I'm against Xmas gifting

[nativetxn]

Or...adopt a family that really needs help this Christmas.

 

[Mr.MouseFan]

I agree with the idea of the gift of time. Last year, instead of he usual gift on christmas morning, I took my mom to New York City for the weekend.

 

[LuvN~Travel]

Also, if you really don't want to spend much money on gifts,
just buy one for each other, then spend the day helping
at a homeless shelter or some such. I know it would be
appreciated a lot, and you'll get the feeling of Christmas back
in a hurry I bet. Good luck with your holiday blahs!
Kim

 

[shortbun]

I'm right there with ya-except for the kids not needing
gifts. All the adults in my family are getting "goodwill"
unless I see something they can't live without. No more
meaningless gifts from me. My sister wants to get gifts
but "set a limit" for spending. I told her I didn't want to
be boxed into buying junk for everyone and that it
ruined Christmas for me. I actually did find a perfect gift
for her SO way back in July, so he gets a gift! I took my
neice clothes shopping last weekend and we found the
coolest outfit for her-we both loved it! That will be her
gift. My son can't decide what he wants this year-so far
I have only books for him but he loves books so that's
ok. Santa still comes to our house and he'll have to
come up with something wonderful, I'm keeping my ears
open for that tip. As to the "food and wine", I rarely drink
anymore but one good glass of wine sounds fab. I'm making
candy to give out this year, DS will have fun with that.
We'll do our traditional cut outs. We'll make a gingerbread
house like we always do. We'll go pickout our special tree
and decorate it listening to all kinds of wonderful Christmas
music. We'll put out all the Nativity scenes and talk about
the story of the first Christmas. We'll have an Advent Wreath
and Calendar to further point out the spiritual meaning
of Christmas. AND, Jesus always gets a home made
birthday cake at our house! We read the 12 days of Christmas
and talk about how and why that song was written during the
days of religious persecution-it's an interesting story and Ds
is always interested in how clever those folks were. So-Christmas
is much more that "Material" at my house and I just remembered
why I love it so much. No money needed for any of the above
stuff except the tree. I'm getting excited now!
mimi

 

[SuiteDisney]

adamak, please read the book, Skipping Christmas by John Grisham. It's hysterical!

Jason! That's not funny!

 

[Ranatra]

adamk, I can see your point.
Our entire family has really cut back on the gift giving. At my In laws, we only buy for my MIL, period. (FIL deceased) We don't buy for brothers, sisters, inlaws or nieces or nephews. We all decided that the kids get enough gifts from their parents.
We do the same thing on my side of the family. We buy for my mom, I buy for my 3 grown kids and my DH. That's it.
It makes the shopping a lot easier.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I've got a sister and a brother with no kids...so of course they want gifts. So I have to buy for too many folks. It does get hectic. So I have started early this year.

 

[believe]

I am the opposite....I buy or make gifts because I want to. I was given the most wonderful gift many years ago, the birth of Jesus Christ. To me gift giving symbolizes this. I think it is all about how you view it. I also enjoy all the time I have with my family during the holidays. I Love Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[C.Ann]

I can fully understand how frustrating the whole Christmas gift-giving scene can be.. Over the years there have been times when I really had to cut corners in a major way so I could purchase gifts for "everyone".. Then a number of years ago I went into a MAJOR depression just before Christmas after learning that my DH's cancer had returned.. I learned a LOT about Christmas that year - and what's really important..

Now I just kind of "wing it" every year.. I may buy gifts - I may give out cookies and breads - I may give gifts only to grandkids - or I may not give any gifts at all.. It really depends on my mood and finances in any given year.. Personally I prefer that others NOT buy gifts for me because it's rarely anything that I need or want and I'm sure they could put that money to better use on their own families..

Considering we're right in the middle of a MAJOR unexpected expense right now - and I'm not working - I really doubt that I'll do much buying of gifts this year.. I already have a few things I purchased for my granddaughter - as well as a nice gift for DH's great granddaughter - so I may just buy gifts for my DH's 7 grandchildren, something for my DD and my son-in-law, and that's it.. Whatever I decide to do, buy or not buy - give or not give - receive or not receive - it won't bother me in the least.. That one dreadful year that I was so depressed I learned what Christmas is really all about and it's NOT the gifts..

I'll be happy decorating the tree (IF I can get the lights on - LOL), singing Christmas carols and baking cookies with my granddaughter, and knowing I can walk in the other room and my DH will still be there.. What more could I want??