Do you and you SO exchange presents?

[tiff211]

DH and I usually exchange gifts (last year, he got a +++++ preg. test!!) but with finances being a little tighter this year due to me being out on leave and not doing home parties for three months, I don't think we should. I don't need/want anything. When I do, I go buy it. DH always tells me he wants a new car, or some other expensive gadget so we wind up spending more on things neither one of us needs. But I know if I tell him not to get anything, he will and knowing he will, will make me. Also, will the kids pick up that we are not unwrapping presents when they are.

It's only us so there are no other presents. So, is it crazy not to exchange gifts? Does anyone exchange gifts with small monetary amounts?

I told DH when he asked I wanted a chest freezer but my dad called and told me he was getting me one!! I didn't even tell him I wanted one. Thanks Daddy!!

 

[christinadei]

We always do. We use it as an excuse to buy each other things that we have been wanting but haven't been able to buy. But, this year, we each picked one big thing and I told DH that instead of exchanging a bunch of gifts, lets just stuff each others stockings. So that's an idea for you. If you want to get each other stuff, just stuff each others stockings. You'll just have to get creative! But it can be done inexpensively or very inexpensively.

 

[NMAmy]

Sure, we do. And it's not the monetary worth that matters but the thoughtfulness. Sometimes it will be big ticket items but more often, it's little things like books we know the other will enjoy. DH got me a little flashlight/panic alarm key chain at Lowe's the other day. He was worried because there was a violent crime near my office. Cost him $5 and just made me say...awww. THAT was a thoughtful gift and he didn't want to wait till Christmas to give it to me.

 

[cepmom]

every year I try to get DH to stop exchanging presents...this year I am trying to save to buy a new car, so I don't want to spend the extra $$. He needs to be able to open something on Christmas morning or else he gets sad, so I bought him a dvd I thought her would like and maybe something else (he desperately need new jeans) and I will take the kids to pick something out for him, from them but it won't be anything too expensive.

 

[cinmell]

Yes, my husband and I exchange gifts.

 

[pattyT]

Yes ...
but he gets the short end of the deal -
cuz i use HIS money to him things he NEEDS
but won't buy himslef - carhart fleecelined jeans, etc....

Some years he does good and others - well I am not sure where he gets his ideas but I love that he thought of me.

 

[SC Minnie]

Sometimes. One year I wanted new furniture for the den so we decided that we would exchange gifts for any occasion that year and the furniture would be our 'gift'. If we take a trip for our birthday we don't exchange since the trip was the gift to each other. This Christmas we are going on a cruise with some of his family and we will probably get each other a little something but nothing expensive.

 

[True North]

DH and I met in university when neither of us had much money. We also both have bithdays in November where we tended to go a little over board. We decided back then that for Christmas we would not spend any money on gifts for each other. For the two of us, who are definetly not crafty, this has been a challenge. We have used anything we have around the house to make gifts. Over the years we have given each other scrapbooks, home made stuffed animals, lovely dinners, games, etc... We still do it to this day. It saves some money and does truly mean something.

 

[moniot]

I always make sure we have something to open with the kids. Usually it is something like, socks and underwear, new shoes and shorts and t-shirts. I was going to get this anyway to pack for our trip. The kids get the same along with their other gifts. It adds to the pile under the tree with out added to my christmas budget. Anything purchased between Halloween and Christmas gets wrapped is my thought. Unless it is needed before.

 

[tiff211]

Thanks for the suggestions!! I like them all!

 

[Galahad]

Yes. Christmas is a big deal in our house. BUT, we have a budget. We make up envelopes with cash in late October and distribute them and that's ALL you can spend.

 

[mickeyfan2]

We always exchange gifts. What a wonderful way to show how we feel about each other.

 

[Disney Ella]

We try to spend less than $50 on each other. I think it's important for the kids to see that Christmas is not just about them. And they enjoy watching DH open his coal candle every year and act surprised that he got it again.

 

[hiwaygal]

Well, considering it's just me and DH (and the dogs, of course)...YEAH we get gifts for each other!!! If we didn't, we'd just be sitting around Christmas morning twiddling our thumbs!

Besides, I feel like aside from birthdays, it's the only time we get to be a bit more extravagant and lavish for gifts, you know? We buy stuff we need, when we need it...but Christmas and birthdays are for fun stuff!

 

[JVL1018]

We ALWAYS exchange gifts and stockings.
The $$$ spent has gone down since before we had kids, but we still get each other 5-6 gifts each. I cannot imagine not having somegthing for him or vice versa.

 

[tiff211]

We try to spend less than $50 on each other. I think it's important for the kids to see that Christmas is not just about them. And they enjoy watching DH open his coal candle every year and act surprised that he got it again.

Good point! I guess part of the reason I ask is neither DH nor I celebrated X-mas growing up so we are kind of going along on our own so our children have memories of X-mas morning. We haven't realized paid attention to what it does for us, since we have always focused on the kids and their excitement.

 

[tiff211]

We always exchange gifts. What a wonderful way to show how we feel about each other.

I can think of another way.......

 

[ObsessedwithWDW]

I have been asking others around me this very same question. My husband and I have always exchanged gifts of a fairly elaborate nature. Jewlery or golf clubs etc. BIG STUFF! This year we are trying something new.....stocking stuffers only and the limit is $100! So it will be more like stuff we need vs. stuff we WANT for. PLUS we have our first baby coming mid January so that is our gift to each other this year!

 

[WDWLVR]

We actually stopped exchanging gifts a few years ago. Now our trips are our gifts to each other. Last year it was the 10 day Christmas cruise on DCL. This year it is an early December trip to Disneyland.

We sometimes still do stocking stuffers but that is it and those are very small.

 

[Trish Bessette]

We do and I love it. I don't really need anything as I buy things as I need them throughout the year so we tend to get fun things for one another. This year I've gotton DH a gas auger for ice fishing, clothes, books, turkey fryer, remote control helicopter...you know what they say "Boys love their toys"