!
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I give gift cards that way they can get want they want.
Vicki wrote: “I give gift cards that way they can get want they want."Gift cards are the best!! Great idea. Have a wonderful Christmas season. Hugs, Duffy
Vicki wrote: “I give gift cards that way they can get want they want."Gift cards are the best!! Great idea. Have a wonderful Christmas season. Hugs, Duffy
Barbara wrote: "Our family still gives presents, but I have carefully steered them into buying consumables. I too am in the stage of life where I am trying to get rid of excess-and boy there is plenty of that! So ...”I’m having a Christmas Eve party for family I haven’t seen in a while too. Yes, that is the best present of all. Just getting together is special. Have a terrific Christmas!! Hugs, Duffy
Barbara wrote: "Our family still gives presents, but I have carefully steered them into buying consumables. I too am in the stage of life where I am trying to get rid of excess-and boy there is plenty of that! So ...”I’m having a Christmas Eve party for family I haven’t seen in a while too. Yes, that is the best present of all. Just getting together is special. Have a terrific Christmas!! Hugs, Duffy
Duffy wrote: "Vicki wrote: “I give gift cards that way they can get want they want."Gift cards are the best!! Great idea. Have a wonderful Christmas season. Hugs, Duffy"
Merry Christmas!
The "kids" are now all adults, the youngest at 20 and in college. So last year I organized a Secret Santa exchange for them with a $25 limit. They really enjoyed it and will do it again this year. As for the "elders" (parents and grandmother), we do exchange gifts, but I try for consumables (wine!), expirables (winter blooming plants), or experiences (olive oil tasting, high tea, concert tickets). My mother-in-law lovingly gives restaurant group gift certificates, and I've used mine to invite her to dinner with me.
Even my own "kids" now prefer experiences over things, so much so that they cannot even come up with a thing-based wish list.
Last year, I gave each of my sisters a Kiva gift card so they could experience the impact of making a microloan and having it repaid. This year, it may be donations in their honor to their favorite charities.
We used to go crazy with the gifts, but as we all got older things changed. Now we pick one name from the four of us adult kids, the spouses, the nephew and his wife and niece. Then the four of us divide into pairs and get one of our parents a gift. This has worked perfectly now for a few years. Most times gift cards are the present. Other times, they come to me for what everyone else wants. Somehow I have become the present monitor or something, lol
Barbara wrote: "Our family still gives presents, but I have carefully steered them into buying consumables. I too am in the stage of life where I am trying to get rid of excess-and boy there is plenty of that! So ...”Hi, Barbara!! I totally agree on the consumables. I do a foodie gift basket for my kids and their families to enjoy during the season and of course throw in a few Starbucks cards and the like. Christmas gifts that work really well at our house. Hugs, Duffy.
Vicki wrote: “I give gift cards that way they can get want they want."Gift cards always work!!! Great idea. Hugs, Duffy
Merrill wrote: "The "kids" are now all adults, the youngest at 20 and in college. So last year I organized a Secret Santa exchange for them with a $25 limit. They really enjoyed it and will do it again this year. ...”Hi, Merrill. Great idea and lots of fun. You get into the spirit without breaking the bank and it is nice to have something to open on Christmas day. Hugs, Duffy
Kayt18 wrote: "We used to go crazy with the gifts, but as we all got older things changed. Now we pick one name from the four of us adult kids, the spouses, the nephew and his wife and niece. Then the four of us ...” I love the picking names idea and it is fun to shop, least I think it is. Hugs, Duffy
My husband and I don't buy for each other because it's not about the presents for us. We buy for our 10-year-old son and a few other family members, but we always ask them what they want/need and know their likes and dislikes. Plus, I do it year-round, that way we're not spending all at once. The most important thing, though, is who is around the tree, not what is under it. I love to bake and send out cards because I enjoy it, not because I expect anything in return. And this year, my son picked out a child's name from a tree at a local store and we bought a gift for him. We're going to do that every year. I always tell my son it's not about what you get, it's about what you give. And truth be told, he never asks for very much when it comes time to make his list every year.
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