I think the Christmas gift giving thing has gone out of control. Family peer pressure has forced my wife and I to buy over a thousand dollars of gift for almost 30 different relatives. We are forced to go via peer and family pressures to three different family celebrations. One on Christmas eve, one one Christmas morning and one in the evening.
Everyone has to outdue each other and buy the adults very expensive goods. One time a few of my brothers decided to cut back and they were told off and quickly had to go back to the big spending of years past.
This year I told my relatives that I would not give any gifts or expect to recieve any also. I am getting alot of negative comments directed at me. Some relatives will not even talk to me now. I may not be able to accept the negative peer and family pressures next year.
How about you, could you stop giving and recieving gifts at Christmas?
2007-12-01 23:59:10 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
I am still buying gifts for the kids but just none for the adults.
2007-12-02 00:02:31 · update #1
You're in a very sticky situation. My family always draws names at Thanksgiving (secret santa!) and is told not to spend more than $20 and no less than $15 on the gifts. I think that works really well! But if I was in the same situation as you, I would have probably done the same thing...it sounds a bit outrageous.
2007-12-02 00:04:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The way things sound around your family I would do exactly what you are doing. I don't mean to be rude but these people sound so greedy. If you can't afford it then you shouldn't be forced into giving expensive gifts to so many people. Not to mention that this is not just a gift fest holiday... Start a new tradition and give to just the children and let the adults whine all the way home empty handed...
2007-12-02 00:20:16 · answer #2 · answered by kitkat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are just into giveme, giveme, giveme, and put a $ amount of love. Love is priceless and christmas is all about the children not who can buy the best and most expensive of this or that. Tell your "family" that they are too greedy and that christmas is all about the little ones and seeing the wonder and joy of christmas magic in THEIR eyes christmas morning when they wake up and see that Santa has stopped by the house. If they don't like it tell them that you and your wife will be doing your own little christmas celebration next year and forget all about you both!
2007-12-02 00:27:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree wth Lola-
Your family should consider drawing names, that way, if you and your wife have 3 children, you'd only have to buy 5 gifts total for your adult relatives. Include the children's names in the drawing and set a limit on how much you can spend for each person. Maybe this will help calm things down in your family..good luck!
2007-12-02 00:20:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christmas is about giving.. so what is so wrong with giving your time and self to just a nice VISITS? I agree with you.. the giving has gotten out of hand... I saw a "true gift".. a miniature of the Christ Child.. in a velvet bag...I seriously thought,.. this is what I should do to shock those into realizing that the commerical Christmas is NOT what it's all about...Stick by your guns! Merry Christmas!
2007-12-02 00:24:50 · answer #5 · answered by Redpoppies 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My family is very large and we used to draw names at Thanksgiving, but then we moved to the gifts for the kids only and that has worked out well.(limit is 25.00) Have they considered sponsoring a needy family instead of getting gifts for themselves? Sounds like they need a reality check. Good luck!
2007-12-02 00:26:54 · answer #6 · answered by Daisy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont let them force you into getting more than you want to. christmas is not about how much you spend - your family would do well to remember that. just buy for the kids and let the big kids sulk! next year, go away for a few days and avoid all the hassle.
2007-12-02 00:13:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God,your family would dissown you for not buying them things?!!
I think you should only buy presents for your immeadiate family (mum,dad,siblings) and your partner if you have one.
I would stand up to them, if they fall out with you over this then they're totally pathetic.
2007-12-02 00:23:06 · answer #8 · answered by Bridgeridoo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