For the past couple of years as a teenager I have been given some ridiculous Xmas and Birthday gifts (my birthday is in December) from family members, like easy bake ovens, kiddy beauty sets and other umentionable gifts.I turn 18 the monday after this one and I feel like it is time to do something about this.Because I don't want to be 24 and get a Barbie as a gift you know??
Do you have any suggestions of what I could do?
2007-12-02 06:51:16 · 18 answers · asked by ☆ 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Try and give hints of what you would like for your birthday and xmas.Or just donate the gifts to a charity that you get.
2007-12-02 06:53:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Haha. I'm seventeen years old and I totally know where you're coming from. I get ridiculous gifts from clueless family members all the time. I think the only thing you can do is prove to them how mature you are. Perhaps the next time you have a family get together, you can converse with your aunt/uncles/cousins about important things in your life, such as your current employment, or future goals, involving college, possible careers, etc. You can also talk about politics, that always works; I mean you will be able to vote next fall. Somehow, show them how you've grown up as an individual, and I think overtime they will realize how far you've come from your adolescent years to your adult life, and know to treat you like one too. If your next get together is your birthday, it is probably too late for them to exchange your gifts; however, it is likely by the holidays they would have gotten you a more appropriate gift for your age. Just keep your head high. Good luck!
2007-12-02 15:11:34 · answer #2 · answered by Chanel 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Give away any unwanted children's gifts to your favorite charity. You will feel good that you could make a needy child happy for the holidays.
Have a heart-to-heart with you relatives. I cannot believe that they are giving you such gifts as your age - it almost seems like an act of hostility. Tell them that you appreciate their generosity throughout the years, but that at your age, a gift card for a modest amount is more useful.
By the way, you mention getting a gift at 24. By then, as a working person, you are no longer a child and should not be expecting gifts from your relatives. It's time to be a grown-up and reciprocate.
2007-12-02 15:10:14 · answer #3 · answered by Little Mom 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well obviously if the person cares enough to take the time to buy you a gift at all, that means they care about you.
That said, they're probably not around your age, and especially if they're older, they wouldn't know what you like necessarily.
Let people know what you want (you can even make a website for it using www.freewebs.com or a similar site) for your birthday/Christmas, so you'll get something you like and they can feel satistied that they got you something you wanted.
Still, there will probably be one or two grandparents/aunts/uncles who are clueless (I mean that in the nicest way!!) and still give you Barbie-esque gifts. In that case, be grateful (even if you don't like it don't show it) and donate it to your favorite kids' charity.
Hope this helped :)
2007-12-02 15:28:46 · answer #4 · answered by answers 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aside from the excellent points about donating the unwanted toys, I would consider letting people know what you're passionate about. If you love books, make sure conversations with relatives include a mention of what you're reading. If you're into needlework, take your latest project to family functions. Give them a better idea of who you are. It sounds like these people, while they love you, don't really know you. Let them see the young adult you have become and they'll start replacing the little girl in their head with the new you.
2007-12-02 15:09:39 · answer #5 · answered by elsa_bard 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
as far as the stuff you don't want, ebay, garage sale, or re-gift.
you can also suggest a "secret santa" gifting game. have each gift giver write down several things they want (give a price limit) and pick a name out of a hat. that way, you don't have to directly talk to whoever is buying you the baby gifts, you still get something you want, and everybody saves money because they only have to buy for one person.
2007-12-02 16:07:09 · answer #6 · answered by jen19music 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In order to decrese the amount of gifts that I can't use / don't like I've started making wishlists for myself and my son. I e-mail the wishlist to all family members. This year we did a gift exchange with my husbands family through www.elfster.com and the wishlist on this site allows you to send links to the presents you want as well.
If you find something online that doesn't have a wishlist, you can more than likely click a link that says "e-mail this to a friend". You can e-mail it to yourself and then forward that to the people in your address book that you want to have it.
If they still insist on giving you presents you can't use, donate them to charity and claim the value as a tax deduction.
2007-12-02 15:09:45 · answer #7 · answered by Chatima T 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Have you been asked what you want for your birthday and for Christmas? If so, you have the opportunity to tell the gift giver what you really want.
You may be able to tell your parents your concerns and they may be able to relay the information. Try not to sound "greedy" or "ungrateful." You could say something like, "Mom, if someone asks what I would like for my birthday, would you be willing to tell them I want/need xxxx." You could even drop hints that you would like gift cards from your favorite stores -- not Toys R Us!
Good luck.
2007-12-02 15:04:59 · answer #8 · answered by Daisy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh, surely they are just kidding with the toys, right? I would be sure to spread the word about what you would like for your gifts --- Starbucks gift cards, etc. Gift cards are probably the easiest thing to give and to receive.
2007-12-02 16:21:54 · answer #9 · answered by artsy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try to let everyone around you know what it is that you would like. If you get something that you don't like smile and thank the person for thinking of you. Then if you know someone younger who would like that gift give it to them.
2007-12-02 15:03:08 · answer #10 · answered by Tori 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