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'Tis the season to spend every dime you have buying various trinkets for others that will eventually end up in a landfill. Bah, humbug!
On Tuesday, I took 5 boxes of "stuff" to the local consignment shop. I do this about four times a year. Every time I go through our "stuff" I am constantly amazed at how we manage to amass so much "stuff". Where does it come from? How does it end up in the back of my closet? How can I make the constant cycle of junk stop? (And yes, I realize with a small child it isn't going to stop anytime soon. Children need toys and other "junk" to play with. I am not counting that into my "stuff" at this point. As Bo finishes with toys I will gladly donate them to Goodwill so other kids can play with them.)
The best part about ridding our house of clutter is that it forces me to really take a look at what I am buying. I really think about what I am purchasing and if it is really something that is necessary. I've always been the type that I'd rather have one very nice piece of clothing instead of 5 cheapy ones. (This has changed some since Bo -- there is no reason to wear an expensive sweater while on Bo duty. And therefore, I love Target for their reasonably priced clothes that are washable and Bo proof.) Obviously, Mike, Bo, and I have very few true needs. We have to buy food every week and Bo does grow out of his clothes, but honestly, I bet we could go a very long time without buying anything and be perfectly okay.
But buying is a part of the American culture. Everyone wants to have the latest and the greatest in clothes, shoes, technology, toys, etc. We enjoy these things. They improve our quality of life. Or do they???
This is one of the many reasons I am truly struggling with Christmas shopping this year. I think about purchasing something for someone and I think, "How long will it be until they get rid of this?" "Is this truly something they can use?" "Would I want this in my house?" Nine times out of ten, I click close on the web browser or keep moving through the store. And the Christmas list doesn't become smaller very quickly that way...
My gut reaction is to purchase gift cards for everyone. Personally, I think gift cards are the best gift ever. Then, you can buy things you actually want or need when you actually want or need them. Gift cards to restaurants are even better. There is nothing that ends up in the back of my closet from a restaurant! What about gift cards for hotel stays? Heaven knows we could use that right now with Mike spending 3-4 nights per week in a hotel. And I am sure others would love a free hotel stay for their next vacation. Or what about tickets to a play or a concert? Or a Netflix gift certificate?Things that people can use and enjoy but that don't end up in a landfill later.
But then, I am stopped in my tracks. You see, about a year and a half ago, I gave a gift card as a gift and got burned. A feud ensued where we were told "We can buy our own groceries." Well, yes, of course they can. But wouldn't one rather have free groceries than another piece of crap that will collect dust?
What are your thoughts? Are gift cards truly impersonal gifts that are insulting to others? Or are gift cards the best gift one can receive? I'm interested in your opinions on this one. Would you want a gift card for Christmas?
Friday, November 7, 2008
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19 comments:
A gift card is great, but if you were to add a personal note as to your thoughts as to why your gift is a gift card, it may help those who may be insulted, such a shame they were that way, [I think they would be off my list]. This is very considerate as you want the gift to be "just right". I recall receiving a Cracker Barrel gift card and as I enjoyed my night out, I recalled the very special girls who gave me the card. It was not put away but was used and made me appreciate the "givers" once More:)
I will admit that I do like gift cards. However, I am at a different spot in my life where I don't even feel the need to get a Christmas gift. I really believe that the Christmas gifts should be for the kids! As working adults, we can really just buy what we need so why all exchange $40 gift cards? I'm not sure what has made me change over the last couple of years, but I would rather enjoy the time together than exchange gifts. Just my thought.
Personally, I love getting gift cards so since I love getting them, I don't mind buying them for other people. Last year I had a 6 month old and it was just too hard to do a lot of shopping so I ended up getting a small gift for everyone and a gift card. I think/hope they appreciated it. I tried to be thoughtful about the type of gift card I was buying.
I personally LOVE gift cards vs. "things" - I ditto you on all the reasons!
I would prefer a gift card from M's family, since they have no clue what I would want. From M though, I prefer the real thing.
Have you thought about sponsoring a child in a third world country for a year in honor of friends and family for Christmas 2008? My sister in law and bro in law did this last year, and I thought it was great. Now, you could not cover everyone this way, but for those who you know would be on board, it is a great gift that makes and money well spent. It just depends on how the family members are. I would, however, still give small gifts to children.
As for gift cards.... I LOVE them. Getting just the right gift card can be great. You can also be creative and give experiences like makeover days or massages. I would never spend the money on that, but would love to be given something like that as a gift.
There are always folks who are nutters like the person who freaked out about the grocery card. You can NEVER please everyone. Some people are way too self focused.
Happy Shopping,
Shannon *emeline's mommy*
I'm struggling with Christmas this year too. My parents have actually changed how they celebrate it by getting together with family and playing board games all day. Each year they add one new board game, but other than that...it's pretty much just a stocking for the kid.
Eric and I only get each other stockings too, but again...it's hard to fill them up sometimes because whatever we bring into the house adds to the amount of stuff we have. And we have a lot of stuff.
