Holiday

[Carmie]

I no longer buy gifts for friends or family for birthdays or  holidays, except for one friend who is in senior care home.

I give a card with cash. Cash and not gift cards.  My adult kids and grands are thrilled with this.

I requested that no one give me any gifts either.  I don't want or need anything. 

I would rather we meet up for a nice meal or spend time together.  Time together is way more precious than any bought gift.

[DrakesMomma]

Outside of my husband and son, I would prefer no gifts.  If there is something I want I can get it myself.  I am grateful we are in a place I can do that. 

My MIL has been in my life for 38 years.  She has never taken the time to get to know me.  The "gifts" she gives me leaves me feeling insulted.  I've asked for about a dozen years please no gifts.  She says too bad.  I just say thank you and set the things aside for donation.     

[Zoe]

Not entirely sure this is an age thing. It may also be a society thing. The younger generations coming up don't want "stuff" either. They are once again the thrifting generation, very aware of debt and accumulation of "stuff." They choose experiences over possessions (generally speaking). 

We stopped exchanging material gifts in our family 18 years ago. Instead, we did experiences like shows, concerts, trips to museums/special exhibits & trips to visit one another. Since the kids have grown and my sibling passed, we stopped exchanging unless it's homemade (crafts, writings, cards, baked goods from the pastry chef, etc.). For my older parents, I give them gift cards they can use for essentials and splurges and things like streaming subscriptions. 

My better half and I keep it to only one item (that the other has specifically requested or expressed that they wanted/needed in conversation) and a nice dinner out, which we rarely do.

My immediate friend group doesn't exchange holiday gifts with one another nor birthday gifts. We pick a random day throughout the year to surprise each other -- a handwritten note, a treat, a bouquet of flowers, a book we want to share with one another. It's THE BEST to get a gift on a random Tuesday in March or something. Highly recommend.

[UpNorthGorgy]

I quit giving my friend gifts when I saw them at her garage sale. I had a specially made key ring hand made to match her sports car and there it was at her sale. Done.

My other friends liked the  Q Landis Pretzels so much when they tried one of them I ordered a box for them.  They last for months. She gave me a huge nonstick cookie sheet that I can put double the amount of drop cookies on it last year. I love it.

I give my Stepdaughter money to go out to eat or buy groceries for a family of four. I sent the kids the holiday socks for 12 days of Christmas and they liked them. She sends me a card and pictures, occasionally flowers.

No more stuff and why I never go to yard sales or thrift shops!

[kaydee50]

Have not exchanged gifts in years.  Don't want/need anything nor do the people I know want or need anything.  A phone call at Christmas time is about the extent of my "gift giving."

[traveler]

Regifting and hearing complaints later made us go to sending money to our sons. No one else. We do drop change into the Salvation Army bucket.  No gifts for us.

[Kachina624]

@rockygems123. Thats a cute idea for birthdays but neither my sister or I could afford it.

[vermint]

@beach-mom Years ago, DH & I stepped away from givng gifts to our siblings & their families...even though some of THEM kept exchanging gifts. Once the nieces/nephews got a certain age, it just got too expensive because there were so many of them. We just told them what we were doing, and did it.

We still enjoyed watching them open their gifts from each other, and enjoyed even more that we had none of that stress or expense anymore!

We continued to give gifts to our parents until they passed away, but that was it.

[Meowingkitty]

I buy one gift card and that's for my hairdresser. We stopped giving gifts many years ago. If we want something we just buy it. I know my taste and likes better than anyone else.  We go to Zoo Lights and to dinner with friends every year. 

[RetRN]

For me it is an age thing, I no longer need anything as I am downsizing. In looking back I believe many gifts I have given in the past were not appreciated or used so I wasted a lot of money. Family gift exchange was stopped and it was a relief.