Let's talk Christmas Presents
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JaydedMiss wrote: »I suck so bad at christmas gifts i have no family only people i have any need/desire to buy/make something for is normally my grampa, Whose 90 and has everything he wants and actually gives me money monthly since i dont. Feels weird to spend his own money i cant afford on stuff for him he doesnt need. I normally try to craft him something but admittedly its always awful and kind of expensive just to get art supplies.
Besides that im a fkn useless gift giver. Never really been given gifts or been around family christmases or any of that so i guess i never learned. This year i need to find something for my aunt my grampa and my ex so ....hope i can find ideas here LOL
Some of the good ones so far that I've seen are Time Capsule(I'm going to do a 5 year one), the Xmas Pinata, okay I know this is an old one and we have alexa's now but for a 90 year old what about the clapper (hehe you remember the light that you clap on and off) Pretty useful for an older person. Candies from there youth. I'll try to think of some more.0 -
SomebodyWakeUpHIcks wrote: »I would like a job. Management position.
I hope you get your christmas wish!0 -
My family loves the Pats, so Dad's getting a replica superbowl ring, mom's getting a throw pillow for the couch or bed, Bro's getting a blanket for his bed, Hubby bought me a t-shirt (I hate surprises), and sister-in-law is getting earrings. Hubby also bought an Xbox One CoD bundle for the both of us to enjoy. He noticed I had a bunch of CoD games- but no console (result of divorce, Ex took the console and his games.) Looking forward to playing World at War again!
tl;dr: It's all about noticing things. What sports team do they like? Music they listen to? Games they play? and go from there.0 -
emmydoodles83 wrote: »JaydedMiss wrote: »I suck so bad at christmas gifts i have no family only people i have any need/desire to buy/make something for is normally my grampa, Whose 90 and has everything he wants and actually gives me money monthly since i dont. Feels weird to spend his own money i cant afford on stuff for him he doesnt need. I normally try to craft him something but admittedly its always awful and kind of expensive just to get art supplies.
Besides that im a fkn useless gift giver. Never really been given gifts or been around family christmases or any of that so i guess i never learned. This year i need to find something for my aunt my grampa and my ex so ....hope i can find ideas here LOL
Some of the good ones so far that I've seen are Time Capsule(I'm going to do a 5 year one), the Xmas Pinata, okay I know this is an old one and we have alexa's now but for a 90 year old what about the clapper (hehe you remember the light that you clap on and off) Pretty useful for an older person. Candies from there youth. I'll try to think of some more.
Yeah i wish i could do a time capsule for grampa but over the past 10 years its been on and off me and him getting sick on a rotation lol. We havent exactly gotten to do much but get together every sunday to take eachother grocery shopping XD Great idea for my ex i have a few things0 -
Motorsheen wrote: »Inked_momma_ wrote: »
Christmas isn't what it used to be, everyone is so concerned about gifts that they forget what the true meaning of Christmas is.
Fruitcake?
You're a fruitcake.
SurfyPants wrote: »The best Christmas present I ever brought myself was a ticket to Nepal but even in the Himalayas where I thought no Christmas would ever find me; I encountered a group of trekkers from the US singing Christmas carols
The cosmos is apparently telling you that Christmas is all-permeating, lol.emmydoodles83 wrote: »This is the Snow Yeti I made for my niece one year.
That is so stinkin' adorable! You did an excellent job. I might find this pattern and make one for my son. He would love it.
I enjoy handmade gifts, but nearly no one I know is interested in doing them. They really don't appreciate the things I make, either... so I've just given up (for the most part) making things for others. Why spend so much effort on something that takes hours and weeks of your life only to have people treat you (and by proxy your gift) as though you are lazy or "less than" because you didn't spend hundreds of dollars on a gift for them?
*kitten* it, I'm done.
To be fair, there are a select few people who appreciate them. I still make things for them from time to time.
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CanesGalactica wrote: »Motorsheen wrote: »Inked_momma_ wrote: »
Christmas isn't what it used to be, everyone is so concerned about gifts that they forget what the true meaning of Christmas is.
Fruitcake?
