AIBU to want to do 'hobbit' birthdays?

[herewegoroundthebastardbush]

i.e. on my birthday I buy a gift for all my friends/family, and they do likewise for me on theirs?

This is totally down to laziness because I'm shit at remembering birthdays and always end up being late and getting stressed. I'd much prefer to just one big job lot every year like Christmas, then recieve little pick-me-ups all year round instead of a load of gifts all at once on my birthday, that would be ideal for me. But no-one else seems to be up for it!

AIBU? Would anyone prefer it this way round?

Do you have the self control to not unwrap birthday gifts ?

Why would I need to not unwrap them?? I wouldn't be saving them up til my birthday, that would defeat the point. It's sort of an inverting of the usual "it's your special day, here's a bunch of gifts' idea into 'it's my special day, let me take the opportunity to show you all how I appreciate you!". So you get a gift on everyone ELSE'S birthday, and give them only on your own.

It’s so contrary to what everyone else habitually does, I don’t think it’ll work. Plus you’d have to do it for everyone you know, they’d have to do it with their friends etc - really it would mean everyone doing it this way which is a bit ambitious.

I love this idea! But it would take away from feeling of being ‘special’ on your birthday, so I can see why it wouldn’t work for everyone. It’s one of those things as well that has to work for all or it doesn’t work at all unfortunately.
What you could do instead maybe, is
just buy everyone presents early in the year, wrap them up and then they’re ready to go.

Wouldn’t that be like doing Christmas again?! No thanks, I share my birthday with my dad, that’s more than enough to think about on my birthday.

Fuck no. I love birthdays, that sounds absolutely shite.
I don’t want to be your friend @herewegoroundthebastardbush sorry 😂

I like the idea in theory but I'm guessing you're not a December birthday? No way could I do birthday for my twins, my nephew, Xmas and then a hobbit birthday all in under three weeks.

You want everyone you know to change their behaviour because you can't use a calender? Seems a bit much

November birthday here. It would be a bit bloody expensive just before Christmas I suppose... and yes very much depends on everyone agreeing with me it's nicer this way 😂

YANBU to think that's how it should be done.

YWBU to ask your friends and family to actually do it. It's not the norm, so you're just asking them to effectively move remembering your birthday from it's normal place on their list to the week of their own birthday, when they'd probably rather not.

No. I really don't like that idea. It's so weird. And I want my birthday to be about me!
I honestly can't get my head around this (or the hobbit reference).

I knew of someone who had loads of godchildren and he bought them all a gift on HIS birthday rather than having to remember all the individual ones - which I thought was a great idea! And they loved getting a random gift which wasn’t lost in all the other ones on their own birthday!

I suppose I should have phrased my question 'Does anyone else think this would be nicer'? I'm not actually asking people to do it! I've mentioned it to people in my life but no-one likes the idea (except the people who'd rather we all stopped gifting anyway for environmental reasons).

The hobbit reference is because it's what hobbits in Tolkein do - they give on their birthdays instead of receive. Still have parties for themselves though!

Well, you can't spell calendar!

That sounds horrendous to me but my birthday is in Christmas week so it would just be too expensive and extra stress for me.

As someone who has a husband and two of my closest friends within 2 days of my birthday I feel like I do this anyway.

gotta be said I don’t love it. But I’ve been sharing a birthday since 12 so it’s all I know.

Thank god as a family we don't celebrate birthdays etc with presents and parties. Makes life so much easier.

Yes i can see how it would feel wonderful when you're young to get this PLUS all your other presents on your day.

Ha, I got the reference immediately, and I'd love it OP, even with a December birthday!

My mum loves the Hobbit concept of "mathoms" too - beautiful items intended to be regifted periodically after the owner has done enjoying them. There's a lot to be said for Hobbit birthday culture!

I think it’s a really sweet idea! Having said that I only buy presents for the very closest people like DH DC and two siblings. I feel like present giving is a bit out of hand these days and the amount of crap everyone accumulates as a result is nuts

I would love this. I don’t like being the centre of attention and (to be honest) I’m a great gift giver. I already have a list in progress for Easter hunt and kids’ birthday. Much rather give than receive. Can’t see my son going along with it though!

That sounds good to me but was easier just to cut down so now only buy for 4 people.

Did not know about this! Also to be adopted in this house 😃

I'd love this. I always hear that adults shouldn't care about their birthdays, birthdays aren't worth celebrating past 21 etc. I think hobbit birthdays could change that mentality.

I don't buy birthday presents for enough people to do this!

I buy for DH, DS, mam, and god daughter. Sometimes other people if I see something I think they'd like or it's a big birthday