I'm on a very tight budget this X-Mas, and I dont think I can buy my family and friends presents. I got too many bills to pay, and I dont need anymore credit cards bills. What's a nice to tell them "No gifts", eventhough they'll give me gifts.
2006-10-12 15:57:35 · 29 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
bake them cookies or chocolate covered pretzels.
its an incredibly cheap gift and makes a TON... so you can buy small quantities of ingredients and make enough for everyone.
its what i've done the last few years. its awesome.
2006-10-12 16:05:15 · answer #1 · answered by shatzy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gifts are given as a gesture of your love and affection. Don't have to be expensive, even a card is a gift if it is given in love. You do need to tell everyone that you normally give gifts to that you won't be able to do it this year, and ask that they not get you any. Many still will get you something, but others will be relieved they don't have to feel obligated.
Your close family is another matter--if it is a tradition you give gifts, you might want to re-evaluate your budget and see where you could cut back on extras to get thoughtful gifts for your immediate family. Everyone has bills, but it is important to maintain your family ties. Just don't go overboard and spend more than you can afford.
2006-10-12 16:10:03 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just explain it to them in a loving way, and I'm sure they'll understand. Explain to them that money is very tight for you this year, and you'd like to just exchange cards. Better yet, maybe you could make them each something, like some small craft.
My sister's family is really hard up these days. Last year I gave them tons of presents, because I have a great job, and I'm just happy to be able to share some of my good fortune with them. They gave me a Christmas ornament that my niece made. It was so sweet! I love that ornament, and will hang it on my tree every year. The fact that it was made by my niece means more to me than any expensive gift could ever mean.
Christmas is about sharing and giving, not bankrupting yourself. Look around for some small, inexpensive craft ideas, like little ornaments or something, or just stick with giving cards, and enjoy the holidays without letting your finances get you down. I'm sure they love you, and they'll totally understand.
2006-10-12 16:14:44 · answer #3 · answered by locolady98 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christmas should not be about material things. Why not give of yourself. Get some construction paper and make cards and write a beautiful message telling the people who are dear to you that you love them and why. When I was newly divorced, Money was very tight... I made little gifts out of fabric, and other things I had around the house. I made my mother a rosary. Since then, I can afford to give very lavish gifts to my family. However, nothing can replace for my mother that little rosary I made out of pony beads.
My brother's birthday is very close to Christmas. My mom has a great sense of humor and as a gag gift, she gave him a $2.00 gift certificate to McDonald's and a note attached telling him to enjoy and take a friend. He laughed so hard we thought he was going to lose it. It was a very memorable gift for him. If your family and friends have a sense of humor, they would probably love something like this. Another nice gift is to go to the dollar store and get cups. Place in the cup mixtures for hot chocolate, flavored coffee, a couple of tea bags and some cookies. People always love cups. Be creative dear, you do not have to go into debt to give gifts.
2006-10-12 16:07:59 · answer #4 · answered by ValleyViolet 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Plain and simple, just like you told us. I have way too many bills and cannot buy Christmas presents this year. If they love you like family and friends should, they wouldn't want you to go into more debt to buy Christmas presents. Even though they probably will buy you presents anyway, I would still make the comment that I don't expect them to buy presents for me either. Don't be a humbug though. Join in the festivities, bake cookies, sing Christmas carols and have a Merry Christmas (with no horrific credit card bills coming in January).!!!!
2006-10-12 16:07:51 · answer #5 · answered by butrcupps 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
way to go ! You're smart !
I learned my lesson the hard way, I bought on credit cards, and my relatives just threw out the presents I struggled to get anyways. Pay bills first ! Even after you catch up paying down debt, you may still like the no-gifts way anyways !
Tis the season for socializing, caring, enjoying each others' company, sharing joy, celebrating, not supposed to be materialism ! oh, you know, now most people already have everything they need and want, and most people are pretty particular about which brand, model, style, etc etc to get, so prefer power to choose which things they get, gifts are not really appreciated as much as kindness, forgiveness, etc...really!
2006-10-12 16:19:09 · answer #6 · answered by million$gon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell them at Thanksgiving that you won't be getting xmas gifts for anyone this year. At least it will give them advance notice so they won't feel cheated on xmas day when they bought you something and they didn't get anything (if that's really how they would feel). I can't afford to buy gifts either but I still have things given to me. Most adults don't really care if they receive. They're giving to make someone else happy - not just in hopes of receiving something in return.
For the people who do give you gifts, do something nice to repay them throughout the season.
2006-10-12 16:06:42 · answer #7 · answered by •√¡rgő• 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ive been where u are hun and the best thing to do is be honest and maybe make a small gift for close friends and family!!
When we realised the xmas budget wasnt gonna stretch, we got out our portraits of our lil family and made up nice xmas cards with a picture of us in it!!
I guess u can only try!! Like one said b4, its the thought that counts!!
2006-10-12 16:04:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just be honest. Maybe you can give gifts that are home-made that are suited to each person. For example, you could give someone an invitation in the form of a coupon :"good for a lunch at ________" or, "to be redeemed at a golf course next summer..." etc. The best gifts do not need to be material ones anyway.
2006-10-12 16:06:59 · answer #9 · answered by gringa 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A lot of adults in families don't exchange gifts anyway ... tell them all that you'd love to just spend time with them during the holidays, and that due to budget restrictions, you hope they will understand. Hopefully they will read into that that you are not expecting a gift in return, and you can spend the holidays stress-free.
2006-10-12 16:01:32 · answer #10 · answered by Holly 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Alot of people are in the same boat...just tell them. They'll understand, and I'll bet they would feel guilty accepting gifts from you anyway if they knew it was hurting you finacially. Besides, the holidays are for sharing time with families, not necessarily exchanging gifts.
2006-10-12 16:03:19 · answer #11 · answered by Patricia S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