any one else just not do christmas with dh/dp?

[ollieplimsoles]

I dont think it's so strange, but my friends and family cant seem to get their heads around us not buying anything for each other.

We have had an expensive year, nothing we really want, we would rather spend the money on dd ect..

Anyone else get presents for other people but not exchange them with dh/dp?

[gunting]

Nah we don't, we get each other little things for our birthdays but not Christmas.

[icandoscience]

At xmas DP and I tend to both go halves on something nice for the house (framed picture, new tv, tablet, etc) that we can both enjoy, rather than separate presents for each other. MIL in particular finds this weird but it suits us!

[Penhacked]

Just had this chat! We are moving soon and would rather save it for when we are buying new furniture in Jan. Our Christmas is watching the children opening their presents

[BarbaraofSeville]

We only really do token presents because we are grown ups with our own money and just buy what we want or need as and when we like.

I see no point in dressing up routine purchases like tvs as Christmas presents from partners. If you need a TV, you buy a TV, I don't see what is gained by calling it a Christmas present.

I tend to get DP chocolates, books etc and he gets me a bottle of gin and some chocolate.

[FlyingElbows]

We don't either. If we're feeling flush we'll buy a family present like a bit of expensive tech but we don't buy presents for each other.

[Dontpanicpyke]

Nope we don't either. We treat ourselves when we can and tha works for us.

[CharminglyGawky]

I love treating my husband at Christmas and try to think of something he'd really like.

He really struggles and it does get me down a bit that he doesn't put as much effort in but he just panics.

My family do thought out meaningful gifts where it doesn't matter if we spend very little or some years a bit more it's the thought that counts, his family do boots 3 for 2 and DH describes Christmas as being a half day max... I grew up with Christmas traditions that last over 3-4 days. Neither way of celebrating is right or wrong but I can get why he feels out of his depth at Christmas with me!

This year he is getting a get out of jail free card though as we are going halves on a camcorder since we are expecting pfb in Jan! Might continue with this idea as it will make him more comfortable and I will have kids to enjoy buying for!

I can't imagine doing nothing though, Christmas is about more than gifts but I enjoy thinking them out and putting that much thought into something special for him. I do get that other people do things differently and I don't think you are odd!

[GnomeDePlume]

We dont buy each other gifts. However we do have fun making suggestions to the DCs about gifts for them to buy us. The budget is generally quite small (£15-£20) and the DCs have got us some cracking gifts.

[Huldra]

It depends on the year. Some years we don't need or want anything and it's token gifts, mainly for the kids to see us giving to each other. Another year one of us may think of something special for the other as a surprise, get the kids involved, the giver is happy with their token gifts. We get the odd year when we decide let's both get new tablets, or new family big spend. There are no hard feelings because it is all done in the family annual budget and it works out evenly over the years.

We can buy the same things for our selves anytime of the year. I do think there is some worth in your partner knowing that during x festival the other has given the odd thought. It is good for children to think about what to give their parents, or see their parents give gifts to each other. I
The value or the particular festival doesn't matter. This year again we couldn't think what we wanted for our birthdays and we know in the coming yearr we will both want new tablets. Still we did token cheap gifts, cards. Cake, chocolates, nice meal appeared for everyone to share in.

[HeCantBeSerious]

Our kids get 4 small presents each (want, need, wear, read) and a small stocking (chocolate, toothbrush etc). Nobody else gets anything. It's bliss.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

We get each other really beautiful cards and buy something for the house in the sales.

[allowlsthinkalot]

We don't buy presents for any adults, only dc. We just can't afford it. We struggle to buy for our own dc, Christmas food etc.

[NickyEds]

We never used to buy each other anything (or spend Christmas together even-we each used to go to our respective families until we had kids)but last year was the first Christmas morning in our home with our dc so we got each other a small gift to open. We'll probably do the same this year. It's not odd at all not to bother though, it's an expensive time of year.

[AmeliaJack]

We don't buy each other anything.

We used to, but discovered that our Christmas shopping became very stressful, trying to find the 'perfect' thing for each other and buying stuff we really didn't need.

Before kids we'd donate a some to charity and treat ourselves to a weekend away in the new year.

Now we often buy something lovely for the house that we wouldn't otherwise buy.

It's much less stressful.

We do buy each other pretty fantastic Mother's Day and Father's Day presents so still get the opportunity to buy a thoughtful, personal present (just without the general Christmas stress)