To make a long story longer: I exchanged gifts last year with two coworkers. This year, the one that I (and most other people in the office) really don't like just assumed we'd do it again. She's incredibly materialistic. For example--she emailed me a picture of her 9 ft. tall Christmas tree (and included how much she paid for it) and added that she'd have to get out the Kirby (an incredibly expensive vacuum cleaner) to get up the extra needles. She just bought a new house and had to throw in the price of all the appliances she bought. I gave a good friend/coworker of mine a donation to the HSUS (she's an animal lover) last year, and this other coworker turned up her nose and made some offhand comment. I got her (the coworker in question) some gourmet coffee and a cute coffee mug from Target, and the FIRST thing she did was flip the mug over to see who made it. Regardless of what I buy or how much I spend, it'll be money wasted and she won't appreciate it. continued...
2007-12-13 05:55:22 · 7 answers · asked by brevejunkie 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
I don't want to rock the boat because I have to work very closely with this person. What is a sure fire way to get out of gift giving with her? She knows we're a one-income family and that I have two children to support, and I've used the "no money" excuse numerous times (declining lunch, going to Starbucks, etc.) HELP!! (And sorry this is so long...)
2007-12-13 05:56:22 · update #1
There is so much more to this story, but very little room to write, lol. My way of looking at it is--for each dollar I spend on her (for something she's going to dislike anyway), that's one less dollar I spend on my kids or nieces and nephews. It's also very easy to get on her sh*t list. The last time I called in sick (walking pneumonia) she didn't speak to me for two full days because I was "lazy" and should have come to work anyway. How I got roped into this was that last year, I was new here at my office, and it was before I got to know her, so I bought her and one other coworker small gifts. I guess now she assumes it's going to be a yearly thing because she informed me yesterday that "we're going to do our gift exchange on Friday, Dec. 21." Her words verbatim...
2007-12-13 06:09:20 · update #2
well since you mentioned that you work closely with this person, I would say get her a gift that you can afford and wash your hands of it after...there are clearly underlying issues with her otherwise she wouldn't have to mention money all the time....and if you get her something you don't risk the chance of creating bad blood....
i understand where you are coming from, my mom was a single mom and she had my brother and me to take care of and was always stuck getting gifts for people that didn't really give a damn...
good luck and merry christmas
ok, well after i read all your additional details...i would say forget her this year--put your kids first....
2007-12-13 06:04:53 · answer #1 · answered by ☆ღ ღ☆ 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
So how did you get to the part where you are buying her Christmas gifts to begin with? I exchange gifts with my friends. If you are friends with the others in the office, exchange your gifts outside of the office.
Or--as much as I hate it--suggest one of those usual office procedures. White Elephant or Secret Santa. My office has given up all those ideas now. We all go out to lunch (or bring potluck) for a Holiday Celebration.
But frankly--if you hate getting her gifts, I'm sure your other coworkers feel the same. Why don't you just all discuss NOT getting each other gifts at all? I mean, you are a mother and money is tight. $10-15 on each coworker adds up.
I really don't understand why you feel obligated to get her a gift anyway. Several of my friends years ago decided not to get gifts due to financial problems, but I could never get a gift each year for someone I really dislike.
2007-12-13 14:06:09 · answer #2 · answered by phantom_of_valkyrie 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I say go ahead and do it. Christmas is a time of giving and not hurting people's feelings. It's her problem if she feels like she needs to be competetive and keep up with the Jones' at Christmastime and show off her 9 ft. tree. It will catch up with her eventually when people ditch her because she is such a biitch. It eventually happens to materialistic people. Just get her something inexpensive.. and be done with it. I don't know.. I think an office should do a Secret Santa gift exchange that way you don't get stuck buying for a whole bunch of people you would rather not. Best Wishes!
2007-12-13 14:01:18 · answer #3 · answered by Cupid 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Just don't get her anything. Tell her in advance that you are unable to purchase Christmas gifts for co-workers due to increased gas prices and you encourage her to do the same. You can still give a similar gift to your other co-worker, just don't let the other co-worker tell the one you aren't getting a gift for.
Christmas gifts really shouldn't be exchanged during work, anyway. It causes an environment where people feel compelled to do something that is not necessarily something they would normally do. If worst comes to worst, ask your HR department to step in.
2007-12-13 14:03:49 · answer #4 · answered by mj69catz 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
.here is a way if names were drawn ask that the person that has your name be given the name of the person you got you want to opt out of the gift exchange. For whatever reason you are not celebrating Christmas this year.
2007-12-13 14:08:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
How about getting her a nice, small poinsetta? They're fairly inexpensive, and really pretty! Or bake her some fudge or cookies. I think it was a GREAT idea to make a donation in someone's name, that's really sweet of you...I'd go crazy if I had to work with your co-worker, what a materialistic meanie! I hope this helped!
2007-12-13 14:00:49 · answer #6 · answered by Katy B 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Buy her a hankie and a pair of socks, so she can blow her nose and keep her feet warm when she can't afford to pay the heating bill.. Or buy her a ball of wool and knitting needles and she can make her own christmas present
2007-12-13 14:33:35 · answer #7 · answered by Bel! 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