Basically I don’t do the surprise gift thing anymore. Never really did; small family of my father, mother, and me. Now with family of in-law relatives they are older, and they are hoping for maybe college tuition or a house.
@kittykat9180
When it came to my guys family I was in your category, same mindset for a while. Well kind of, I’d buy for my family and he’d buy for his! The way it should be IMO! My family pretty much stopped exchanging for many years, we’d do that “one $30 gift” white elephant exchange thing. But in the past 8 years I SOMEHOW got wrangled/guilted/SUCKERED into doing the shopping for my guys entire family and I HATE IT! It’s stressful and a HUGE waste of time and money! And we’re entirely different types of people, I prefer to buy one “nice” gift while they give 20 Dollar Store items. I’m not looking forward to another year of christmas shopping. This is SUPPOSED TO BE A JOYOUS TIME!
@Lynnerizer
I don’t give gifts at all, except an occasional birthday or graduation and it’s usually cash.
I don’t understand this whole gift exchange thing. It seems pointless, frivolous, stressful, and a waste of money.
Every year I roll my eyes at the desperate cash grab by retailers and all these people running around stressed out wasting money.
@kittykat9180
Yeah I hear ya! It was about 30 years ago that my family stopped feeding into the whole cluster f… of the holidays, and the shopping. After a couple years we decided to do the one gift white elephant thing just to add some extra fun and excitement to the day. But I totally get what you’re saying!
@chienfou@kittykat9180
You’ll miss me alright but ONLY because I can’t help my terrible ways of procrastination! I LOVE shopping and waste many hours and too much money on the internet with my OCD. (the family gift giving ended many years ago before the smart phone and while I was homebound and mostly bedridden, not to mention my dusty cob web covered wallet. Lol ) However, the two times that I participated, because of my procrastinating, I ended up sending gifts directly from Amazon and other sites, spending more money than I intended. One of those times the person didn’t respond so I wasn’t even sure that they liked what I sent. Granted, it wasn’t the traditional Meh gift exchange stuff but I thought it was great! Is butt hurt still a thing?
@chienfou@kittykat9180@Lynnerizer
Didn’t respond, that’s horribly rude! I hope that person is banned from the exchange.
I can relate to your procrastination though, !!! Also I overthink it dreadfully. That’s why I skipped it last year.
Yes, hopefully someone will take on the challenge, @star2236 did a great job with last year’s exchange, she was on top of it! I love seeing how creative some people are, collecting stuff all year long! Waiting for and watching the reveals I feel like a troll! 🧌 Lol…
Today I’m excited about a Softies lounge set I just bought for my mom from the bargains on ViewYourDeal.com. This one’s on Oprah’s favorites list, WOOHOO! I’m not sure if I’ll wait until Christmas, it might end up being a “just because” gift since I already got her a few jigsaw puzzles. Sometimes I find great deals there, everythings marked down at least 50% if not more!
I saw they’re selling Christmas trees today, and even though I’ve never had an artificial tree, I’m considering it. That will depend on whether I can make up my mind in time. Similar to Meh, their deals are only around for a day or two, no time for procrastinating!
Hopefully, I’ll decide soon, I could use some holiday cheer!
@chienfou@kittykat9180@Kyeh@Lynnerizer
I’m planning on doing it again, I was just waiting till a little later to post about it since we usually don’t do it till the beginning of the year.
In theory, my family doesn’t exchange gifts, although my sister and I always do give some. So they get whatever I feel like giving them, and I usually get it right. (Often items from Irks!) Friends also - no official gift exchange, just a surprise if I find something that I think they’ll like.
My mom. She usually buys what she wants before we get a chance to.
It has not gotten easier since her stroke that resulted in aphasia this year. Now she can’t go buy what she wants but also can’t tell us what she wants… And isn’t able to have regular conversation that would allow us to make some mental notes for gift ideas.
Shes also the one we all think is the most important to buy for/make a big deal over/keep happy. No stress at all this year.
@roachy
Oh jeez… that’s tough. I’m sorry you’re going through that. With aphasia, finding ways to communicate with comprehension isn’t easy. It’s so hard watching our loved ones deal with illnesses, especially knowing there’s only so much we can do.
I took care of my grandmother after a stroke, she also had Aphasia. It was frustrating, she knew something was wrong but wasn’t able to articulate anything or control it. Eventually, very slowly she did get much better.
When it came time for gift giving we’d buy her things of comfort since she was now staying home more than ever, cozy PJs, lounge wear, fluffy blankets, soft pillows, plush robes, slippers etc. I remember playing therapeutic games to help with her recovery, I also put together a photo album for her that she just loved!
