I know it's not about the gifts but...

Robsweezie

were you happy with your lot this year? did you feel you did enough for the people in your life, gift wise? How much thought do you put into presents and are they an indicator of importance?

I got as good as I gave tbh. I had everyone pretty much looked after with good thought put into the gifts. not just novelty stuff, but practical too, that they'll use long term. As you get older you appreciate less, while I may have scoffed at slippers before I'm relishing them now.

I personally would have been happy with something like a handwritten letter from someone I cared about, or handmade goods with a personal touch.


There was some noses out of joint (but no rows) over someone in the family spending more on their new partner they've known five minutes, than they did on the rest of us. There was a disparity between the gifts.

It's the thought really. Though I can understand why people might feel put out by a seemingly ''thoughtless'' gift.

KERSPLAT!

As I said in another thread, I got two really thoughtful gifts. One a wallet with some photos that I love in it. The other I actually got a few weeks before Christmas but was the most amazing, thoughtful gift I've ever received.

I think I did OK on the giving and put thought into the gifts. I think they were well received but who knows! :pac:

JupiterKid

I loved the presents I got this year. Even if don't use a gift myself, I donate or recycle them by gifting them to others. It's much nicer to get a gift that is thoughtful than something bling and flashy and just bought because it was expensive.

I know it's a cliche but I prefer to give gifts and see how happy I've made the recipient.:)

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

I was happy with my gifts, but I'm not big on Christmas so I'm easily pleased.
This year i only bought for the most important people in my life and didn't get the obligitatory gifts a few have seem to come to expect, I'm sure it'll leave a sour taste in one particular mouth but I'm not bothered.

Am I good at choosing gifts? I don't know. I try. Thought means more than cost. I know one particular person who values what he receives against what he gives, and everything boils down to cost. It makes him harder to buy for because even if I see something i know he'd like, I know he'd be straight online to see how much I spent. It makes me uncomfortable and he's always the most difficult to buy for.

kjl

KERSPLAT! wrote: »

As I said in another thread, I got two really thoughtful gifts. One a wallet with some photos that I love in it. The other I actually got a few weeks before Christmas but was the most amazing, thoughtful gift I've ever received.

I think I did OK on the giving and put thought into the gifts. I think they were well received but who knows! :pac:

An XBox One

KERSPLAT!

kjl wrote: »

An XBox One

Even better!

mansize

I got me a MacBook Air

I love it!

Winterlong

I am hard to buy for so people mostly just ask me what I want. But every now and again someone will surprise me. And they are the best presents because they are personal and some thought has gone in to them.
But the joy is in the giving. I do love giving presents. Spread the love!

Penny Tration

I was spoiled rotten tbh. Nice jewelry, money, make up, make up brushes, handbags, headphones, and a holiday that'll be booked in a fortnight.


I also got 9 bottles of perfume. I think people are trying to tell me something.

As for what I gave, I think I did okay. Got my boyfriend everything he wanted and a few surprises that he loved. Sisters got what they wanted, my mam got a nice new tablet that she really wanted but didn't know she was getting. Got my dad a new bike sorted and some other bits he needed. I was quite thoughtful this year, I think, so everyone was happy with their gifts.

Birneybau

Cash. Always cash, always good.

Conor Bourke

I don't know whether it's that the people I'm friends with have more sense than to be at this nonsense or it has just thankfully and rightly died a death but I didn't see any #boydonegood #trainedhimwell #blessed nonsense on social media this Christmas.

I was very happy this year with what I got. It wasn't much by some people's standards I'm sure, but it was all nice things that I wanted, I didn't need anything. What made me even happier was that everyone loved what I got them.

MilesMorales1

I did ok I guess. On a monetary value I spent a lot than I receieved, which I wouldn't mind but the gifts I receieved aren't paticularly thoughtful. ****ing vouchers.

theteal

A 2 month old baby is great excuse to avoid all the bo11ocks. I didn't buy a single present - paid for dinner for a night out with some relatives but I'd normally do that anyway. Didn't receive much beyond socks and shower gel. Very happy.

philstar

i've got more smelly's than ever before...beginning to get paranoid are they dropping me a hint

*btw - folks if your not happy with your presents give them to a charity shop

amtc

I got a TV licence and my car tax.

Suits me perfectly!

xzanti

I'm over the moon with my gifts had a fantastic Christmas One of the better ones by far.

GingerLily

Christmas is more about giving then receiving for me, I think everyone liked my gifts so I'm happy out!
I hate opening gifts on front of people though, it makes me feel so awkward

LynnGrace

Yes, I was happy. I put thought and effort into things I bought for others. We don't go overboard, but I was very happy with what I received also.

And for the record, I think vouchers are a great gift, especially for shops I really like. Can't wait to use them.

s4uv3

KERSPLAT! wrote: »

The other I actually got a few weeks before Christmas but was the most amazing, thoughtful gift I've ever received.
:

What is it what is it what is it what is it what is it what is it what is it?

deco nate

Very happy, the first year in a long time I didn't get socks an jocks!

d2ww

Penny Tration wrote: »

I was spoiled rotten tbh. Nice jewelry, money, make up, make up brushes, handbags, headphones, and a holiday that'll be booked in a fortnight.


I also got 9 bottles of perfume. I think people are trying to tell me something.