I'm 7 months pregnant right now, and I've been purging every room in the house. The garage has been done over twice, the babies room three times, and if I could get rid of any more, I would. I don't need all this crap.
But how do I got into Christmas with that frame of mind? I don't like trinkets, and gift cards are awesome, but not that creative, and I love to give creative gifts. My method of taking notes all year about what people want usually works, but this year, I was too sick to visit or have company over.
Someone actually said that to you? Shocking! I personally would appreciate a gift card that I could spend on groceries. I think gift cards are the best gifts ever, hands down.
Whatever happened to people being GRATEFUL for a gift, whether or not they would have chosen it? I am in the practical gift camp too, and I would LOVE a grocery gift card, but my mom is an insano gift giving freak (not that I have strong opinions about it). And she thinks gift cards are a cop out. So. It is a stuggle every year, I hate the stress and would way rather take the whole family to a fun movie or hayride, or just hanging out (since we all live far apart). Good luck - I hope you find a solution!
I agree with musicmakermom. A gift is a gift. And if somebody has a problem with you giving them something (whatever it might be), then cross them off the list. How rude and ungrateful! And if its something you dont' like? Then you smile, say "thanks" and toss it as soon as the person leaves. Give what you want and tell the naysayers to be quiet!
if anyone says a gift card is "impersonal" i would have to say that you can grab something off the shelf, call it a gift and it be an impersonal as a gift card. i love gift cards, lets the person get what they really want, in that special color or size. i agree with the adults not exchanging gifts and just giving to the children of the family. but when do you really become an adult (as far as christmas is concerned) EVERYONE likes to get a gift.....do you have to have children of your own before you're considered an adult and don't get anything.... i say--children make the spirit of christmas extra--special but i'd still like a gift. (i can't help it, i'm an only child!)
I like gift cards as gifts, in fact I prefer it to getting things I know I am just going to throw out. I think your reasons are very valid. We could all use a good purge in our house (I know ours is coming).
I do have to say I got a gift card for groceries from my mother in law last year. I was instantly insulted. Yes, it was nice not to have to pay for groceries but why did her other Dauthers in law get gift cards for massages and clothing stores? It was almost as if she was implying I don't feed my husband. I say go for gift cards but maybe for stores/things that aren't so basic or for a store that sells more than groceries.
BTW, here from L&F, good luck with this cycle.
I don't think gift cards are "insulting" but I do think they are impersonal. I am also anti-junk. I do not want to spend my hard earned money on something someone doesn't want or need. Because of all that, I spend way, way, WAY too much time searching for gifts every year. But, in the end, I do tend to find something very thoughtful that the person can use. Including but not limited to things like an IOU for babysitting or a gift certificate for a massage.
For the most part i hate giving and getting gift cards. I prefer to come up with something creative and thoughtful thats tangible. Not that gift cards can't be thoughtful(remember that you SIL love a certain store or your grandparents love coffee) and something that people won't buy for themselves and may not go to without and "excuse." But I guess I just feel that when you get to the point of giving gift cards you might as well give money. And if you're just exchanging money then you might as well not even bother.
I like to personalize gifts. Grandparents don't need much so I give them personalize items with my kids on them. Calendars, mugs, sandstone coasters, blankets. Because really what more could grandparents want. And kids, unless they are pre-teens and teens enjoy seeing a gift mroe than money. So I buy the nieces and nephews presents. And we also culled who we give for. When we started exchanging money and gift cards between my siblings my myself I called it quits and said save your money, buy what you want and I'll buy what I want.
But from clients for Christmas and as baby gifts...the gift cards we got were GREAT and so appreciated!! I guess you have to know who you're buying for and how they'd react. Instead of more flowers I LOVED getting restaurant gift cards after our son was born. Some people would get offended(my mother did when my bro and sil sent her money one Christmas!!!) If you know the person really well I feel gifts are a better choice. But if you don't know them that well...then gift cards are probably better.
I am with you on the gift cards, and the belief that getting what I/they want is better than guessing and maybe not succeeding. The husband disagrees with me and tells me I am the most boring person to buy gifts for because of this, he prefers gifts to be more fun for the buyer to purchase. I respectfully disagree.
I love getting gift cards. I give them too and have no problem with that but there's just something about a gift that was chosen. You know?
I try to get personal gifts whenever I can but use gift cards a lot.
I like giving and receiving gift cards for birthdays and other events. They are something most everyone actually uses. I try to just keep it to Visa only instead of specific stores, etc.
That being said, I do think it's ridiculous when Christmas becomes about exchanging gift cards between two people. At that point, time to stop buying for each other.
Don't let that one person make you feel strange about any of it! The proper response should have been "thank you".
I love love love giftcards... Gas, groceries, a dinner out, walmart, clothes - you name it, I love it. Lets me know you thought of me but still lets me pick out what I want/need. Lets the person off the hook from buying the wrong size and offending me or buying a scent that doesn't smell good on me...
I also love love love gift cards! And they can be less impersonal by knowing where someone likes to eat (or even giving them a card to somewhere you think they'd like to try). I would have been very appreciative about free groceries! ;)
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