Maybe you’ll find something there helpful but whatever you decide I’m sure she’ll be thrilled just to have her family there with her, feeling loved is the best gift ever!
@Lynnerizer thank you so much for your sweet words I think aphasia is one of the most isolating yet unknown things that people deal with and you truly don’t get what it’s like unless you’ve been around it. It’s hard knowing she mostly ok in her mind and her thinking but can’t be funny and quick witted like before. I’m just grateful we have the extra time with her. She has defied the odds for almost a year now. Grateful for every second
Cozy gifts are a great idea! Ty! I got her a warming foot massager for her birthday bc I worry about her circulation and the swelling she gets. She loved it. She does spend a lot of time in the recliner now, and has always loved slippers and robes. I think we will shower her in warm gifts
It is impossible to shop for a gift for me, and I understand this, so I expect none - and have pretty much let that be known. This is reinforced by having a birthday just four days before Xmas, which I have made a point of ignoring for a very long time For Reasons.
I have multiple close relatives w birthdays within a week before or after christmas (three to be exact - dad, sis and niece). So from my lifetime of experience I can say with certantity it is not imposssible. Expensive, yes. Impossible, no.
With anyone it takes time and attention. Listening to the individual to find something meaningful. Often times in todays world people do not take the time, “for reasons”, but that doesnt make someone impossible to buy for.
@chienfou@tinamarie1974@werehatrack I have a lot of stuff. At this point there are a very limited number of things I want and they are usually very specific items.
So for the last few years, I buy myself a Birthday+Christmas present that is Oh! Thank you! It’s just what I wanted!.
Works for me.
Yes, you did great Tinamarie! My mom would be proud of you! We’ve always compared our bargains to see who’s able to save the most. Years ago when I was in my 20’s it was a weekly thing to see which one of us had the biggest savings on our groceries! I was obsessed with cutting coupons, not like those people you’d see on TV though, those were goals! Lol
For savings in general though, I think YOU might’ve just taken the cake and blown us both out of the water!
BTW, don’t forget to take a “before” picture so you have something to compare your glowing face to six months from now! I can’t wait to hear about your results!
@Kyeh@Lynnerizer FWIW, I only stopped getting carded about 5 years ago and a couple of times ehen Inwas much younger was accused of using a fake ID. That was actually annoying.
My wife buys things as she wants/needs them, so finding something for her can be challenging. I tend to go with the not so practical would never buy it for herself route, even tough she really wants it.
@UpbeatDuck
This is one of the reasons we have switched to experiences rather than material gifts. Dinner out, theater tickets, concert tickets, weekend trip. Those kind of things. Budget can range anywhere from $50 on up dollars so lots of leeway.
All this talk about gift giving and the holidays, I almost forgot my guys birthday next week! He’s easy to buy for yet super hard to please! He’d prefer cash but it’s so impersonal. And I hate to think of my money being gambled away. Guess if I’m truly giving with “two hands” it shouldn’t matter what he does with the gift. It’s still impersonal and I don’t have to be happy about it. IDK what he’s getting yet, I wish I felt better because I’d love to spend a few days and nights at the casino, now THAT I can justify!
Santa
I’m good at finding the best gifts for others, but it seems that has raised the bar so others can’t find the best gift for me.
Me.
It’s most difficult to buy for my girlfriend’s husband.
My guy is the best gift giver - he always picks out the perfect gift for whoever he’s shopping for, but he is the toughest person to please!
Basically I don’t do the surprise gift thing anymore. Never really did; small family of my father, mother, and me. Now with family of in-law relatives they are older, and they are hoping for maybe college tuition or a house.
My sister. She loudly and repeatedly says she wanta nothing and means it.
@maturo Wouldn’t that make her the easiest person to shop for? Want not, get not, problem solved.
My (former) mother-in-law.
Couldn’t please her when my wife was alive, definitely not now.
Umm, I don’t shop for anyone. They can do their own shopping.
@kittykat9180
My family pretty much stopped exchanging for many years, we’d do that “one $30 gift” white elephant exchange thing. But in the past 8 years I SOMEHOW got wrangled/guilted/SUCKERED into doing the shopping for my guys entire family and I HATE IT! It’s stressful and a HUGE waste of time and money! And we’re entirely different types of people, I prefer to buy one “nice” gift while they give 20 Dollar Store items. I’m not looking forward to another year of christmas shopping. 
This is SUPPOSED TO BE A JOYOUS TIME! 
