The Holiday Gift Thread

[Octavia]

iLander, there is no right or wrong! When I was a kid, there were always piles of presents under the tree, but there are no little ones in my family right now and for the past couple years, we have all agreed that we just. don't. need. more stuff. My parents are trying to downsize, and until we bought a house earlier this year, DH and I lived in tiny apartments that were packed to the gills with what we already had. Plus, we now live on the opposite coast from my family, so transporting gifts is an issue. So a single splurgier gift or an experience-type gift just fit better with all our lifestyles. But I'm sure that once there are munchkins waking us up at the crack of dawn with Christmas-morning excitement, there will be a lot more boxes under the tree

 

[JaneSmith]

I am starting to wonder if we're doing the holidays all wrong!

Everyone has so few items on their lists! My DH and I aren't happy until each person has a big pile, at least 15-20 items. Not all big, of course, but still. . .

Is everyone just listing the "big" gift or does everyone really open only one or two things?

No wrong holidays! Your christmas sounds awesome!
There is an obnoxious pile of presents under my trees (yes, trees plural) every year, and stockings stuffed to their fluffy tops. I spoil the little ones rotten, and my hubby too.
I'm probably overcompensating for some frugal experiences as a child. One year, there were no presents, so I took my piggy bank savings and bought a small box of chocolate almonds. I individually wrapped each one in recycled christmas paper and put them under the tree for all of us. My brother wrapped our favourite books we already owned to make the pile fill out a bit. I think we actually made my dad sadder than if the tree was bare, but he hid it well. We still had a turkey for dinner, and played games, and we were together as a family so all was far from lost.
I've taken to asking for one or two nice big presents. So while my list is short, it packs quite a punch. We also donate to various causes and charities, as well as child sponsorship. It's a delicate balance for me to not feel greedy whilst not feeling deprived.


Missy, those are sweet dresses on super sweet girls!

 

[Rosebloom]

We bought my nieces holiday dresses as part of the holiday gift giving..We gave it to them today during Thanksgiving so they can wear it during this holiday season. Here are a few pics of them trying the dresses on for us.

Adorable!!!

 

[Missy]

Thank you Jane and Rosebloom. They really are sweet girls. They make my heart melt all the time.

As for holiday gifts my dh and I buy for the children in our family (5 nieces and a nephew) but don't exchange any more with the adults. My parents anniversary is in December so we always buy them a gift around this time of year and ditto for my aunt and uncle. But as for holiday gifts it's only for the kids that we buy.

My dh and I usually exchange one major gift with each other but I am thinking we might skip it this year because of all the expenses we have looming due to the storm. I know it won't make much of a dent though so I am wavering as to what to do... My dh doesn't mind skipping at all and really I don't either. It's not like we are deprived in any way lol.

And the main thing we love to do for gift giving during the holidays is give money donations to our 3 favorite animal charities. That I will not skimp on because that makes us feel better than any gift. Seriously. So, that's our main priority this season. And though we did give donations to animal charities because of Sandy I am not going to change the amount we give during the holidays. They really need it!!

 

[tuffyluvr]

I feel like a naughty holiday elf... I came home this evening and there was a UPS delivery attempt slip... From Rock D! I assume FI got me the .34ct baby bezel earrings that i have been admiring--they show 'SOLD' on the website. http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/diamond-earrings-34cts-mvs-round-brilliant-bezel-set-diamond-stud-earrings-r4207 I told him that I loved those and the .48 dangles. I really, really love those darling little dangles, but I don't trust myself with French hooks for everyday wear. http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/yellow-diamond-earrings-48cts-w-x-vs1-round-brilliant-bezel-set-dangle-earrings-r4436 I really haven't worn earrings for years, and I wanted something small and easy to wear.

I've found that the older I've grown, the less coy I've become about gifts. I was with a man who was an awful gift-giver through most of my 20s. I would always tell him that it didn't matter, and just to surprise me. After getting floor mats and new tires for my car one year, and an IOU for schoolbooks another, I realized that it did kind of matter. He was always very generous, but the gifts he gave me were so boring and practical. It then dawned on me that the best gifts are something you wouldn't buy yourself,or something sentimental.