to have decided to do away with Christmas presents once and for all?

[moondog]

I mean, who is our world of plenty needs more crap or more of anything really eve n if it is nice .It's so pointless-you buy me something, I buy you something.

I've siphoned off 75% of what my kids' get (not a lot compared to many) for the last few years and they've never even noticed.

I would genuinely rather people didn't bother for me. If I want something, I'll get it myself.

I liberated myself from cards years ago and this is the next step.
Henceforth it shall be a time of charity, good cheer and lots of nice food, drink and long woalks but...NOWT ELSE!

[ApocalypseCheese]

Nah, betchya don't

[moondog]

Huh.
Wanna bet?

[ApocalypseCheese]

I'll put a donation to charity on it !!!

[faverolles]

Bahhhh humbug :o

Just set a really low budget for presents.
How old are your dc? Will they understand your reasons, or will they be sad and bewildered?

[bigchris]

So you're getting your kids nothing? Any family you buy for?

[Panzee]

As long as you don't do away with mine!!

[ApocalypseCheese]

I do charity donations on behalf of the adults in my family, if they don't like it, it's tough.

The children get presents tho, wouldn't go that far !

[atswimtwolengths]

But a charity donation isn't a gift to them, is it? It's a gift from you to the charity.

[hairytriangle]

As long as your children are of an age and maturity where they won't feel very left out and a little neglected then I think YANBU.

[TiggyD]

But if you don't celebrate christmas properly Jesus won't realise you love him and that will make him sad. And he drinks when he's sad.

[ApocalypseCheese]

I do it because I got fed up with spending my limited money on people who don't appreciate it.

Also fed up with being given no idea of what they 'want', spending hours bloody searching and being met with a face like a cats bum which has had a chilli shoved up it on the day of gift swap. Therefore they get donations.

The people who love, care for and appreciate me (mainly friends) get presents. I refuse to waste time on people who can't even to pretend to appear grateful, nor am I playing 'pass the £20'

[atswimtwolengths]

TiggyD!!!

[lady007pink]

YANBU

I hate this commercialism! My SIL is a junk queen, she used to fill a garbage bag full of crap from euroshops we don't need. Just adding more junk to my already junk-filled house. I would be so tempted to just fling the bag into the bin.

My family were not into this buying presents lark, and thankfully have never picked up the trend. We find it nicer to visit each other's houses for a meal. But my in-laws - JESUS! They just love Christmas shopping and I find Christmas day unbearable when the house is filled with so much stuff we can't walk through it!

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

We have agreed to just buy for the family DCs this year. Then spend any money visiting and enjoying each others company instead. Far easier!

[fluffles]

YABU - i love buying presents for people, but they are always relatively cheap in terms of money...

a book i think somebody will like, or fancy food or drink. absolutely no 'gift sets' for anybody.

and do you really buy everything you fancy? cause i certainly don't treat myself that much through the year.

[FakePlasticTrees]

OP - do you ever give your DCs the stuff you siphoned off? Do they not write thank you cards/make calls to say thank you for their gifts? If so, how do you get them to say thank you for stuff they never saw? Or do you let them have them, then remove the gifts? And what do you do with them?

also, will you be telling people in advance you aren't getting gifts this year or will you let others buy you gifts, smile and say thank you then not have anything for them?

[waterlooroadisadocumentary]

We have done similar, dd gets one small present - in comparison to everyone else. I don't buy anyone else anything, not DH, immediate family or anyone.

Wo do have great food, donations to charity, church, family and walks.

[waterlooroadisadocumentary]

Sorry as I know someone will pounce on me, she also gets a small stocking and a pair of pyjamas.

[mamatomany]

My friggin Mother in Law when asked what the children could buy for her for Christmas suggested M&S vouchers, FFS I feel like just putting cash in an envelope.
And she wants to put cash in their bank accounts, not sure why we even bother either tbh.

[MumblingClothDoll]

I have massively reduced this year too....am planning a MAJOR de-clutter. If it's not beautiful or useful it goes.

That does not include me...as I am neither beautiful nor very useful at times!

[Spidermama]

I'm with you Moondog but not so brave.

[moondog]

I kepp my house pretty empty.
My kids will get a laptop (that would have been bought for them anyway) and a few bits.

Parents don't care about presents, neither do my siblings and neither do dh's. Not that they are miseries-far from it! but we just don't care about presents.

[Finn15]

Hahahaha
"I'm rising above this dreadful consumerist society and looking to the greater good this Christmas. My kids are getting nothing. Except a brand new laptop."

[waterlooroadisadocumentary]

I did a at the laptop as I woudl never buy my dd a laptop for Christmas. I want to escape consumerism but I think moondog just doesn't want to buy things she does not need.

[Hedgeblunder]

Yabu