Thread: What do you want for Christmas?

Originally Posted by WildChild

I'm amazed at the things people will give as gifts. As a single parent, who has come through a series of financially devistating events, giving gifts as a tradition can be difficult but I bake, make things (have been a professional seamstress) and keep an eye out for a good book. Some of the things I've received have left me baffled why they spent their money. Things I wouldn't use or buy even if money was no object and I had room to just store it. There is so much I could use, like a grocery store certificate or an offer to help pay my son's sport fee for school, or the renewal of a magazine subscription, heck even a box of tea - I'll get gifts that all I can do is say, "thank you, it was so good of you to think of me" and put it in the Goodwill pile later.

We need to get away from the obligatory gifts and give what feels right at a time it will be most appreciated. The Christmas giving is about economics, many people go into huge debt and for many businesses it is what keeps them in business - which argues a flimsy need for what they provide. Getting a pile of stuff all at once prevents real appreciation for most of it. If you watch kids with this, they'll have more fun with the wrapping paper and boxes than what's in them sometimes. Often they unwrap a gift and want to enjoy and explore it but get pushed into opening more and it can get overwhelming, they end up not really even knowing what they got. I think it leads to a sort of let down.

I enjoy most getting together with family and freinds, the gift of their time and presence is the best present.

It's good to see something that we agree, 100%, on.