To wonder out of interest if anybody else will not get a present this year?

[thistimeweall]

No family and don't really buy for friends. I am (honestly!) fine with it - I think the last Christmas where I had a present bought for me I was 17 or something but it does sometimes make me realise I am strange, especially when shop assistants trill, "Done all of your shopping"?

i'll send you one if you like :)

Thanks, but it was solidarity not charity I was after!

I think there are an awful lot of people in your position, but with all the hype we’re made to feel that everyone is crazily running around buying. Good on you not to get sucked in.

Not anymore but I have had birthdays with no gifts before and in those years I did get myself a treat and now I have a family I can't get out the habit of treating myself to something nice at Christmas birthdays and valentines. I just give myself the best presents ever

ok lol there are loads like you - just in my family :)

lots choose to opt out of the whole caboodle

I'm not getting anything this year as I've told everyone to concentrate on the children in our family. I also can't afford to buy back for people.

I feel like alot of pressure has been lifted now that I don't have to worry about buying and receiving gifts. Now I can just have a good time with my family and enjoy it.

Not exactly, I'll get presents from my husband and his family. However my mum died when I was a teenager and I don't have a relationship with my dad. I always feel bad that my DH's family but me lovely things and no one from my family buys him anything. We're very lucky and have a wonderful Christmas but the time of year can make me feel a bit adrift.

Well, no, you misunderstand me, fur, I'm not opting out, I have no choice.

I buy for everyone in my family my partner etc but don't receive anything in return. It's like this for birthdays and Christmas. I turned 32 this year and I received one birthday card. Been the same for the last few years

well you choose not to buy for your friends

but yeah i get what you meant :)

me. no family, no friends. not too bothered.

It’s very tight in the slarty household this year so just the dcs are getting gifts this year, I’m fine with it and so is DP.

I buy for everyone, but generally only get the one family Kris Kringle present back, which for the last twenty years has generally been something god awful that I dump the day after and wonder why on earth anyone would ever think that I could want that. DS is too young to really understand that he can give a present, not just receive, and my old relative that I buy for (and would go nuts if I didn't get her something she loved) seems to forget that I might actually like something back in return. I turned 40 a few weeks ago and didn't even get a card. I've given up now, and just buy myself what I need. But it would be so nice to just once find something under the tree bought by someone who actually gets me.

Nope, because I always buy myself something!

I have lots of family and a few friends. Didn't receive a single card on my birthday last month. DH has this idea that I find cards and gifts unnecessary But we did go out to watch a movie (his idea).

I did get quite a few well wishing birthday text messages though. Made a mental note to do the same for the -feckers- from now on.

Nah. But I'm buying myself:

The ASOS advent calendar
A lovely wine glass
Wine
Posh chocs
A new cook
An egg boiling machine
Some pjs
Maybe some nice bath stuff
And maybe some hair extensions in the new year

much better prezzies than anyone else will get me!

Haven't had anything since my mum died. No friends, no family.

We only give cards, presents for the kids. I'll send you a card Caretaker pm me your address

I don't usually get a present.

Me and DH concentrate our money on all the other Xmas expenses, brothers only buy for the DC and my mum is dead.

But last year a lovely colleague who I've got close to got me a lovely present of little bits and bobs in a gift bag. I had smelly candles, mini nail file, nail varnish and chocs.

I could've cried I was so touched.

I usually buy myself something and wrap it and put it under the tree

Widowed lone parent here. All about giving although I may get something home made if lucky. Tbh my birthday is early January so I have been conditioned from an early age to not expect much and I can honestly say it does not bother me.

I buy myself two big presents, one from the cats and one from the dogs. I'm also in a knitting/crochet group present swap. Other than that, maybe one couple will get me something but I've no close family.

ozzie123 and snortles do you not talk to your partners about it? If DH never boifht me a gift I think is feel very different about buying him anything. Have they never bought for you? How has that not been a sticking point before things got this far?

My wife didn't before she married me, and nor did she get any birthday presents - her family just don't do them for adults. She just took her birthday as a chance to buy herself a load of stuff she wanted.