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When my father gave me a bunch of magazines he had purchased at a convenience store on Christmas day when I was 16 I heard that same song. But I realized then (and know now) that a truly thoughtless gift is a lot worse than no gift at all.
My Ex gave me tupperware for my birthday once because everything was closed except a
drug store...ugh...
I would rather have a gift card than a gift I'm never going to use!
With that said, my MIL giver my daughters crap every year from the dollar store and every year I tell them to be grateful for anything and say "Thank you". This year (as always) she asked me what she should get them and I said a gift card as they are getting older and it's getting complicated on things to buy them. She said good idea, so we'll see!
I would rather have a gift card than a gift I'm never going to use!
I feel the same way.....remember that I wanted to cringe when relatives insisted on giving me clothes for a Christmas or birthday gift, because they nearly always got something that was too small. And because they never included tags or receipts with the gift, I wasn't able to exchange it for something that actually DID fit me.
I find that older people prefer gift cards, they talk about having "experiences" more than "things". Saves me a lot of time hunting down the perfect gift!
Actually, while the point of giving a gift is pleasing the recipient, the obligation of the recipient is to be grateful that one was thought so highly of as to be given a gift at all and therefore be grateful for whatever it is. It's not a matter of "filling an order." Or shouldn't be. Again, people can -- and do -- simply shop for themselves in order to get EXACTLY what they want all year round... Christmas is SUPPOSED to be different.
I find that older people prefer gift cards, they talk about having "experiences" more than "things". Saves me a lot of time hunting down the perfect gift!
Sure. But if someone wants to talk to me about how they want an "experience" I'll tell them "Have fun!" But I'm not going to help them finance it.
I even see parents trying to direct others on gift-giving for their kids and I don't think it's classy. They'll say they want their friends and family to pay towards a trip to Disney or something like that. I'll say that sounds like fun but I won't pitch in. When I was growing up it would have been vulgar to tell people about how one is planning vacation and wants others to finance it for them. Now there are honeymoon funds and all that. There is no entitlement to have others fund one's travel experiences.
Sure. But if someone wants to talk to me about how they want an "experience" I'll tell them "Have fun!" But I'm not going to help them finance it.
I even see parents trying to direct others on gift-giving for their kids and I don't think it's classy. They'll say they want their friends and family to pay towards a trip to Disney or something like that. I'll say that sounds like fun but I won't pitch in. When I was growing up it would have been vulgar to tell people about how one is planning vacation and wants others to finance it for them. Now there are honeymoon funds and all that. There is no entitlement to have others fund one's travel experiences.
Why not start an online registry like couples do for their weddings these days? That's also tacky, I might add!
Sure. But if someone wants to talk to me about how they want an "experience" I'll tell them "Have fun!" But I'm not going to help them finance it.
I even see parents trying to direct others on gift-giving for their kids and I don't think it's classy. They'll say they want their friends and family to pay towards a trip to Disney or something like that. I'll say that sounds like fun but I won't pitch in. When I was growing up it would have been vulgar to tell people about how one is planning vacation and wants others to finance it for them. Now there are honeymoon funds and all that. There is no entitlement to have others fund one's travel experiences.
I keep hearing about these "experience" gifts. I will share my thoughts.
A few years ago a good friend "treated" me to a trip to the day spa with her. First, I'm not into massage but she is. So she booked one for both of us. We were in the same room. It was awkward and I'm sure I was not relaxed either before or after. I grew up going to saunas in Sweden and the nudity didn't bother me as much as the noises she made: grunts, moans, etc.
Then she wanted to get wraps. So we did but that required about an hour sitting packed in mud and some kind of saran wrap type material. It was not my cup of tea.
When it came time for the payment she said "I have the service but you can buy the product I want and the tip" So basically I sat through several hours of awkwardness doing something I would not choose to do on my own and then got a bill.
Likewise we were invited on vacation with another couple as a gift one year. We ended up paying more for this "free" trip to their lake house than we would have if we set up our own trip. We had to bring our own groceries and alcohol and treat a group of 8 to dinner several times because we were the "fee guests." We did get nice accommodation. Airfare was a lot more than we anticipated.
And one year my mate got a "swim with a dolphin* experience. He laughed so hard when he opened that gift. He donated it to a children's charity.
Experience gifts are often an excellent excuse for the giver to get a buddy to help pay for something they want to do....
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