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Somehow over the past decade or so, it has become a holiday tradition in our family to just basically exchange money. As in, I give my mom a gift certificate. She gives me one. Same for the only brother I care about and his wife.
At the same time- this tradition developed because it is really hard to buy for these people. My mom HATES everything she gets and isn't shy about saying so. A gift certificate is what she genuinely wants. My brother has enough money to get himself anything he wants and lives far away, so I don't know everything he has. If you try and ask him what he wants, he insists he doesn't need anything.
My dad is the only one who actually cooperates. Yesterday he handed me an ad and pointed to the slippers and movie he wants. I actually much prefer that. And at least I know if I get him a bonus surprise movie or something, he's likely to enjoy it instead of complaining or already owning a copy.
Anyone else sick of gift certificates for the holiday season?
Yes. When we used to exchange gifts with my wife's family, my MIL and SIL would both give me a gift card. To me, it was like saying, "Here, go do your own shopping." A few years ago, we switched to a gag gift exchange. It's a lot more fun and it doesn't have the impersonal feel of a gift card.
Somehow over the past decade or so, it has become a holiday tradition in our family to just basically exchange money. As in, I give my mom a gift certificate. She gives me one. Same for the only brother I care about and his wife.
At the same time- this tradition developed because it is really hard to buy for these people. My mom HATES everything she gets and isn't shy about saying so. A gift certificate is what she genuinely wants. My brother has enough money to get himself anything he wants and lives far away, so I don't know everything he has. If you try and ask him what he wants, he insists he doesn't need anything.
My dad is the only one who actually cooperates. Yesterday he handed me an ad and pointed to the slippers and movie he wants. I actually much prefer that. And at least I know if I get him a bonus surprise movie or something, he's likely to enjoy it instead of complaining or already owning a copy.
Anyone else sick of gift certificates for the holiday season?
Actually our family got sick of the entire "materialistic" and "commercialized" aspect of Christmas and the Holiday's so we do NOT exchange gifts or gift certificates. We as a family pool our monies and give it all to a worthy charity who will provide much needed items to as many families as possible or pay electric bills, water bills, go to the grocery store, things like that. We as a family do this at Christmas and the rest of the year we as individuals give to whatever charities we choose to so we can help others who have not been as blessed as we have at that time.
We as a family pool our monies and give it all to a worthy charity who will provide much needed items to as many families as possible or pay electric bills, water bills, go to the grocery store, things like that.
We do this, too.
You could take them out to eat. As I get older, I think shared experiences are better gifts than stuff.
Other than my direct family, I don't exchange gifts with anyone unless I see something while I'm out that I think they would truly enjoy, and I never expect it in return. That's the point of the holidays.
Being with family should be enough. You should be up front and suggest it might be time to stop the exchanges, or maybe suggest a charity you all give to instead.
Somehow over the past decade or so, it has become a holiday tradition in our family to just basically exchange money. As in, I give my mom a gift certificate. She gives me one. Same for the only brother I care about and his wife.
At the same time- this tradition developed because it is really hard to buy for these people. My mom HATES everything she gets and isn't shy about saying so. A gift certificate is what she genuinely wants. My brother has enough money to get himself anything he wants and lives far away, so I don't know everything he has. If you try and ask him what he wants, he insists he doesn't need anything.
My dad is the only one who actually cooperates. Yesterday he handed me an ad and pointed to the slippers and movie he wants. I actually much prefer that. And at least I know if I get him a bonus surprise movie or something, he's likely to enjoy it instead of complaining or already owning a copy.
Anyone else sick of gift certificates for the holiday season?
That's a mighty interesting family you have there. Where I come from, people appreciate their gifts even if it isn't what they want. Everybody is different, some moreso than others.
If you don't want to participate, don't. Send them a card that says. "$25 was donated to the local animal shelter in your name", and watch the fireworks. LOL
[quote=ParallelJJCat;27348042]Somehow over the past decade or so, it has become a holiday tradition in our family to just basically exchange money. As in, I give my mom a gift certificate. She gives me one. Same for the only brother I care about and his wife.
At the same time- this tradition developed because it is really hard to buy for these people. My mom HATES everything she gets and isn't shy about saying so. A gift certificate is what she genuinely wants. My brother has enough money to get himself anything he wants and lives far away, so I don't know everything he has. If you try and ask him what he wants, he insists he doesn't need anything.
My dad is the only one who actually cooperates. Yesterday he handed me an ad and pointed to the slippers and movie he wants. I actually much prefer that. And at least I know if I get him a bonus surprise movie or something, he's likely to enjoy it instead of complaining or already owning a copy.
Anyone else sick of gift certificates for the holiday season?[/quote]
Nope, I would LOVE to get gift cards. But nobody ever gives me one...or gifts either, for that matter. Up until this year I have sent gift cards to everyone on my gift list. Mostly because they all live far away, I don't know what they want...they never say!...and I figure they can just get what they want. However, this year, I am not sending gift cards to anyone. They never acknowledge them, they don't even call or send a card and I ALWAYS have to call THEM to find out if they even got it. So, this year, all my Christmas money is going to charity. Except for my mom. She always gets a gift AND a gift card from me. At work we have a Christmas tree with kids and seniors who have requested gifts and that's where my money went. Four kids and four seniors. I feel so much better doing that. And I have to add that I never give with the thought of getting 'thanks' for it but it WOULD be nice to be acknowledged and let me know they got it.
This year, adults in my extended family are not exchanging gifts. I'll exchange with my mother, but the gift-buying for uncles, cousins and their spouses will be no more. I am relieved that this meaningless ritual has come to an end.
Anyone else sick of gift certificates for the holiday season?
Absolutely.
In fact, if you are going to do this, why not get one 50 dollar bill. Then just hand it around the room.
"Merry xmas, mom. Here is 50 bucks."
"Thank you, son. Here is 50 bucks." (passes the same bill back)
So on and so forth.
Then you're done an no trees died.
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