When choosing Christmas presents

[Bidin~Time]

Is your criteria for family different than for friends?

What is your preferred gift to receive?

 

[Noor]

Is your criteria for family different than for friends?

What is your preferred gift to receive?

My family is totally anti ritual so I do not get them presents at Christmas or birthdays. I get them presents whenever I am moved to or I see something they would really like.

With my friends I try and give them something that they would like, but not get for themselves. It doesn't have to be expensive but something that they would consider an extravagance like a platinum needle for a seamstress.

I would prefer to receive a Costco, Visa or Mastercard gift card or something I need.
Right now I need so thermal curtain liners. I guess IOU's for help fixing stuff around the house would be nice too.

 

[Conager]

My family is totally anti ritual so I do not get them presents at Christmas or birthdays. I get them presents whenever I am moved to or I see something they would really like.

With my friends I try and give them something that they would like, but not get for themselves. It doesn't have to be expensive but something that they would consider an extravagance like a platinum needle for a seamstress.

If you wanna get me a platinum cresent wrench, I won't say no.

Seriously though with friends and co-workers and that sort of thing I don't really want to be cornered into a situation of gift-exchanges. you want to do a white elephant exchange I'll put some creativity into it and don't even mind throwing some money in but I don't want to get trapped into trying to figure out what to get for whom and how much to spend so that they don't feel bad that I spent more or that I spent too little.

If you have to think about giving it sucks all of the joy out of it.

About three (four?) years ago I was going to meet up with a litster. It was around Christmas time and it was far too early and far too casual for gifts. I ran into something and just thought that it would fill a small hole she once described of her childhood. It was vintage and handmade quilt and it just seemed right for her. The in-person meet up didn't happen, and the gift would have been awkward so it was never given. It found a home in the family. Buying it was fun.

 

[Noor]

If you wanna get me a platinum cresent wrench, I won't say no.

Seriously though with friends and co-workers and that sort of thing I don't really want to be cornered into a situation of gift-exchanges. you want to do a white elephant exchange I'll put some creativity into it and don't even mind throwing some money in but I don't want to get trapped into trying to figure out what to get for whom and how much to spend so that they don't feel bad that I spent more or that I spent too little.

If you have to think about giving it sucks all of the joy out of it.

About three (four?) years ago I was going to meet up with a litster. It was around Christmas time and it was far too early and far too casual for gifts. I ran into something and just thought that it would fill a small hole she once described of her childhood. It was vintage and handmade quilt and it just seemed right for her. The in-person meet up didn't happen, and the gift would have been awkward so it was never given. It found a home in the family. Buying it was fun.

Platinum needles actually have a purpose, so it's good to have one.

The quilt sounds nice. Sorry, your meet up didn't go.

 

[Conager]

Platinum needles actually have a purpose, so it's good to have one.

The quilt sounds nice. Sorry, your meet up didn't go.

It wasn't overly intricate, but felt like it should have been someones heirloom. The small one saw it and claimed it as hers. So my feeling about the quilt was right.

 

[Froya]

The friends that I gift at Christmas are as much my family as the people I'm related to, so I don't have a different criteria for them when it comes to the amount I'm willing to spend or the time I'm willing to put into making something. Many of he people in my life have reached a stage where they don't need anything, so gifts are usually small indulgences and treats. Often, I give little cakes and breads, sometimes cookies, that I've baked. They either like them or lie and say they do.

 

[BotanyBoy]

We feast and party on the solstice, there is no gift exchange but everybody brings stuff to eat and drink, the indulgences in food and fun are the gift.

But the kids usually get a little something something because kids, and then our Jewish and Christian elements of the family do their own rituals on their days.

 

[Saint Peter]

The friends that I gift at Christmas are as much my family as the people I'm related to, so I don't have a different criteria for them when it comes to the amount I'm willing to spend or the time I'm willing to put into making something. Many of he people in my life have reached a stage where they don't need anything, so gifts are usually small indulgences and treats. Often, I give little cakes and breads, sometimes cookies, that I've baked. They either like them or lie and say they do.