You're a fruitcake.SurfyPants wrote: »The best Christmas present I ever brought myself was a ticket to Nepal but even in the Himalayas where I thought no Christmas would ever find me; I encountered a group of trekkers from the US singing Christmas carols The cosmos is apparently telling you that Christmas is all-permeating, lol.emmydoodles83 wrote: »This is the Snow Yeti I made for my niece one year.
That is so stinkin' adorable! You did an excellent job. I might find this pattern and make one for my son. He would love it.
I enjoy handmade gifts, but nearly no one I know is interested in doing them. They really don't appreciate the things I make, either... so I've just given up (for the most part) making things for others. Why spend so much effort on something that takes hours and weeks of your life only to have people treat you (and by proxy your gift) as though you are lazy or "less than" because you didn't spend hundreds of dollars on a gift for them?
*kitten* it, I'm done.
To be fair, there are a select few people who appreciate them. I still make things for them from time to time.
Thank you! I almost didn't want to give it to her haha. Yea I can understand about not making things for unappreciative people, I would like to think it's just teenagers that feel this way but prob not. My fam just happens to love homemade stuff more, so I am lucky there, and making things is def not necessarily cheaper.
Just type snow yeti or yeti into pinterest and you should find it.0 -
emmydoodles83 wrote: »CanesGalactica wrote: »Motorsheen wrote: »Inked_momma_ wrote: »
Christmas isn't what it used to be, everyone is so concerned about gifts that they forget what the true meaning of Christmas is.
Fruitcake?
You're a fruitcake.SurfyPants wrote: »The best Christmas present I ever brought myself was a ticket to Nepal but even in the Himalayas where I thought no Christmas would ever find me; I encountered a group of trekkers from the US singing Christmas carols The cosmos is apparently telling you that Christmas is all-permeating, lol.emmydoodles83 wrote: »This is the Snow Yeti I made for my niece one year.
That is so stinkin' adorable! You did an excellent job. I might find this pattern and make one for my son. He would love it.
I enjoy handmade gifts, but nearly no one I know is interested in doing them. They really don't appreciate the things I make, either... so I've just given up (for the most part) making things for others. Why spend so much effort on something that takes hours and weeks of your life only to have people treat you (and by proxy your gift) as though you are lazy or "less than" because you didn't spend hundreds of dollars on a gift for them?
*kitten* it, I'm done.
To be fair, there are a select few people who appreciate them. I still make things for them from time to time.
Thank you! I almost didn't want to give it to her haha. Yea I can understand about not making things for unappreciative people, I would like to think it's just teenagers that feel this way but prob not. My fam just happens to love homemade stuff more, so I am lucky there, and making things is def not necessarily cheaper.
Just type snow yeti or yeti into pinterest and you should find it.
My kid loves handmade stuff, but it's the adults I have more problems with. It just irks me to spend so much time looking for patterns and materials to make something you really think they'll love only to get no appreciation for the effort you took to make something that was personal.. simply because it wasn't the super expensive fancy gadget they wanted.
Mostly, I get that reaction from friends I used to know (which is why I no longer buy or make them anything) and not from immediate family (anymore.. my mom used to not appreciate anything I made).0 -
JaydedMiss wrote: »I suck so bad at christmas gifts i have no family only people i have any need/desire to buy/make something for is normally my grampa, Whose 90 and has everything he wants and actually gives me money monthly since i dont. Feels weird to spend his own money i cant afford on stuff for him he doesnt need. I normally try to craft him something but admittedly its always awful and kind of expensive just to get art supplies.
Besides that im a fkn useless gift giver. Never really been given gifts or been around family christmases or any of that so i guess i never learned. This year i need to find something for my aunt my grampa and my ex so ....hope i can find ideas here LOL
edit to add: I did make some *kitten* little cubes picture things for my ex once. Just a cheap little glasscube from the dollar store, I tracked down some pictured of his family through calling his mother, Cut them to fit and held in place with a bit of tissue paper inside the cube and a small tea light. Now he has pretty little lit up photo cubes.
Thats the best i got. lol
I don't give a lot of gifts to adults. I would probably go for an experience type gift or something that would get used up. Food, wine, membership or passes to a museum or something.
