Author Topic: Happy Christmas gifting/spending stories  (Read 3121 times)

AMandM

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Happy Christmas gifting/spending stories
« on: December 20, 2018, 12:56:22 PM »
There are other threads to complain commiserate about holiday-related overspending, wasteful gifting, meaningless consumption, etc. Let's hear some happy stories: great inexpensive gifts, successful reining in of spending, meaningful traditions, or what have you. Bring on the cheer!

Here's mine: my husband comes from a family where Christmas meant, literally, piles of presents all around the living room. His mother loves to see the delight in a child's eye at the stacks of packages, and again as the wrappings come off. Over the years, as her kids all grew up, she kept up that attitude and then extended it to the grandchildren.  But this year DH and his siblings have finally convinced her that they don't care about getting more stuff!  She agreed to a $50 limit per household (though I'm sure the littlest grandkids will still get some extra toys). She is actually relieved at the reduced shopping and financial stress. Yay!

nessness

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Re: Happy Christmas gifting/spending stories
« Reply #1 on: December 20, 2018, 08:15:20 PM »
This year my aunt suggested to my sister and I that we don't exchange gifts between our families and we both went for enthusiastically. Between them and there spouses and kids, that's 13 fewer gifts to buy. This Christmas season has been much less stressful than in the past.

Gone_Hiking

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Re: Happy Christmas gifting/spending stories
« Reply #2 on: December 20, 2018, 10:00:57 PM »
A few years ago DH gifted me with tea.  Not just any tea.  A tea from a local tea house that imports teas directly from small-scale producers in China.  The leaves are good for a few infusions.   There was black Golden Dragon, white tea, and two types of green.  It was the gift that kept on giving, cup after cup of exquisite beverage.   And it supported a locally-owned business, which made the cost of the gift money very well spent, with a very favorable ratio of recipient satisfaction to cost.

calimom

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Re: Happy Christmas gifting/spending stories
« Reply #3 on: December 20, 2018, 10:44:38 PM »
My extended family has gone through every iteration of gift giving: presents for everyone, presents for just the kids, name drawing, white elephant and whatnot. This year, my cousin and I declared 'no more' and decided to raise funds for a local family who was burned out of their home during last summer's wildfires in our town. Our family has cheerfully and generously donated funds - just over $700 -  and my cousin and I spent a very pleasurable afternoon shopping (and we generally don't love shopping) and purchased fun, practical toys for 4 little children; sheets, towels and blankets; comfy PJs; the fixings for Christmas dinner with the overage going to what will surely be welcomed gift cards to a local grocery store. It will all be delivered on Christmas Eve by a family friend who is a goofball and loves dressing as Santa. 

Dicey

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Re: Happy Christmas gifting/spending stories
« Reply #4 on: December 21, 2018, 05:11:30 AM »
Posting for the good stuff to come.

Raenia

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Re: Happy Christmas gifting/spending stories
« Reply #5 on: December 21, 2018, 07:09:13 AM »
When I told my mom I'm trying to declutter and wanted to warn her not to go overboard on gifts this year, I was worried she wouldn't take it well.  Fortunately, she hastened to assure me that everything was from thrift stores and anything I didn't absolutely love I should feel free to donate right back to the thrift.  She just loves to find that gem of a deal, and is not invested in what I do with it after.  She was actually quite enthusiastic about my one-in-one-out policy.

My dad asked for a list of things we wanted, and only got us things that were on the list - mostly consumables like chocolate, plus a few books I asked for.  He bought my sister study books for her upcoming nursing exams - very practical, and exactly what she wanted - and for my DH a few things for his woodworking hobby - again exactly what he wanted.  Dad loves buying practical gifts, which is very nice for us.

Dicey

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Re: Happy Christmas gifting/spending stories
« Reply #6 on: December 21, 2018, 07:18:13 AM »
When I told my mom I'm trying to declutter and wanted to warn her not to go overboard on gifts this year, I was worried she wouldn't take it well.  Fortunately, she hastened to assure me that everything was from thrift stores and anything I didn't absolutely love I should feel free to donate right back to the thrift.  She just loves to find that gem of a deal, and is not invested in what I do with it after.  She was actually quite enthusiastic about my one-in-one-out policy.

My dad asked for a list of things we wanted, and only got us things that were on the list - mostly consumables like chocolate, plus a few books I asked for.  He bought my sister study books for her upcoming nursing exams - very practical, and exactly what she wanted - and for my DH a few things for his woodworking hobby - again exactly what he wanted.  Dad loves buying practical gifts, which is very nice for us.
Yay for @Raenia's parents!  No wonder you're so smart!

35andFI

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Re: Happy Christmas gifting/spending stories
« Reply #7 on: December 21, 2018, 07:23:33 AM »
For Christmas, I got my mom a $119.99 air fryer from Kohl's.

I had a $100 Kohl's gift card that she gave me for Christmas about 2 or 3 years ago.
This card had a balance of around $98 on it (I got a dress belt that was on sale for around $2 after my only other one ripped apart).

There was an online sale where everything was 15-20% off and I was given some Kohl's cash that was about to expire as well.

Ended up getting a great gift shipped to my door for $12.98 out of pocket.

Raenia

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Re: Happy Christmas gifting/spending stories
« Reply #8 on: December 21, 2018, 07:27:30 AM »
Yay for @Raenia's parents!  No wonder you're so smart!

Haha, thank you for the compliment!  I am definitely very fortunate in my parents - an engineer and a teacher, so lots of practicality from both sides and fantastic support in school when we were kids, both for STEM and liberal arts type subjects.