Same here. The adults in my circle have the doodads they want/need to make life easy and fulfilled. Cookies are always accepted. I will make donations to various help organizations in the names of others. The cash equivalent of a gift to a soup kitchen or similar does so much more good than a pair of elf socks to the recipient. Teenagers like cash so I give them cash. Annoying little bastards.

The best xmas is an easy xmas.

 

[butters]

the gifts i give range from practical to curios, depending on the recipient, but my criteria doesn't really change between friend and family since anyone i give gifts to are somehow connected to my heart - can be in a small or a big way, but it's that connection that makes me want to find something that'll bring a smile to their eyes

cost is not the issue, though my pockets aren't deep - it's all about finding that special something that'll bring the recipient pleasure - whether it's a vintage brooch or a rare book, a long sought after single record or a pair of kitten-soft slippers.

for myself, i like to think people have given some thought - people know i love to read, love quirky, beautiful little items of interest, food! so if someone makes something edible, that's them giving me a piece of themselves... when H makes me things like my deer-horn barrettes, or something from an unusual piece of wood, or sends me a painting, i know he's invested his time and his love in me. I find things over the year that i know he'll get a kick out of and send them over now and again, like a victorian penny piece from the 1800's, a small glass cube etched inside with a fairy on a dragonfly, a perfect pebble, a wooden box with a tooled leather lid....

so i guess it's all about presents that will touch the hearts of the recipients. for the indoorsers, one's got a decent headset and mic for his xbox one + other gifts like toiletries/clothes, and the other i've yet to decide though have a fab xmas jumper, xmas mug and the kind of silly funny things they like. and chocolate. they both dig chocolate

 

[Bidin~Time]

As my extended family as grown to adulthood, I have taken to giving baskets of little things. Maybe a special recipe, spices, lip balm, body wash, moisturizer, shampoo; it's winter, so cough drops and cold meds. For the teachers in the group, hand sanitizer, ink pens and maybe a ream of copy paper. Anything I think they might need in a pinch, but wouldn't think of until it was suddenly needed. My baskets are very ecclectic and there is no real theme to them.

 

[Ms_Ann]

I struggle with gift giving. It must stem from my total lack of empathy.

 

[GuiltyPleasure]

I struggle with gift giving. It must stem from my total lack of empathy.

Strikes you off the list.

 

[Ms_Ann]

Strikes you off the list.

I was on a list?

 

[NOIRTRASH]

99% of the time I give cash. No one likes cash but no one tries to exchange it.

The other thing is, no one on Earth is better than me at finding lost family histories. I'm also good at finding old loves and missing kids. You cant afford me, so I do it as a gift.

 

[GuiltyPleasure]

I was on a list?

There's a list out there for everyone......except you, now.

 

[Ms_Ann]

There's a list out there for everyone......except you, now.

Not being on a list puts me on a list...

 

[Froya]

Same here. The adults in my circle have the doodads they want/need to make life easy and fulfilled. Cookies are always accepted. I will make donations to various help organizations in the names of others. The cash equivalent of a gift to a soup kitchen or similar does so much more good than a pair of elf socks to the recipient. Teenagers like cash so I give them cash. Annoying little bastards.

The best xmas is an easy xmas.

Yes, and to make it even easier, this year xmas is almost no xmas at all.

 

[RobDownSouth]

I've been easy to buy for, for the past several years. I am the incredible shrinking man (weight-wise, not height-wise).

The clothes I bought 12-18 months ago are too big.

This hit home last Wednesday, when it was unseasonably cold here in Houston.

Yay, I thought, I will finally get to wear my grey heavy cable-knit sweater.

Nope. Too big. Way too big. I've worn it maybe three times in two years.

Sooooo....Clothes make this man.

P.S. Biden~time, my sleeve length is still 36 inches. #HintHintHint

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]