To think exchanging ‘token’ gifts is a huge waste of money

[Butterflyfluff]

Mainly Christmas gifts but could be birthday too.

I honestly don’t see the point in exchanging ‘token’ gifts

Especially if you have no idea what they’d actually like so have to guess anyway

There must be so much waste from doing this

I totally agree. There’s always loads of threads about ‘stocking filler ideas’ too and the answer is invariably ‘cheap plastic shit for landfill’.

Totally agree, OP.

Huge environmental costs. Loads of tat which ends up in landfill… loads of stress about “what to get”.

I personally like it, because it means the person has thought of me.

So true.

Same with Secret Santa type crap with a budget.

No one needs a stress ball, a Rubik’s cube or a mug saying ‘World’s Greatest Accountant”.

But have they really?

Or are they just buying stuff out of some kind of obligation?

Given the amount of threads asking for ideas for such gifts - it does feel like it’s largely being done just for the sake of it.

I agree. Good gift or no gift.

Totally agree. It’s the same with Secret Santa presents. Mostly unwanted tat that is stuck in a cupboard or re-gifted (and repeat). Adults in offices don’t need anonymously given random presents at Christmas.

If I’m visiting someone, I always take something I know the host will eat or drink. Stocking fillers are always useful and, as far as humanly possibly, not plastic. And no non-biodegradable wrappings.

Yup. Secret santa too - a load of old tat heading straight to landfill. I honestly believe people should buy off list only, anything else is a waste.

You haven't had a present bag from my inlaws. A random bag of crap that gets donated every year to the charity shop or binned if a really bad year. We have said let's stop presents or buy food and drink and we got "but we like buying you stuff". Ffs.

I completely agree. Therefore I do not participate in this kind of nonsense.
The level of waste is ridiculous.

I honestly believe people should buy off list only, anything else is a waste.

I tend to agree - we ask children for lists so we know what they’d like, yet it seems to become common practice to buy adults mini hampers / books they probably won’t like or have already read / random mugs that don’t match anything else / another fecking scarf etc just so people can exchange something

Probably not from your in-laws but I know exactly what you are talking about 😂

It works well in my family but no one buys tat. Both DH and I have gotten aprons which we still use. We got a nice tablecloth once. That was a bit more expensive so was for both DH and me. We got one of my SILs a bowl for the kitchen that matches her other bowls but is smaller. My mum likes scarves so she sometimes gets that.

A way around this for me and my friends was that we all met up for a meal at xmas time instead and had a great night out enjoying each others company which is something we would rather do than spend money on pointless tatt.

Yabu. One year my DM bought me a tiny tree sapling as a token gift. 10 years later it has grown into a beautiful tree and my DM has died. It brings me a lot of comfort

Love this

I always thought ‘token’ gifts were something like chocolates or similar - so the type of thing that’s nice but just not too expensive. I don’t think it’s any more of a waste than more expensive gifts.

I have got some truly dreadful tat at workplace Secret Santa though.

Meh, I like gorgeous little gifts. They have to be useful but I would rather have lovely wrapped socks, mugs (we are a clumsy family), wine, sweets, make-up, smellies and pens than a big boring present I could easily buy myself.

This is a rare and lovely example of a fabulous token gift - it’s just very hard to do on mass / repetitively

Me and my friends (group of 8) do secret Santa because we used to all buy each other presents. So we all bought 7 presents and now we buy 1. The budget is £50 and I have only ever given/received things I've loved.

£50 is hardly a token gift.

It’s not. That’s the point. 7 token gifts have been replaced with one decent gift which is much more worthwhile.

Oh sorry! I mis-read.

Come on, spill. What were the worst ones so far?

This is ideal, in my mind. I go out with my friends for lunch or coffee somewhere nice after Christmas - it's something to look forward to, and it means we all get to catch up (also, after Christmas is generally cheaper and quieter).

I agree OP that "token gifts" are usually awful. Occasionally someone strikes gold (eg the tree mentioned above), but usually I end up with more tat that I don't want. I'd rather someone donated £10 to a good bank and just wrote me a nice card or something than have them spending £10 on a fancy box of chocolates that has about 10 sweets in (or at least spend the £10 on a big bar of Dairy Milk or a load of Freddos or something so at least I get a good amount to binge on!).