Holidays and Gifts and such

[dancerjodi]

I've already started buying some holiday gifts or thinking about what I'd like to get. We're trying a new experiment this year - Brian and I set a dollar amount of what to spend on each other. Yeah, this is what we should have been doing anyway. I like to buy gifts for other folks and I get carried away.

I'm trying to go by a new standard this year with gift giving. If you are not my spouse and you are not my family please DO NOT GET ME A HOLIDAY GIFT.

If you must do something please:
-Spend some time doing something fun with me that we love to do
-Make me something: a cookie, a mix CD, something crafty
-Donate to a charity of your choice

Each year I find that I need "stuff" less and less. I love to buy things for folks when I happen upon things that are perfect for a particular person at any time of the year. I'd like for people to do the same for me too at this crazy season of consuming.

I wonder how many gifts are given out of obligation rather than fun and excitement? Not so much the "oh God, I have to give them a gift" as much as the "they are giving me something, so I need to find something to give them" . . .

Comments

[nepenthedreams]

YES! i feel the same way. Do you mind if I post something like this in my journal?

[silentq.livejournal.com]

Thirded. :) I was happy to get a money order in the mail from my parents for my bday, I can cash it in and buy a nice meal with friends and I won't have to bloody well pack/move/unpack a single extra thing next time. :)
(books, of course, are not included in this rant *sheepish smile*)

[tisana.livejournal.com]

It's a good policy. I keep trying to figure out how to do something like this with family that likes to go overboard with gifts that are just..."stuff."

No gifts. I'm OK with just baking or making food for folks, so if that's a preferred gift, all the better. :)

[missplatypus.livejournal.com]

I can't resist present buying/giving. I start shopping/making for the holidays in september. We had about 30 people at our house christmas day and I made each of them a customized stocking with little toys and sweets. the year before that I knitted 23 scarves one for each person there. I just love giving people stuff. *grin*

[deadwinter.livejournal.com]

Yes, but I am always seeing things I could get for you guys and someone won't let me, because of the aforementioned "stuff" issue.

[beebusroo.livejournal.com]

I'm a well-known "grinch" myself, but when I really examine my resistance to the holiday season it's because I hate the pressure to buy and receive gifts. I dislike the general emphasis on stuff. I like Christmas much more these days, since I've made it my custom to participate in seasonal present exchanges as little as I can get away with.

It can become so stressful and expensive, not to mention that being in a mall shortly before Christmas isn't exactly a peaceful, joyful experience. ;)

holiday gift post

[dancer.livejournal.com]

"Do you mind if I post something like this in my journal?"

Post away! :)