Christmas Shopping
 

Anybody else just buying for the kids this year? Our family did this last year and really liked it. We still can't get my mom to stop but what are you going to do? Makes the holidays so much nicer. If I want to get something for something during the year I just do. Probably some digital picture frames for the P's some time in the first quarter as an example.

Money is tight, so it will be just for the kids (as it has been the last couple of years).

i use my christmas money and pass it to peoples weddings or kids xmas money.

NObody is getting gifts from me this year.

**** you.


Looks like I'll be taking that Notre Dame jersey I got for you back to the store.

Buy for the kids. 9 kids between 3 siblings. It's easier and better for everyone. I do still get my parents something though.

I'm sure it will cost you some more money, but see if you can exchange it for a good jersey.

It's Christmas!!! Empty the bank account.

Little to nothing this year. Barely making month to month as it is, nothing left for special things like Christmas. Been thin birthdays this year too.

Like a Mizzou one? :D

Sometimes, I really dislike you.

to be honest, I don't know. my sis and I just buy for our kids, but I always get stuff for my parents and mother in law and Nana and uncle (he's not married adn is the only uncle I have)...but my husbadn always gets me the BEST gifts!! It's hard to say don't buy me anything knowing that the best gifts come from him!

Not a whole lot of choices in that poll....
I usually buy as much as I can reasonably afford. Never get into a situation where I have to make credit card payments. If I don't have the green in the bank, then it doesn't get spent.

just the kids this year.

we do a secret santa thing to limit gifts among adults, but I opted out this year.

Looks like Zach will have a Mary Christmas this year.

I wish my families would go to the "just for kids" model, but both my parents and my wife's parents seem to enjoy getting gifts for everyone. What can ya do?

My money's spread tighter than a gnats butt around a 55 gallon oil drum.

I'll buy for everyone, but lately it's become a mass exchange of gift cards.

Some people tend to buy what they need or want throughout the year, so it's hard to shop for them, and they'll either ask for money or stuff that's out of everyone's budget; so they get money or gift cards.

Others are pretty low maintenance and/or only have one big interest, so they end up getting the same thing from 10 different people, or gift cards.

And some people are teenage girls, who don't like anything they can't try on first, so they get gift cards.

I think next year we're having Christmas around an ATM.

Already told the kids it wasn't going to be a big Christmas. My wife and I were talking about it the other night and concluded that there really isn't anything out there that we need or especially want.

it starts out w/just getting stuff for the kids and grandkids. then wth...throw something in for brothers and sisters. then their spouses. parents. old couple down the road. f@ckin mailman. school bus driver(even though we have no kids in school anymore)....
probably the same as every year, but the wife does the shopping. i'm getting both her and the daughter a pair of mens size 9 sandals each. that way maybe they'll quit using mine and i can find them when i need them, or wear theirs.

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That's when you're to the point where you shouldn't even be exchanging gifts, because IMO gift cards aren't "gifts". You're basically giving them money, but telling them where to spend it, not to mention you have to still go out and purchase them. And if it's all just a big money exchange, everyone should just go out and buy something for themselves and save all the trouble.

I agree... I guess people like the idea of giving gift cards because you can at least act like there's a personal touch. "Oh, I knew you would like a gift card from Best Buy!"...yeah, just like the other 300 million people in America. :spock:

i get a lot of gift cards to book stores. i'm glad to get them, instead of getting a book picked out for me.
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Was that a hint?

well, they just said that getting a gift card wasn't very personable.

i'm saying i don't need my daughter-in-law picking out my porn for me.
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I got a "Christmas card" from my newspaper delivery person that included a return envelope. I may start doing that with all of my Christmas cards too, to see if my friends will send me money.

NICE!!! ROFL

just fill that envelope w/a bunch of cupons that come in your newspaper.
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That's an excellent idea. Those things are just like cash at the grocery store. Plus I know that they won't be spent on booze and drugs, which frankly is a little bit of a concern when your paper boy is 50 years old.

Kids and of course Grammy because well, she's just so generous every year to my kid.

I'm to the point where I just tell people who ask me what I want to get me gift cards. This year, I tell them to just get me an Amazon gift card.

I don't really need clothes and if I do, I'll just go buy them. Same with books, music, etc.

There are two things I've been eying for a while now: a PS3 and a Kindle. Those are the kinds of things I don't just go out and buy for myself. They're also pricey enough that I won't ask people to get them for me for Christmas. So, I just ask for gift cards. Then, I take the gift cards and buy one or the other, even if I have to make up the difference a little.

My family has come to the unwritten agreement that if you make it to the holiday dinners it exempts you from buying gifts and I for one like it that way.

Actually the thread was about buying gifts not receiving them but I like the way you think.

I thought we were just doing kids &nieces/nephew exchange...and parents on both sides.
I was wrong, I foolishly forgot about the childcare provider and her 2 assistants, the preschool teacher and her two aids and a gift exchange with her side, and was foolish enough to make a joke about forgetting the Drive-through workers. I guess we both work hard so we can do things like that if she wants to.

We decided to not exchange gifts, but to pick something each year for the house or family and get that. I think we'll upgrade the TV this year.

Personally, if I want something, I pretty much go get it within reason. I'd prefer people save their money or find some local charitable contribution than gifting me. We've always done some charitable things, but this year that is expanding too.

It really does feel better to give.

THIS.

Yeah, I know. I just started seeing the posts about gift cards and wanted to respond...

Times are tough out there.

I usually just go with the McDonalds gift cards. You cant go wrong.

The thing is, she could just give you the value of the gift card in cash, it would save her a trip to buy the damn gift card and you still get to pick out your own porn.

My wife and I buy for our parents, her brother and then do a gift exchange with my siblings since combined there are 5 of us and with 2 of them in college they don't have the cash to buy for everyone. My family also does a white elephant / rob your neighbor gift exchange with the adults. Usually a $15 or so limit.

This year we are taking the gifts down a notch or two and cutting what we spend on everyone by 10-20%. I would like to note that I am still accepting all donations and presents this year though!

Just buying for my son. Getting him a bike and some Wii games.