When it came to my guys family I was in your category, same mindset for a while. Well kind of, I’d buy for my family and he’d buy for his! The way it should be IMO!
@Lynnerizer
I don’t give gifts at all, except an occasional birthday or graduation and it’s usually cash.
I don’t understand this whole gift exchange thing. It seems pointless, frivolous, stressful, and a waste of money.
Every year I roll my eyes at the desperate cash grab by retailers and all these people running around stressed out wasting money.
@kittykat9180
Yeah I hear ya! It was about 30 years ago that my family stopped feeding into the whole cluster f… of the holidays, and the shopping. After a couple years we decided to do the one gift white elephant thing just to add some extra fun and excitement to the day. But I totally get what you’re saying!
@kittykat9180 @Lynnerizer
Will miss you both at this years meh holiday gift exchange!
@chienfou @Lynnerizer
@chienfou @kittykat9180
I LOVE shopping and waste many hours and too much money on the internet with my OCD. 
(the family gift giving ended many years ago before the smart phone and while I was homebound and mostly bedridden, not to mention my dusty cob web covered wallet. 
Lol 
) However, the two times that I participated, because of my procrastinating, I ended up sending gifts directly from Amazon and other sites, spending more money than I intended. One of those times the person didn’t respond so I wasn’t even sure that they liked what I sent. Granted, it wasn’t the traditional Meh gift exchange stuff but I thought it was great! Is butt hurt still a thing? 
You’ll miss me alright but ONLY because I can’t help my terrible ways of procrastination!
@chienfou @kittykat9180 @Lynnerizer
!!! Also I overthink it dreadfully. That’s why I skipped it last year. 
Didn’t respond, that’s horribly rude! I hope that person is banned from the exchange.
I can relate to your procrastination though,
@kittykat9180 @Kyeh @Lynnerizer
I’m still hoping there will be one this year.
@chienfou @kittykat9180 @Kyeh
Yes, hopefully someone will take on the challenge, @star2236 did a great job with last year’s exchange, she was on top of it!
I love seeing how creative some people are, collecting stuff all year long! Waiting for and watching the reveals I feel like a troll! 
🧌 Lol…
Today I’m excited about a Softies lounge set I just bought for my mom from the bargains on ViewYourDeal.com. This one’s on Oprah’s favorites list, WOOHOO!
I’m not sure if I’ll wait until Christmas, it might end up being a “just because” gift since I already got her a few jigsaw puzzles. 
Sometimes I find great deals there, everythings marked down at least 50% if not more! 
I saw they’re selling Christmas trees today, and even though I’ve never had an artificial tree, I’m considering it. That will depend on whether I can make up my mind in time. Similar to Meh, their deals are only around for a day or two, no time for procrastinating!
Hopefully, I’ll decide soon, I could use some holiday cheer!
@chienfou @kittykat9180 @Lynnerizer It should be the beginning of next year, because the previous one was this past January.
@chienfou @kittykat9180 @Kyeh @Lynnerizer
I’m planning on doing it again, I was just waiting till a little later to post about it since we usually don’t do it till the beginning of the year.
@Star2236
That’s great. Didn’t mean to call anyone out. Thanks for your efforts. Look forward to it.
@chienfou
I was planning on doing it anyway.
Sons-in-laws. I don’t see or interact with them enough to know what they’re’into’… lots of socks & gift cards are the go to gifts…
In theory, my family doesn’t exchange gifts, although my sister and I always do give some. So they get whatever I feel like giving them, and I usually get it right. (Often items from Irks!) Friends also - no official gift exchange, just a surprise if I find something that I think they’ll like.
Me, myself and Irene.
My sister, she has very expensive tastes and sees holidays as a money grab.
@ironcheftoni
My mom. She usually buys what she wants before we get a chance to.
It has not gotten easier since her stroke that resulted in aphasia this year. Now she can’t go buy what she wants but also can’t tell us what she wants… And isn’t able to have regular conversation that would allow us to make some mental notes for gift ideas.
Shes also the one we all think is the most important to buy for/make a big deal over/keep happy. No stress at all this year.
@roachy
Oh jeez… that’s tough. I’m sorry you’re going through that. With aphasia, finding ways to communicate with comprehension isn’t easy. It’s so hard watching our loved ones deal with illnesses, especially knowing there’s only so much we can do.
I took care of my grandmother after a stroke, she also had Aphasia. It was frustrating, she knew something was wrong but wasn’t able to articulate anything or control it. Eventually, very slowly she did get much better.