My dad is 82 years old and is hard to give gifts to. He doesn't really need a lot of material stuff. He does read mystery stories, likes feeding birds, likes to eat at a restaurant with someone. He seems to find his Kindle tablet easier to use than his computer.0 -
I like to give my kids experiences rather than stuff. Last year I paid for a winter golf camp for my oldest. He loved it so much he asked to get that again. My youngest is more stuff driven, so I always struggle for him. For my parents/brother/SIL it's always something practical (vacuum one year) or cash. I give my grandma a donation to Heifer Intnl and her local library every year.
The best gift a person could give me is either something I actually ask for or a donation (for even the smallest amount) to a cause I feel is worthy. Both requires that a person actually listen and get to know me, which is really the best gift of all.0 -
emmydoodles83 wrote: »My daughter wants a punching bag this year...secretly I want it too. Lol.
Now that's a win win, I used to have a punching bag, it was great for stress relief. After a rough day I would walk straight in the door right to the punching bag and beat the hell out of it.......so relaxing, haha.
I agree. Lord knows we could both use one! So its definitely on the list!!!0 -
I’d love to see my family this Christmas.
Wonder if they have return flights to Hell yet.1 -
Well I'm not sure if releases are allowed anymore.SneakyDees wrote: »I’d love to see my family this Christmas.
Wonder if they have return flights to Hell yet.
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I oooo and aahh about my Christmas gifts and thank the giver sincerely. But I'm a minimalist and generally throw all my Christmas gifts away. Candles, scented creams, bath oils, decorative scarves, cosmetics, potted plants, chocolates, bottles of wine, potpourri, fruit or herbal flavored specialty teas, tinned Christmas cookies all get thrown in the trash. The sweets are tempting but for the most part, I'm on a diet and don't eat them. I don't drink or serve alcohol in my home. I only drink traditional tea. I don't care for anything scented and buy my own parfums about which I'm very particular.
I'll keep nice warm gloves, mittens, hats or sweaters that fit me. That's about the only gifts I keep. I always thank the gift giver and feel sorry they wasted their money though (and I keep that to myself of course).
This is so me. I’ve never been a gift person. I know it makes me seem so ungrateful but I get anxiety when I have too many things. I’m a total minimalist myself. Most people know not to get me anything but my mom can’t help herself. However, she now usually gets me a gift card somewhere and we go shopping together or she gets me consumables.
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I oooo and aahh about my Christmas gifts and thank the giver sincerely. But I'm a minimalist and generally throw all my Christmas gifts away. Candles, scented creams, bath oils, decorative scarves, cosmetics, potted plants, chocolates, bottles of wine, potpourri, fruit or herbal flavored specialty teas, tinned Christmas cookies all get thrown in the trash. .
Do you literally throw this stuff away? You could at least donate it to people who are slightly more appreciative.3 -
I hate opening gifts given to me in front of the person. Why reactions are often more sincere and grateful when I’m not on display.1
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We pretty much just focus on the kids...my wife and I might get something small for each other, but really, we mostly focus on our kids.
My favorite part of Christmas is the ambiance...the decorations and the tree and having a fire lit and then watching my two boys Christmas morning.
Usually my wife and I will make a big purchase of something we need around the holidays and that's our Christmas present...a couple years ago it was a much needed new bed...last year it was new living room furniture...this year, we just closed on a new house and we move in Monday before Thanksgiving, so that's our Christmas.
This year will be a little weird too as we will be in Tanzania over Christmas...trying to think of something cool, but small and packable for the kids from Santa...0 -
denversillygoose wrote: »I oooo and aahh about my Christmas gifts and thank the giver sincerely. But I'm a minimalist and generally throw all my Christmas gifts away. Candles, scented creams, bath oils, decorative scarves, cosmetics, potted plants, chocolates, bottles of wine, potpourri, fruit or herbal flavored specialty teas, tinned Christmas cookies all get thrown in the trash. .
Do you literally throw this stuff away? You could at least donate it to people who are slightly more appreciative.
