Have you made any "gifting changes" this year?

[Cherylndesigns]

We recently made a NO gifts for the adults! rule. We all made a pact not to buy each other Christmas gifts. Yes, we've done it before, but never stick to it. We're sticking to it this year. None of us needs a thing and if we need/want something we go out and buy it ourselves. My oldest granddaughter is an adult now (22) and she spearheaded this rule, so I'm pretty sure she'll enforce it. Hahaha My husband and I stopped buying for each other many years ago.

 

[EvelynD2]

I am trying to be more mindful of sticking to a stricter budget. It's easy to get carried away with Black Friday shopping and overspending. I do try to buy some things, on sale, throughout the year so that helps.

 

[VickiStegall]

We mostly do this. My dad does donations in our names. All the kids (even though all in their 20's now) still get cash for Christmas.

 

[Cherylndesigns]

I am trying to be more mindful of sticking to a stricter budget. It's easy to get carried away with Black Friday shopping and overspending. I do try to buy some things, on sale, throughout the year so that helps.

That's the best thing to do - pick things up all year. My mom always did that. I used to when my kids were young. It's too much all in one chunk.

 

[Cherylndesigns]

We mostly do this. My dad does donations in our names. All the kids (even though all in their 20's now) still get cash for Christmas.

I'm going to do cash for the grandkids (who aren't adults) this year. I love the donation idea!

 

[tanteva]

No changes this year. You know me: Grinchen all year round. We quit with gifts (Christmas & birthday) in 2004. Saved us lots of money, buying what we want when we want/need it & not just because it's a specific date.

 

[*sylvia*]

We stopped giving gifts ( birthday, chrismas ) for years. It doesn't take a specific day to make someone happy. That's why there are small and unexpected surprises throughout the year.
We only give gifts to our grandchildren.

 

[faerywings]

so I'm pretty sure she'll enforce it.

Of this-- I have no doubt!!

We have been totally broke for so many years, everyone in my extended family knows they are getting something handmade already
I don't know if we would be able to pull that kind of rule off. Even now, the grandparents refuse to lighten up what they buy my kids (24 and 26-- so not really kids). Although I think part of that is because we have been broke for so long, they always tried to help out so Christmas wasn't just a bunch of Dollar Store junk.

 

[LSlycord]

Our phones were 3 1/2 years old which is pretty old for tech. So we are replacing phones and decided it would be easier to do it now than to try to wait for Christmas. I’m sure that there will be a few small surprises at Christmas but not much.

 

[marijke]

We only buy something for the grandchildren ...

 

[*gina*]

The same like Sylvia wrote - no gifts on Christmas / Birthdays. Only gifts for my granddaughters.

 

[bcgal00]

Xmas is not going to be about gifts and sitting around all morning opening them. With Bailey gone, we need to do things differently, the loss of her is going to be felt strongly that day. So this year I decided we will give each other a few gifts later in the day. Morning I will get out with the dogs for some snow play, Jen is going to work for a bit and then we'll open a few gifts in the afternoon, while preparing a turkey dinner. We'll try to find fun things to do throughout the day rather than focus on gifts.

 

[Lynn Grieveson]

I really want to start the switch. I did suggest to my girls that we only buy one gift each, and something small. Maybe a book each. But the 20 year old has only started earning last year and really loved buying presents for people with her own money, so she was not keen!

 

[Kythe]

Christmas gifts for us means spending time together. So any gifts given is in that form. We have everything we need and time is precious. One year my daughter gave me pottery lessons we did together, my husband I decide on movies to go to or a mini weekend getaway. Every year we go to the symphony concert and the local garden light display. We even make a note of all the Hallmark Christmas tv movies, record them and watch them together one a night
Stuff like that. Who needs more stuff to dust or find storage space for.

 

[Cherylndesigns]

No changes this year. You know me: Grinchen all year round. We quit with gifts (Christmas & birthday) in 2004. Saved us lots of money, buying what we want when we want/need it & not just because it's a specific date.

We do the same thing - we haven't exchanged gifts for many, many years.

 

[Cherylndesigns]

We stopped giving gifts ( birthday, chrismas ) for years. It doesn't take a specific day to make someone happy. That's why there are small and unexpected surprises throughout the year.
We only give gifts to our grandchildren.

Well said, Sylvia. I totally agree. We still have grandchildren to give gifts to, as well.

 

[Cherylndesigns]

Of this-- I have no doubt!!

We have been totally broke for so many years, everyone in my extended family knows they are getting something handmade already
I don't know if we would be able to pull that kind of rule off. Even now, the grandparents refuse to lighten up what they buy my kids (24 and 26-- so not really kids). Although I think part of that is because we have been broke for so long, they always tried to help out so Christmas wasn't just a bunch of Dollar Store junk.

Chris, how wonderful that they've always helped. Growing up, if it hadn't been for MY grandparents, we'd have had precious little for Christmas. Of course, you couldn't pull that rule off. Our gift-giving (with the adults) was just getting ridiculous. We pick things up for each other all year long, so we don't need a date to exchange gifts. Adrienne, Ava and I pick little things up for each other all the time. That means way more. I just ordered something for Adrienne the other day - something that I knew she'd been looking for and she was tickled when I gave it to her.

 

[Cherylndesigns]

Our phones were 3 1/2 years old which is pretty old for tech. So we are replacing phones and decided it would be easier to do it now than to try to wait for Christmas. I’m sure that there will be a few small surprises at Christmas but not much.

Oh, those are great gifts and I know you're so happy you went ahead and upgraded. SO fun to get a new phone.

 

[Cherylndesigns]

We only buy something for the grandchildren ...

Same - starting this year.

 

[Cherylndesigns]

Xmas is not going to be about gifts and sitting around all morning opening them. With Bailey gone, we need to do things differently, the loss of her is going to be felt strongly that day. So this year I decided we will give each other a few gifts later in the day. Morning I will get out with the dogs for some snow play, Jen is going to work for a bit and then we'll open a few gifts in the afternoon, while preparing a turkey dinner. We'll try to find fun things to do throughout the day rather than focus on gifts.

Yes, Rae this year will be so difficult. That first Christmas is bad. I could barely put one foot in front of the other. It's nice that you're going to change your routine though. That is a good thing to do. Hugs

 

[Cherylndesigns]

The same like Sylvia wrote - no gifts on Christmas / Birthdays. Only gifts for my granddaughters.

We're going to be doing the same thing starting this year.

 

[Cherylndesigns]

I really want to start the switch. I did suggest to my girls that we only buy one gift each, and something small. Maybe a book each. But the 20 year old has only started earning last year and really loved buying presents for people with her own money, so she was not keen!

Yes, that will be tough if she enjoys buying everybody gifts.

 

[Cherylndesigns]

Christmas gifts for us means spending time together. So any gifts given is in that form. We have everything we need and time is precious. One year my daughter gave me pottery lessons we did together, my husband I decide on movies to go to or a mini weekend getaway. Every year we go to the symphony concert and the local garden light display. We even make a note of all the Hallmark Christmas tv movies, record them and watch them together one a night
Stuff like that. Who needs more stuff to dust or find storage space for.

I agree! I know none of us needs anything else.