You don't need an $800 watch.. :)

[Decaf]

"A fool and his money are soon parted"

[toban]

Throughout the year, I put a set amount of money away each month to spend at Christmas. That includes gifts, food (turkey etc), and chocolates. That is the only money I spend during the holidays and it escorts me on my shopping excursions. Over the years I spend less. I find Christmas to be more and more materialistic. Some people get 'upset' if they believe you didn't spend enough on them or with cutting back. It's really the thought that counts. Christmas to me at least, is more about spending time with people, enjoying festivities and food.

I have a older sibling I use to send a box of gifts too. Shipping was too costly so I sent a gift card. I very rarely hear 'thank you'.However I don't expect a gift in return. A simple cheap Christmas card is nice enough. She will say.. "I had a card for you,.. I lost it" and other excuses. Plus she rarely responds to texts and phone calls. This year I decided to stop sending her a gift and instead sent a Christmas card. The money will be used for a charity. Buying food for a food bank or a donation to an animal shelter. To someone who will appreciate it.

Over the years I've become more practical. When I'm out shopping, the attractive packaging or neat gadgets draw you in. However, I look at things and say to myself that will likely sit in the closet or not used. I would rather buy or receive something that will be put to good usage. Heck I have a difficult time knowing what I would like for Christmas if someone asks me. I usually ask for a hair salon gift card or grocery store gift card. Warm socks are good too!

There will always be someone who has more money than us and buying expensive items, such as the watch you mentioned. It's the people who want to keep up with Joneses that is sad. Heading or in debt because they want, have a fancy car, house, boat, vacations, jewelry instead of living within or below their means.

[coupon girl]

yes -i dont care what the jones have
-hubby and i dont buy xmas gifts for each other stopped after the first few years of marriage(married 35 years)
-love being around family(my grown kids .spouses and granddaughter)
-heck all thru the year I buy (talize ,value village clothing for myself,hubby) with bit of new mixed in

-also all my neighbours have xmas lights up outside I never have -just dont care too

[dreamer1463]

For the past few years for christmas I have asked my children (19-25-27) and hubby for gift cards from value village . I save them and when there is a 50% day I go and buy clothes for my 4 grandchildren , they are so excited when NANA shows up with a bag of "new" clothes for them, it helps my daughter out and makes me feel all warm inside seeing them all happy. I also ask for gc from penningtons so when I need something for myself or they have sales with 50% of liquidation I get to go in and get something new for myself . I also remind them every year to make sure and go into value village when they have the promo on gc spend $20 and get $5 free... my family thinks its cute when I get all excited about my giftcards from value village....

[wolfwoman]

I only get for DH, DS and his roommate. Everyone one submits a list to me ( the Grinch) and I shop from that. We get together Yule eve to open gifts, eat all kinds of stuff not good for us and then play a game or 2. The next day we eat an early turkey dinner and then we are done for another year. I don't ask for gifts as I get so many things throughout the year. Truthfully, I am VERY hard to shop for.

[HappyCouponSaver78]

I don't keep up with the Joneses either, but I get things (gifts) around the year, eg birthday gift from Sephora, Booster Juice, SDM etc... And as for Christmas, my friends list are done, my family's not quite done, my dad does not hang lights either I don't need an eight hundred dollars watch!

[Andit]

I don't ask for gifts as I get so many things throughout the year. Truthfully, I am VERY hard to shop for.

You mean this isn't what you asked Santa for???

[anastasia1009]

I have a few cousin and one friend in Nova Scotia - the men work in the oil fields out west make over $150,000 a year or more and when they get back home they buy brand new cars with cash, or buy a 90 inch 3D tv cost $27,000. All they do is brag and now they bought a new house and gutted it. Makes me shake my head because they don't save anything and now they are laying people off out west the jobs are stable. Plus out of 365 days he has been home under 100 days so he is missing his kids grow up. I would never want that kind of life and I don't ever want those things.
Xmas time we stay on budget - only real thing I do is buy my sister and dad things they need like clothes. Since my mom passed away I buy things I know my mom buys them like socks, underwear and clothes. I do go crazy with the kitties cause they are my babies but toys are cheap. Hubby I will buy him a few things like socks and underwear cause he won't buy it.
I just don't understand people why do you need a tv worth more than a car. And my cousin asked for Xmas a brand new car and she got it.

[MillieH]

I've always been the practical one.. I love giving practical gifts..the kind people don't like to open but use during the year. Now, its turning out to be fantastic.. everyone on my list is getting a shopping spree in my huge stockpile BYOB (bring your own bags/boxes).. I have icky physical limitations so when I go out its only to coupon.. I nab deals and store it all year.. they get a years supply of all the thigns we can get free using coupons and matching points offers.

I combine the fun of couponing with the bonus of being cheeep cheep cheep, plus the joy of helping others all through the year. Off and on throughout the year I will get a call saying, I just ran out of a product and when I pulled a new one from the cupboard I was grateful , I'm just calling to say how much I appreciate all of this. I like knowing I can help make someone's life a little easier.

My kids and their SOs get cash plus a shopping spree in the stockpile :O)

My guy and I don't really do gifts though he is home this year and finding it hard not to get me something.. I have everything I need.. I don't need stuff.. for others who want to get me stuff, I ask for socks or walmart gc to cover tax now and then :O)


There are two separate gifts that are my favourite from my husband in 40 years

One was on Valentines day in 2000 .. He got me a $50 dog poop scooper and a bottle of ketchup.. I had some back issues and couldnt bend, he bought the scooper because I could , attach a grocery bag and scoop without bending. The ketchup touched me because he doesn't use it but heard me say , oh no I'm out of ketchup..

The 2nd fav gift was in nov on my bday.. I told him I didn't want anything and meant it. He bought me 2 pairs of really long socks.. he had noticed I was having issues and thought the socks would help make life easier.. they are totally useless but I love that he thought about the problem and tried to make my life easier.. it really is the thoughtfulness not the thought that counts. :O)

[TargetMama]

We are really romantic, I asked for a new fridge this year (joint gift) and my parents are pitching in too 😊 I don't need anything, don't want more clutter, and would rather get something practical we will use every day.

It's harder to convince all the extended family not to buy the kids a mountain of crap. My boys are still too young for museum passes etc., because we don't pay for them until they are 3. I've suggested a toboggan + sledding date, but there are only so many of those ideas I can come up with!!