Nope. I didn't ask for it, didn't expect it and didn't want it so it's not a matter of appreciation. It was actually a burden. I had to smile wide and then lug it home on the bus and the train with me so no one would see me throwing it away. I've gone many years without owning a car and during those many years that stuff went right in the trash. I considered it junk and still do so I don't feel bad about throwing it away. I had no intention of taking two buses and making a half mile trek in 5 feet of snow to the Goodwill Bin or the Salvation Army Thrift store. I only felt bad that the gift giver wasted their hard earned money. I'm not easily guilted about these matters and now that I have a car I'd probably still throw stuff like that away. My neighborhood is full of full time dumpster divers so there's that.
Let’s have tea and talk minimalism someday.1 -
Motorsheen wrote: »Inked_momma_ wrote: »
Christmas isn't what it used to be, everyone is so concerned about gifts that they forget what the true meaning of Christmas is.
Fruitcake?
A Collin Street Bakery fruitcake to myself is my gift to me.0 -
caco_ethes wrote: »denversillygoose wrote: »I oooo and aahh about my Christmas gifts and thank the giver sincerely. But I'm a minimalist and generally throw all my Christmas gifts away. Candles, scented creams, bath oils, decorative scarves, cosmetics, potted plants, chocolates, bottles of wine, potpourri, fruit or herbal flavored specialty teas, tinned Christmas cookies all get thrown in the trash. .
Do you literally throw this stuff away? You could at least donate it to people who are slightly more appreciative.
Nope. I didn't ask for it, didn't expect it and didn't want it so it's not a matter of appreciation. It was actually a burden. I had to smile wide and then lug it home on the bus and the train with me so no one would see me throwing it away. I've gone many years without owning a car and during those many years that stuff went right in the trash. I considered it junk and still do so I don't feel bad about throwing it away. I had no intention of taking two buses and making a half mile trek in 5 feet of snow to the Goodwill Bin or the Salvation Army Thrift store. I only felt bad that the gift giver wasted their hard earned money. I'm not easily guilted about these matters and now that I have a car I'd probably still throw stuff like that away. My neighborhood is full of full time dumpster divers so there's that.
Let’s have tea and talk minimalism someday.
I love when I meet minimalists who have children. I'm sincerely interested about how minimalistic habits and philosophies can be handed down generationally
I’m sincerely interested to find out too. So far my kids are hoarders and I have to force myself to leave their things alone or I’m afraid I’ll make it worse.1 -
denversillygoose wrote: »I oooo and aahh about my Christmas gifts and thank the giver sincerely. But I'm a minimalist and generally throw all my Christmas gifts away. Candles, scented creams, bath oils, decorative scarves, cosmetics, potted plants, chocolates, bottles of wine, potpourri, fruit or herbal flavored specialty teas, tinned Christmas cookies all get thrown in the trash. .
Do you literally throw this stuff away? You could at least donate it to people who are slightly more appreciative.
Nope. I didn't ask for it, didn't expect it and didn't want it so it's not a matter of appreciation. It was actually a burden. I had to smile wide and then lug it home on the bus and the train with me so no one would see me throwing it away. I've gone many years without owning a car and during those many years that stuff went right in the trash. I considered it junk and still do so I don't feel bad about throwing it away. I had no intention of taking two buses and making a half mile trek in 5 feet of snow to the Goodwill Bin or the Salvation Army Thrift store. I only felt bad that the gift giver wasted their hard earned money. I'm not easily guilted about these matters and now that I have a car I'd probably still throw stuff like that away. My neighborhood is full of full time dumpster divers so there's that.
I think at that point I'd tell people not to get me anything under any circumstances or to just make a donation for me as a gift. and then if they did anyway I would just tell my friend/fam Thank you but no Thank you. You said you weren't easily guilted anyways so that shouldn't be a problem, and at least it saves them money or gives them the opportunity to give it to someone else so you don't have to lug it around only to throw it away.1 -
I buy immediate family gifts only. My niece and nephew generally get and experience to do with me instead of a material gift. We have gone to sporting events, cooking classes, escape rooms and zip lining. My niece will also do 5K Runs with me.
My brother and SIL usually get a group gift, I print out the pictures for the year and scrapbook for them, I have given them date nights when the kids were little where I would babysit and give them a gift card to a nice restaurant (kids are too old for the babysitting part) and the zip lining the year with my niece and nephew included them.