As for what I gave, I think I did okay. Got my boyfriend everything he wanted and a few surprises that he loved. Sisters got what they wanted, my mam got a nice new tablet that she really wanted but didn't know she was getting. Got my dad a new bike sorted and some other bits he needed. I was quite thoughtful this year, I think, so everyone was happy with their gifts.

Don't mean to pick on you PT, but I thought that kind of spending died off with the Celtic tiger.

Estrellita

I don't like to compare monetary value, it doesn't make me feel comfortable. I'm at the age now you don't buy for your own siblings anyway, just for all their children etc.

I was involved in a secret Santa, and received lovely gifts considering my secret Santa is still getting to know me. It could very easily have been a funny mug or a voucher, but thought must have gone into it.

My OH got me a gift that keeps on giving, I can never match up to. I have to say I'm very content, and looking forward to the rest of this year

TerrorFirmer

d2ww wrote: »

Don't mean to pick on you PT, but I thought that kind of spending died off with the Celtic tiger.

Presuming that's a collective haul from family and possibly significant other, it doesn't seem that excessive to me personally.

As someone mentioned above though I don't solely put monetary value on things and try my absolute best to pick gifts that I know will be genuinely appreciated - and to be fair, I always get that back in return from those who gave me gifts.

I had a great Christmas overall, probably the best I've had in years because I had so much time off, which you can't put a price on this time of year.

Just back to work properly today, and even then it's a fairly light, keep the lights on sort of day...and it still feels too soon

Have to spare a thought for those who get very little to no time off around Christmas time, which is really tough.

Badly Drunk Boy

MilesMorales1 wrote: »

I did ok I guess. On a monetary value I spent a lot than I receieved, which I wouldn't mind but the gifts I receieved aren't paticularly thoughtful. ****ing vouchers.

Similar, except I didn't get any vouchers. With my parents and the siblings, this year we decided to just spend a fiver on each other. I spent more on each of them (I had a few presents bought before the agreement) but even for the cheaper ones, I put a bit of thought into them, rather than the easy-to-buy diabetes-inducing things I got in return.

For my 2 siblings who have kids (2 each), we get the 4 kids stuff and 'the kids' get us something. From one, I got a Toblerone and "I'll bring you out to lunch some time", even though she knows I hate going out for lunch. From the other, I got a Toblerone and "That thing you said you wanted won't arrive 'til January". That doesn't bother me as at least she asked what I might want.

But what's with the Toblerones? I've never in my life displayed any interest in Toblerones! Having said all that, I'm not bothered about presents since I have most of what I want. A bit more thought would be appreciated though, even some little gadget for €5.

ToddyDoody

I requested a coffee machine and lo and behold we went out to get one on Christmas eve. I was completely thrown by the fact that its all pods now. I used to particularly like picking up odd packets of powder for the old machine and was convinced pods were just a money grabbing scam. Anyway, we got one eventually and its fine.

DoozerT6

The only people I have to buy gifts for at Christmas are the parents, my siblings and nieces/nephews all live abroad, so a few quid into their bank accounts is the way to go. My parents also tell me what to buy for themselves.

I actually didn't receive any gifts at all the parents gave me money (always appreciated), but apart from a couple of small token gifts (small box of choccies, a little set from Boots) from people I work with who I did a few favours for, I didn't receive any physical gifts at all.

I....think I need more people in my life!

Anybody else want to admit to having nada to unwrap at Christmas?

Irish Guitarist

Years ago I bought my brother some blank VHS tapes because I couldn't think of anything else. When I handed them to him he looked at them like I had just handed him a pile of shite and he didn't say anything. I gave his kids something too. I forget what it was but he wasn't impressed with those either. That must have been about eighteen years ago. I haven't given him, my sisters or any of their kids anything since. A couple of years before that I was upstairs and had overheard them laughing at the presents I had given them so the reaction to the blank videos was the final straw.

My mother gives me some money every year and I give her a cardigan or something. She has enough cardigans now so this year I bought her a book. A friend gave me a voucher and I gave her some socks. That's all I gave or was given and I'm happy enough.

diomed

Better to give than to receive, especially to those who need.

KKkitty

My sister gave me a locket with our mam and dad's photos in it. Best. Present. Ever.

r93kaey5p2izun

I absolutely hate the stress around giving/receiving gifts. I am crap at choosing gifts for everyone except my mother. It's also something I just can't afford. I would be be delighted never to receive or buy another gift again.

There are three people I have to buy gifts for however - an aunt, her husband and my cousin (their daughter). The aunt places great importance on exchanging gifts. Thoughts of getting them something for Christmas and their birthdays fill me with dread. The cousin is delighted with money so no problem there but the other two are awkward. She has said many times how she hates vouchers and she will also let you know at a later stage if your gift didn't suit. For a variety reasons she is very difficult to buy for. I spend a huge amount of time thinking about what to get her but it's very rarely a success.

I received one gift this year - from said aunt. She doesn't go anywhere except the local Tesco beside her house and her workplace so the gifts are always from Tesco. This year I received socks and pyjamas and something she baked herself. They're nice and I appreciate the thought behind anything I receive whether they really suit me or not, it's just not important. I won't eat the cake (just not something I like) but my housemates will at least. I will no doubt hear in a couple of months of how the gift I gave was not suitable for some reason. I'm not sure she has any idea how awkwad she is about gifts - she's otherwise the nicest, most helpful and generous person.