To think that most gifts for adults are a bit crap?

[thereareflowersinmygarden]

Most adults can buy little odds and sods that they want. Like a fiver for a pair of earrings etc.

Just thinking that almost every gift we received in the last few years has been while a lovely thought, a bit pointless? Just stuff to clutter up. I lived out of a rucksack for years (by choice) and find having loads of stuff very annoying!

Considering having an adult gift amnesty in our family this Christmas.

I agree OP but it will never change, consumerism will always be king. It does feel pointless, so many of us constantly filling up landfill while so many have nothing.

I don't mean tat, I mean things like theatre tickets that they wouldn't splash out on, or a railcard. They are usually consumable treats. I hate the candles and crap too.

I don't like unnecessary stuff but the little things I could buy myself I save up up and ask for at Christmas. Treats like $5 a pair socks and body shop shower gel. Things that I do need some new of each year, they do not accumulate as the old ones are used up or worn out.

curly I work full time too, and care for my terminally ill husband. It isn't that hard if you plan well.

Agree OP. I've been making a list for the past few years and sending it to DH in november ish time so that when people ask him what i'd like he can tell them something off the list.

Tended to be make up, skincare, books, vouchers for certain clothes shops etc.

I did find out last year though after i'd got a couple of duplicates that he had just whatsapped the whole list to anyone who asked i must have looked very grabby. However, having said that, i've learned that it's much easier for the gift giver, especially if they are a busy person, to be given a particular item to get. I always appreciate it.

I try and buy consumables like chocolates and soap. I'd prefer the whole adult Christmas presents didn't exist though.

Completely agree. I’d like vouchers to put towards a massage. I don’t want any more STUFF. Tend to find that older family think that stuff is much more desirable though.

Really trying to limit clutter here.

People always ask what I want and I give them a couple of things I need but in posher forms than I would buy myself :)

“I work full time too, and care for my terminally ill husband. It isn't that hard if you plan well.”

for you and your DH, Gretchen.

Can you give us some tips? I honestly don’t know how to “plan well”

You mention theatre tickets. They’re a great idea but I dismiss those and other “event” type of gifts because you then have to check that the recipient is available for the date you buy it for. Then it isn’t a surprise for them. Do you think that matters?

I always try and buy consumable stuff. but as some family members get older they sometimes either change their tastes or develop health issues and then can’t have things they once enjoyed, eg low fat diets, can’t drink alcohol, diabetic etc.

I love book tokens, cook books, craft stash etc. I might ask for some skirts to be made this year, or a handbag.

Yanbu. It's such an effort trying to think of things I really want for Christmas and birthdays. I'm always happy with a plant or flowers or booze!

Experiences over "stuff" any time (although I would never say no to champagne) 😁

Every so often there is a heartbroken poster who claims to have bought her husband a really thoughtful gift and in return has been given something she sees as thoughtless. I often wonder whether the husband really loves his thoughtful gift.
Much better to each buy yourself your own gift. Both of you are then assured that it is something you truly want.

I agree in theory but I don’t have anyone to buy me gifts anymore apart from my husband so when a few close workmates and I started exchanging gifts it was fab.

I was finally getting bottles of wine, candles hand wash and body lotion, chocs. One lady made the most amazing knitted Christmas decs to go with her gifts and I treasure them but it was lush to get some girly tat.

My husband buys me lovely things but I’m not showered with gifts so it was nice.

I'm actually fed up of people's birthdays. I sometimes don't get DH anything as he often can't think of anything he wants and I don't see the point in buying tat for the sake of it.

My family are flying to us for Christmas and I think it's a nice excuse to simplify present buying.

We’ve had the same Jamie Oliver (tosser) gift set from SIL 3 years running (slightly thinking it was on purpose).
Fuming at the over packaged wastefulness of it all. So little thought is put into these things.
So pointless. I’d rather get something I could scoff or vouchers or excellent socks. Or nothing at all.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/nupp/

Martin Lewis is a great campaigner for this.

I’m on the fence...huge splinters!

I am COMPLETELY & TOTALLY crap at buying presents.

I hate clutter & waste, so I need it to be something the person really wants - not just the item, but the right design, colour, brand etc they’d choose themselves. I just don’t have the knack of ‘getting it right’.

It’s easier to stop swapping gifts.

However, I have some things that I love, and could have bought myself, but they are a hundred times more valued because they were things that others bought me, that they just knew I would love (no prompting). And a few things I know I have given to others they they feel the same about (it’s very rare, but it happens occasionally!).

I LOVE surprises, I LOVE opening presents and I LOVE giving other people presents that I KNOW they will LOVE...

...if only we were all better at that, given giving would be pleasure not a wasteful chore IMO.

My family give/get fun stuff we actually want to do, rather than traditional 'gift' stuff - so books, DVDs, games or board games, gig tickets, CDs, things related to hobbies etc. Sometimes clothes. A lot of it is the same kind of things we gave to each other in our late teens etc. But I have a friend whose family switched to boring 'adult gifts' as soon as the kids grew up (like a bottle of something or socks), even though they had previously given fun things when they were teens, and even though my friend and her siblings all still do things like reading for fun, just as they used to, so you'd think it'd be easier to just keep giving the same things! I think this kind of shift does really make it all pointless and less fun.

Every year my Mum gives me a Boots set that will have body lotion in and every year I say I don't use body lotion but I love bubble bath and always use loads. It's been like this for about 25 years. Why? I don't get it. When will she stop. I don't use frigging body lotion.

I absolutely agree OP. Gifts for adults are completely pointless. Anything I want/need I would prefer to choose and buy myself. If people really feel the need to give something then cash is ok, other than that I'm not bothered.

I always get my mum an Amazon voucher so that she can choose something nice, DH's parents always have something to eat/drink.

I read the threads on here about adults at Xmas or on their birthdays getting in a state about not being given various tat or being upset because they didn't get a sticking openmouthed really don't get the angst at all!

*Stocking

I hate receiving gifts. Is be happy with chocolates and socks but I'm too picky. I like chocolate from one shop (they are also online but still). I like certain kinds of socks. Unless it's these they go straight into the bag that goes to the charity shop straight after Christmas. I don't mind. I buy what I want. It's nice someone thought of me. But it's a bit of a waste.

I'm also on the fence. I hate buying presents for most people because I'm way more skint than most my friends and family. They just buy themselves whatever they want anyway, even my nephews seem to have everything so it's pointless. I love buying for my kids and partner though. I've never had a lot of money and my kids have never just been bought random stuff throughout the year, but love saving up and treating them at Christmas.

Similarly years ago when my sister was literally in her knees financially I used to like buying her presents because there was absolutely no way she would buy anything for herself and she appreciated the gifts.

Also, because I rarely buy stuff for myself all presents are greatly appreciated by me. Especially consumables like food and toiletries.

We stopped doing family presents at Christmas.
It went from presents to voucher exchange, then 1 year dh and I received all i-tunes vouchers. Neither of us owned an i phone or anything i related at the time.
I realised it was just bloody laziness on the family 's part when my grandad said he too had received them. He was 93