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I, too, would like to think that I am past wanting to receive gifts. This Christmas was particularly painful for me because my kids and grandkids are so far away, and this is the first Christmas I haven't had my family around me. I would have given anything to be with them. Also for the first Christmas in my life I didn't receive any presents at all, from anyone. My daughter sent me a message on facebook and my son sent me a text. I didn't hear from my oldest granddaughter at all.
I sent a couple of small gifts to my youngest granddaughter, that was all we could afford, and I am well aware that my family is as poor as we are. But it would have been nice to be remembered in some way. I was already feeling forgotten and tossed aside as no longer useful in their lives.
So I guess my answer to the OP's question is to receive no gifts at all.
I am so sorry that you did not receive any gifts at all.
Even if they were very poor, your son or daughter could have at least sent you a gift card to a fast food restaurant. I can't believe that they did not do anything at all. Do they know how hurt and alone that made you feel?
A place like Wendy's has a four pack of chicken nuggets and, if you are a senior, you get a free senior coffee or soda or other drink. So even a $5 or $10 gift card would have given you several meals.
I actually like to get gift cards. I always use all the cards I receive.
Anyway, I've been given some strange gifts over the years but a few years ago my sister-in-law gave my husband and I one of the weirdest gifts I've ever received. She gave us a big box filed with all kinds of random stuff. It's like she cleaned out her house and wanted to get rid of a bunch of junk. I don't remember everything that was in the box but we did get a big jar of mustard, a half empty box of bandaids, a can of soup, some kool-aid packets, a handful of sandwich bags, a jar of pickles, some old beat up picture frames, some old magazines, four bottles of A-1 sauce and a bunch of old dish towels.
It was such a weird gift because she's definitely not poor and could afford a decent gift and at that time my husband and I both had good jobs so it's not like we were hurting for soup and pickles. Later on we found out that she gave everyone else in the family the same kind of stuff so apparently she wasn't mad at us. Anyway, she's always been cheap but that year she took it to a whole new level.
I would LOVE, love, LOVE to get a gift cards vs a gift that I won't ever use/wear/need/etc. I'm a very practical person. I don't want another cutesy thing to hang on my walls, sit on a table, or take up space on a shelf.
Mom went a step further. She didn't want the gift cards, but was delighted with cash. She was a shrewd shopper. For the items she could buy with a $100 gift card at ABC store, she could get at other retail outlets for less than $100. Same quality. "Just give me the cash, son." She was happy and it made Xmas shopping easier for me.
She'd get frustrated with Dad. Wooo-hooo. One year he bought her a deli slicer, like you see in a grocery store. And it was expensive. She never in her life used such a device, never bought lunch meat or cheese in unsliced blocks; in fact we rarely ate lunch meats. Most of his gifts were like that: items she'd never use.
One year though he bought her a mink coat after scrimping and saving for 12 months and that pleased her, made up for all the irrelevant ones.
Mom went a step further. She didn't want the gift cards, but was delighted with cash. She was a shrewd shopper. For the items she could buy with a $100 gift card at ABC store, she could get at other retail outlets for less than $100. Same quality. "Just give me the cash, son." She was happy and it made Xmas shopping easier for me.
She'd get frustrated with Dad. Wooo-hooo. One year he bought her a deli slicer, like you see in a grocery store. And it was expensive. She never in her life used such a device, never bought lunch meat or cheese in unsliced blocks; in fact we rarely ate lunch meats. Most of his gifts were like that: items she'd never use.
One year though he bought her a mink coat after scrimping and saving for 12 months and that pleased her, made up for all the irrelevant ones.
I would use a big meat slicer for slicing smoked hams, and briskets. I just have my boyfriend do it at his house. But a mink coat would be completely useless.
A useless gift to one is a treasured gift to someone else.
I would use a big meat slicer for slicing smoked hams, and briskets. I just have my boyfriend do it at his house. But a mink coat would be completely useless.
A useless gift to one is a treasured gift to someone else.
Well, once upon a time -- think 1959 -- in the days of political-incorrectness before animal welfare rights grabbed the national consciousness, a mink coat was considered a status symbol to ladies of the lower-middle class. Same thing with Cadillac cars which my parents weren't able to swing until decades later.
Well, once upon a time -- think 1959 -- in the days of political-incorrectness before animal welfare rights grabbed the national consciousness, a mink coat was considered a status symbol to ladies of the lower-middle class. Same thing with Cadillac cars which my parents weren't able to swing until decades later.
Ask your grandparents about those days.
Ahh back in the day when Calvert Hall was in a nice area. My grandparents lived in Homeland. I don't think they even owned a Cadillac.
Ahh back in the day when Calvert Hall was in a nice area. My grandparents lived in Homeland. I don't think they even owned a Cadillac.
Actually, in '59 CHC was at Cathedral and Mulberry -- not so nice even then. Wasn't until Sept. '60 we "moved on up" but you're right, now even that area ain't so nice either.
Actually, in '59 CHC was at Cathedral and Mulberry -- not so nice even then. Wasn't until Sept. '60 we "moved on up" but you're right, now even that area ain't so nice either.
My parents moved to Harford county in the early 70's and never looked back. I love where I live.
A Macy's gift card because I don't shop there. My brother's fiancee's mother got me one and it isn't a fit for me. I tried shopping there and couldn't find squat either tight fits or styles I don't like and far too overpriced for my taste. I appreciate the thought but she needed to use a soundboard like my mother, brother or his fiancee.
A Macy's gift card because I don't shop there. My brother's fiancee's mother got me one and it isn't a fit for me. I tried shopping there and couldn't find squat either tight fits or styles I don't like and far too overpriced for my taste. I appreciate the thought but she needed to use a soundboard like my mother, brother or his fiancee.
Try Macys online. I get a Macy's gift card every year and I can never find anything in the store but I always find good deals on their website. Last year I got tons on baby clothes for $40 and the year before that I got a nice purse for around $30.
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