For other people, they generally get a craft and/or homemade cookies. Last year I did monogrammed RTIC Cups for everyone, granted it was just a monogram I created, but still personal. This year it is light up glass blocks with decoration.
We do enjoy the gift giving, but don't go crazy. We are a close family and have many get together for nice sit down family dinners often and Christmas is no exception.
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emmydoodles83 wrote: »denversillygoose wrote: »I oooo and aahh about my Christmas gifts and thank the giver sincerely. But I'm a minimalist and generally throw all my Christmas gifts away. Candles, scented creams, bath oils, decorative scarves, cosmetics, potted plants, chocolates, bottles of wine, potpourri, fruit or herbal flavored specialty teas, tinned Christmas cookies all get thrown in the trash. .
Do you literally throw this stuff away? You could at least donate it to people who are slightly more appreciative.
Nope. I didn't ask for it, didn't expect it and didn't want it so it's not a matter of appreciation. It was actually a burden. I had to smile wide and then lug it home on the bus and the train with me so no one would see me throwing it away. I've gone many years without owning a car and during those many years that stuff went right in the trash. I considered it junk and still do so I don't feel bad about throwing it away. I had no intention of taking two buses and making a half mile trek in 5 feet of snow to the Goodwill Bin or the Salvation Army Thrift store. I only felt bad that the gift giver wasted their hard earned money. I'm not easily guilted about these matters and now that I have a car I'd probably still throw stuff like that away. My neighborhood is full of full time dumpster divers so there's that.
I think at that point I'd tell people not to get me anything under any circumstances or to just make a donation for me as a gift. and then if they did anyway I would just tell my friend/fam Thank you but no Thank you. You said you weren't easily guilted anyways so that shouldn't be a problem, and at least it saves them money or gives them the opportunity to give it to someone else so you don't have to lug it around only to throw it away.
I did but it took then 20 years to finally listen.
The only gifts I'm expecting this year is a box of stale Russian chocolates and a jar of fruit preserve from my work pal, who's a hoarder, who can't stop himself and gives me the same exact thing every year. I think it comes from his hoarding stock at home and is decades old. Of course I'll throw it away. And a gift card toward my favorite grocery store from my other friend which I'll use. And maybe a little thing like a book of Zen Buddhist poetry from my other pal which I'll throw away. My hairdresser will give me a date/appointment book and I think I'll keep it because I don't want to calendar electronically anymore. I usually get a laminated picture of the Virgin Mary or one of the patron saints for Christmas from my other pal which I never throw away because I think that would be frowned upon spiritually. I keep them and stack them on the shelf in my closet.
As for me, I send Christmas cards and Hannuka (sp?) cards and that's all. I take my pals out to chow at a restaurant immediately before or after Christmas and pick up the tab. But I don't say it's a Christmas thing because I don't want them to feel they have to reciprocate.
lol oh god that reminds me of my step aunt who had a snickers bar I didn't recognize in her fridge............because it was from 1987 (no lie). Well it sounds like at least you got most of them to take your seriously so that's a plus.1 -
caco_ethes wrote: »I oooo and aahh about my Christmas gifts and thank the giver sincerely. But I'm a minimalist and generally throw all my Christmas gifts away. Candles, scented creams, bath oils, decorative scarves, cosmetics, potted plants, chocolates, bottles of wine, potpourri, fruit or herbal flavored specialty teas, tinned Christmas cookies all get thrown in the trash. The sweets are tempting but for the most part, I'm on a diet and don't eat them. I don't drink or serve alcohol in my home. I only drink traditional tea. I don't care for anything scented and buy my own parfums about which I'm very particular.
I'll keep nice warm gloves, mittens, hats or sweaters that fit me. That's about the only gifts I keep. I always thank the gift giver and feel sorry they wasted their money though (and I keep that to myself of course).
This is so me. I’ve never been a gift person. I know it makes me seem so ungrateful but I get anxiety when I have too many things. I’m a total minimalist myself. Most people know not to get me anything but my mom can’t help herself. However, she now usually gets me a gift card somewhere and we go shopping together or she gets me consumables.
But does she get you the "good" consumables?
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I texted my ex these
Then I said or I can smell like a *kitten*
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Best gifts include a record player, 2 pounds of orange starburst, and my very first walkman1
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