Gift Cards - When is Enough Enough? - Page 5

CelticCrafter · ‎03-09-2010

@Sooner - I won't do that because their charity may not be my charity and vice versa.

Moonchilde · ‎05-23-2010

@Big Joanie wrote:
How about a donation to a charity in their name ....I too am in the
dilema about not being thanked for a gift ....I even have to call
to ask if a box I sent them arrived .. and this is after I have originally
called and asked them to let me know when the box arrives .. and
I still have to call .....

But I have stayed will my son's family for 3 weeks to a month at a
time .. and modern life is insane ...no excuse I know .. but ....

This is actually a great solution for someone you “have” to give the appearance of gifting something to, but who you know won’t thank you or acknowledge your gift.

With the charitable donation in their name, you get to do what you’d rather do with your money than waste it on the ungrateful, and it is a gift in their name ;-)

I have had someone gift to Heifer Intl in my name. It was a nice gesture from the person who did it, but I in no way considered it a personal gift, nor did the sender mean it that way either - she was doing what she felt she wanted to do - contribute to the greater good while acknowledging her friends that she felt close enough to who would “get it.”

Life without Mexican food is no life at all

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

@CelticCrafter wrote:
@Sooner - I won't do that because their charity may not be my charity and vice versa.

@CelticCrafter Oh sorry. I thought the point was to not really give them a gift and then NOT give them a gift or donation next year.

If you feel that way, I guess you have to give a gift.

RedHeadedWench · ‎03-21-2010

I'm not a gift card person. I don't like giving them, unless, of course it's for a clothing store I know they like and I can't remember their size.

In my family, if we don't see you for a holiday (Christmas) we don't exchange gifts.

That's how we do it. We have family all over the country.

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

@Snowpuppy wrote:
Sometimes I hate the whole gift card thing!

I have a friend who insists on lunch and exchanging the same dang $25 gift card every year! It's meaningless anymore!

A nephew in college asked for a gift card to get his books so absolutely. Someone struggling? A grocery or gas gift card is welcome.

But come on...a gift card for a gift card? Dumb.

I've told family members this as well, I refuse to exchange cash or gift cards with others. It makes no sense to me, and if it comes down to that is all you can think of to do, the gifting needs to stop.

If someone truly needs money or gift cards from certain places, or a person really truly request gift cards to a specific place, I'm cool with it.

But to simply hand someone cash or gift cards, and them hand you back the same value/thing, is just dumb.

beach-mom · ‎03-09-2010

Thank you everyone! It was interesting reading your posts. I try to get gift cards for places they enjoy - a special restaurant, a special store, etc. But I'd much rather pick out a personal gift. We live too far away to participate in any holiday family gatherings. We did make a real effort to get up between Christmas and New Year's Day when DH's grandmother and father were alive, but that was a while ago. It's an all-day trip up, and this time of year the weather is a big factor. We got stranded for an extra day one year!

I always take a handmade ornament to each of his sisters for Thanksgiving, and I give his one sister (where we stay) some other little hostess gift. I take the younger ones a chocolate Advent calendar. This was the first year for nephew's son, who is almost 4. Nephew had never seen one before!

I do enjoy giving them something, and next year I will give the "younger" families one gift and get simple toys for their children.

I think my days of Christmas "gift carding" are done!

lucymo · ‎12-13-2010

Enough is enough when we say it is. I know this doesn't answer your question but gifts should be given when one wants to, not because they feel obligated. Someone has to say to family members it's time to stop and you'll probably find out they've wanted to as well. It will make Christmas much more enjoyable by relieving a lot of stress.

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

jazzie3 · ‎03-10-2012

Last Christmas, my brother in law came to our home and ruined Christmas. His behavior was atrocious and disturbing. I learned from my Mother-in-law that this was payback because we didn't buy my brother in law's daughter a Christmas gift. She is a veterinarian! We are retired living on fixed income and decided last year not to buy gifts any longer for adult nieces, all of whom are in their twenties and done with school. I haven't spoken to my brother in law since last Christmas. What a shame.

willdob3 · ‎11-01-2010

@beach-mom

I just stopped giving gifts to the adult kids. It was one-sided giving and no thanks were expressed. I figured that was a good sign it was time to stop.

I give gifts to my brothers and their spouses. That is always reciprocated. As siblings, we grew up giving each other gifts and enjoy looking for special things for each other.

KathyM23 · ‎11-20-2010

Have you just thought to bite the bullet and stop with all the gifts/gift cards. We exchange gifts with those in our family that we spend Christmas with - 11 of us - kids, spouses, grandkids. My two friends and I exchange gifts with each other also at lunch - just a small item - no gift cards. And that is it. Too many aunts, uncles, cousins, grown children married with their own children out of the area. Enough is enough. I bet many of them would love the gift giving to just stop.

If you do not send Christmas cards anymore, it may now be time to return to that practice and just send a very nice Christmas card to the families you do not spend Christmas with.