We don't exchange pressies at Christmas, haven't done for years, and it makes Christmas so much more pleasurable. We spend extra on birthday presents instead. It started a long time ago when a friend of ours was economising and we areed not to buy for each other; we spread this to agreeing the same with my family; and then the (adult) children. Everyone else continues with the mayhem of spending money on gifts they desperately hope the recipient will love - it's just us that have opted out completely (we don't even buy pressies for each other).
Every year for the past 25 years, my lovely friend S and I have taken a day to go Christmas shopping, getting it all done in one hit. Even after I stopped buying pressies, we've continued with our day shopping. S still buys pressies, it's a pleasant day out together, and I find it interesting watching people's behaviour without having the stress of trying to find gifts myself.
We have grandchildren that we see a lot, and some we don't see very often. Since we've had grandchildren of an age to know what Christmas is, I started to feel a bit mean not buying them something to unwrap (and - frankly - I felt that other people felt I was mean), so a couple of years ago I tried to buy a small token pressie for each grandchild. I find it quite difficult to find token inexpensive presents that don't seem mean they all have so much already). I also struggle to get a fair balance between all of them.
I might get them some chocolate this year. As if they need more chocolate?!
Every year for the past 25 years, my lovely friend S and I have taken a day to go Christmas shopping, getting it all done in one hit. Even after I stopped buying pressies, we've continued with our day shopping. S still buys pressies, it's a pleasant day out together, and I find it interesting watching people's behaviour without having the stress of trying to find gifts myself.
We have grandchildren that we see a lot, and some we don't see very often. Since we've had grandchildren of an age to know what Christmas is, I started to feel a bit mean not buying them something to unwrap (and - frankly - I felt that other people felt I was mean), so a couple of years ago I tried to buy a small token pressie for each grandchild. I find it quite difficult to find token inexpensive presents that don't seem mean they all have so much already). I also struggle to get a fair balance between all of them.
I might get them some chocolate this year. As if they need more chocolate?!