When it came time for gift giving we’d buy her things of comfort since she was now staying home more than ever, cozy PJs, lounge wear, fluffy blankets, soft pillows, plush robes, slippers etc. I remember playing therapeutic games to help with her recovery, I also put together a photo album for her that she just loved!
Maybe you’ll find something there helpful but whatever you decide I’m sure she’ll be thrilled just to have her family there with her, feeling loved is the best gift ever!
@Lynnerizer thank you so much for your sweet words
I think aphasia is one of the most isolating yet unknown things that people deal with and you truly don’t get what it’s like unless you’ve been around it. It’s hard knowing she mostly ok in her mind and her thinking but can’t be funny and quick witted like before. I’m just grateful we have the extra time with her. She has defied the odds for almost a year now. Grateful for every second
Cozy gifts are a great idea! Ty! I got her a warming foot massager for her birthday bc I worry about her circulation and the swelling she gets. She loved it. She does spend a lot of time in the recliner now, and has always loved slippers and robes. I think we will shower her in warm gifts
@roachy
It is impossible to shop for a gift for me, and I understand this, so I expect none - and have pretty much let that be known. This is reinforced by having a birthday just four days before Xmas, which I have made a point of ignoring for a very long time For Reasons.
@werehatrack
NOBODY is impossible to shop for.
OTOH lots of folks are hard to shop for.
@werehatrack @chienfou
I have multiple close relatives w birthdays within a week before or after christmas (three to be exact - dad, sis and niece). So from my lifetime of experience I can say with certantity it is not imposssible. Expensive, yes. Impossible, no.
With anyone it takes time and attention. Listening to the individual to find something meaningful. Often times in todays world people do not take the time, “for reasons”, but that doesnt make someone impossible to buy for.
@chienfou @tinamarie1974 @werehatrack I have a lot of stuff. At this point there are a very limited number of things I want and they are usually very specific items.
So for the last few years, I buy myself a Birthday+Christmas present that is Oh! Thank you! It’s just what I wanted!.
Works for me.
@chienfou @macromeh @werehatrack Ive always done that too! My little splurge for myself.
This year I gifted myself this, but between being on sale and credit card points it ended up costing me about $36 - the cost of the tax.
https://www.sharkninja.com/shark-cryoglow-red-blue-infrared-iqled-face-mask-under-eye-cooling---blue-frost/FW312.html?dwvar_FW312_color=A4C8E1
@chienfou @macromeh @werehatrack @tinamarie1974 Wow, that WAS a good deal!
@chienfou @Kyeh @macromeh @werehatrack plus I used my USAA link to get a $20 christmas bonus and something like 4% cash back on their version of Rakuten
I was proud of myself
@chienfou @macromeh @werehatrack @tinamarie1974 Super smart shopping!
@chienfou @Kyeh @macromeh @tinamarie1974 @werehatrack
Yes, you did great Tinamarie! My mom would be proud of you! We’ve always compared our bargains to see who’s able to save the most. Years ago when I was in my 20’s it was a weekly thing to see which one of us had the biggest savings on our groceries!
I was obsessed with cutting coupons, not like those people you’d see on TV though, those were goals! Lol 
For savings in general though, I think YOU might’ve just taken the cake and blown us both out of the water!
BTW, don’t forget to take a “before” picture so you have something to compare your glowing face to six months from now! I can’t wait to hear about your results!
@Lynnerizer @tinamarie1974 She’s going to start getting carded at bars & restaurants after she uses it!
@Kyeh @tinamarie1974
I don’t even drink but I’ll cheers to that! 
YES, let’s hope so!
@Kyeh @Lynnerizer FWIW, I only stopped getting carded about 5 years ago and a couple of times ehen Inwas much younger was accused of using a fake ID. That was actually annoying.
My wife buys things as she wants/needs them, so finding something for her can be challenging. I tend to go with the not so practical would never buy it for herself route, even tough she really wants it.
@UpbeatDuck
This is one of the reasons we have switched to experiences rather than material gifts. Dinner out, theater tickets, concert tickets, weekend trip. Those kind of things. Budget can range anywhere from $50 on up dollars so lots of leeway.
Me. I really have everything cheap that I need. I don’t want more small things cluttering my house.
All this talk about gift giving and the holidays, I almost forgot my guys birthday next week!
He’s easy to buy for yet super hard to please! He’d prefer cash but it’s so impersonal. And I hate to think of my money being gambled away. Guess if I’m truly giving with “two hands” it shouldn’t matter what he does with the gift. It’s still impersonal and I don’t have to be happy about it. IDK what he’s getting yet, I wish I felt better because I’d love to spend a few days and nights at the casino, now THAT I can justify! 