Greystache

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Re: Happy Christmas gifting/spending stories
« Reply #9 on: December 21, 2018, 07:29:41 AM »
I have been able to align my hobby with my gift giving and receiving. My son and daughter have moved out of the house and have a need to furnish their apartments. I like to design and build furniture. They usually send me a picture of what they want/need and I will either build or restore a piece of furniture for them. Santa brings me tools. Everybody wins.

Aelias

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Re: Happy Christmas gifting/spending stories
« Reply #10 on: December 21, 2018, 07:33:20 AM »
My extended family has gone through every iteration of gift giving: presents for everyone, presents for just the kids, name drawing, white elephant and whatnot. This year, my cousin and I declared 'no more' and decided to raise funds for a local family who was burned out of their home during last summer's wildfires in our town. Our family has cheerfully and generously donated funds - just over $700 -  and my cousin and I spent a very pleasurable afternoon shopping (and we generally don't love shopping) and purchased fun, practical toys for 4 little children; sheets, towels and blankets; comfy PJs; the fixings for Christmas dinner with the overage going to what will surely be welcomed gift cards to a local grocery store. It will all be delivered on Christmas Eve by a family friend who is a goofball and loves dressing as Santa.

Post of the day!  Now that is what Christmas should be about.

Aelias

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Re: Happy Christmas gifting/spending stories
« Reply #11 on: December 21, 2018, 07:40:39 AM »
We got a modest windfall of $12,500 this Christmas from my grandfather's estate.  After considering investing it (super tempting in the recent downturn!) we decided it was a better reflection of the spirit of the season to donate it.  Since we were both raised Christian, and Christmas is a story about a birth to a poor family far from home, we're currently considering a split between a local food bank, an organization that supports mothers and children, and an organization that supports refugees and asylum seekers.

the_fixer

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Re: Happy Christmas gifting/spending stories
« Reply #12 on: December 21, 2018, 08:31:22 AM »
It has been bothering me for years that my sisters, mom, nieces, nephews never really spend quality time together and we just spend a few hours here and there at holidays to give each other store bought gifts that most can not afford so for our gift we gave them all a family camping trip.

I was a little nervous because not everyone likes to go camping but it worked out amazing and everyone had a great time, my sister made shirts for everyone with a Yogi bear logo to give to everyone when we arrived and everyone took turns cooking meals.

Best part is that my sisters/families both went camping 2 more times with us as a family this summer and have asked if we can do it again.

I probably spent about the same as I would have on Christmas or maybe a tiny bit more but it was great spending time with everyone and making memories as a family.



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35andFI

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Re: Happy Christmas gifting/spending stories
« Reply #13 on: December 21, 2018, 08:44:54 AM »
All that my father wanted was for the family to go to Christmas mass with him. I got off easy on that one.

AMandM

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Re: Happy Christmas gifting/spending stories
« Reply #14 on: December 21, 2018, 10:24:54 AM »
Great stories! You all rock!

SquashingDebt

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Re: Happy Christmas gifting/spending stories
« Reply #15 on: December 21, 2018, 10:36:35 AM »
I'm grateful for several Christmas gift-related things this year:

- A mother who, while she loves buying gifts and routinely went overboard as we were growing up, takes my preferences seriously and doesn't mind when I request practical things (nice socks every year!)

- The slow downshifting of our focus on presents, with a greater focus on enjoying the time we spend together as a family

- My family becoming more on board with gifting experiences.  I'm having fun today planning 2 days of our upcoming mother-daughter vacation, with the gift being both the planning (I think I've got about 20 hours invested in it by now!) and the paid tour portion.  I'm making a powerpoint to show it all to my mom on Christmas morning and I can't wait for her to see it!

Fishindude

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Re: Happy Christmas gifting/spending stories
« Reply #16 on: December 21, 2018, 10:38:46 AM »
A good gift we've been giving to our grown kids the last several years is a frozen meat bundle including; a couple whole chickens, pork roasts, beef roasts, a few steaks, bacon, sausage, some hamburger, etc.   This is something we know will get used and our local market packages it up real nice.

Just Joe

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Re: Happy Christmas gifting/spending stories
« Reply #17 on: December 22, 2018, 10:43:38 PM »
No gifts exchanged here yet. DW went out today to find just a few little things for her side family gift exchange (drawing names). Said she went into one of the popular stores and shopped. Found a couple of things but the line to check out wound all around the inside of the store. She rehung the items and left. Not worth an hour in line for trinkets.

We'll go out tomorrow early and see if we can dodge the crowds.

OtherJen

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Re: Happy Christmas gifting/spending stories
« Reply #18 on: December 23, 2018, 07:05:43 PM »
We had Christmas dinner with my husband’s family today. My in-laws gave me an annual pass to a regional parks system. It was exactly what I wanted and I’m so grateful (and excited for winter trail hiking).

My mother-in-law is always happy with a new jigsaw puzzle and box of Belgian chocolate, while my father-in-law appreciates a good nonfiction book and savory food gifts. It’s all fun to buy and reasonably frugal.

DocMcStuffins

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Re: Happy Christmas gifting/spending stories
« Reply #19 on: December 24, 2018, 06:30:54 AM »
Christmas became much more about the experiences of the day when we started the “gifts of 4.”  One you want, one you need, one you wear, one you need. Easy to get done with our 4 children also. Because we didn’t have to “get that shopping done”  we had time to go to Dollywood during the season and did a polar bear express train ride last night.
« Last Edit: December 24, 2018, 06:34:27 AM by DocMcStuffins »