Is there anyone like me who doesn't want anything for Christmas?

[moondog]

I don't want crap like cheap bottles of wine or potions and lotions.
I don't want anything actually.
If I want something I'll er.. buy it myself.

yup, me.
People still insist on buying this stuff though dont they.

I am like that. I always choose my own presents- I give DH and the kids a list. DH likes to do surprises but sometimes I wish he wouldn't.

My DH and DS asked me what I wanted and I could not think of anything apart from a bottle of perfume.

Me. I can sometimes find one or two ideas of things (books or CDs usually) which I can give to my sisters, who would rather buy me something I actually want. This year I'm really struggling to think of much I want at all. My 50th birthday is in less than 2 weeks, and I can't even think of anything I want for that!

I really hate being given stuff I don't like though. I would rather people saved the money, or gave it to charity really. Obviously I am always gracious when being given a gift, even if it's something I don't like, and thank the giver, but it does seem to be a bit of a pointless waste of money.

I think people dont appreciate presents when they have enough money to buy stuff for themselves. If you havent got the money every item seems amazing. In a way its a blessing as you still get that childlike excitement about presents! I get ridiculously excited about fiver bottles of wine, and nice chocolates in a box, and 8 quid tops from primark as I only can usually afford the 2 quid ones.

It's not about being able to afford it for me. It's the fact that people often give you things you really don't want. If I was skint, I still wouldn't want a box of chocolates. Or body lotion, which I never ever use.

How many people do you buy for or buy for you? If you only keep it small and simple then this doesnt usually happen. Me and DH never buy for each other we just have parents, his parents, my brother and 2 friends. If you do it people you are very close to and spend vast majority of your time with then usually they know what you want I find.

No, I don't want anything.

I mean, if I had a partner I think I would really love to get something from them - someone who understands me - if they wanted to get me something, that is. It is all about the thought.

There isn't really anyone who wants to get me anything though - well maybe my sister likes to, and that's nice, but I don't see the point otherwise.

Oh and my Granny wants to but we don't get on really so it's always really uncomfortable when she does.

Me too.
I only get presents from dh and I usually buy myself a pair of expensive boots and give it to him to give to me.
I don't need anything..if I do I buy it.

I don't really have anything I want. I need some new clothes but until I lose some weight I'm making do. I did ask for winter tryes for my car and DH thought I was kidding but I meant it.

I'd rather buy for myself.

I buy myself a treat as a Christmas present and give DH money to go shopping for my stocking.

Learnt the hard way after years of wearing things that didn't suit me, perfume I didn't love etc.

DH is crap at presents and after last years disasters (two tops 2 sizes too small and a pair of shoes that didn't fit) I've told him not to bother buying for me and just buy for the kids. Its my birthday Boxing day too so I feel guilty that he wastes money on things that invariably end up in the charity shop.

I therefore found a solution this morning. I was reading a magazine that had an article about the smile train, that goes to 3rd world countries and does cleft palate operations on babies and young children. The cost of one surgery is only 150 pounds and I'd far rather DH made a donation to them instead of presents for me. Hopefully he will agree

Yes, most of us are fortunate enough to be able to at least clothe and feed ourselves and many more can buy the luxuries that make life more pleasant for themselves.
I'm reading the Laura Ingalls Wilder books to my kids ( I loved them when little) and thre joy those girls get from a tin cup and a piece of candy is amazing.

I was reading a collection of remiscences about growing up in the 30s and one weoman talked about not having enough money in her family to buy a sucepan so all coking done in tin cans.

A present for peopel like that would have so much more meaning than a hideous gift box of cheap body lotions to one of us eh?

I do hate the whole corporate nonsense that it turns into - Boots for example, filled with these plastic boxes of stuff no one even wants or uses, just as a 'gesture' present when you feel obliged.

I think it's horrible and surely these are always wht gets reduced to half price in the sales because no one even wants to buy them for anyone.

If Boots would just stop it, maybe it would make a difference?

My own family know me well enough that they either ask what I want, or buy me something I would like (e.g. my sisters are very good at choosing something like a necklace/earrings I would like). Dh's family don't know me so well though, so I often receive gifts from them which are kindly meant, but totally useless to me. I would be quite happy if they just bought a gift for ds, and not for me or dh at all.

I don't want anything and have felt like that for a few years. I am lucky that dp feels the same so we don't buy each other anything .

If I wanted or needed something I can buy it for myself.

Generic 'presents'. That's what I mean. A 'gift box' of stuff that no one wants to either give or receive but somehow something is expected, so you end up having to spend money on something like this or you look like you're being rude.

If I really want something I normally buy it through the year so Christmas is coming this year and there's nothing I really need. Sure there are things I like but I don't need them and money is tight(as with everyone) Dp and I have a few nights out the week before Xmas so we are going to have a few good nights with our friends together. I have Gift boxes and the like..I'd much rather have a nice Clarins handcream instead of 12 boxes of 30ml tesco stuff in a cerise pink tub.( that sounds snobby but i'd rather people didnt waste their money as it nomally goes in the church raffle)

I like having presents at Christmas but I'm happy with cheaper stuff and don't want loads. Our DDs always by DH and us gifts and would be sad if we said we didn't want anything at all. But MIl spends loads on everyone and I really don't want that much stuff.

I'm the same. I've spent too much on the kids so don't really feel I can justify having anything I don't need. Like you say, as adults, if we want something we can buy it for ourselves. If family ask I always ask my mum for cash (cheeky) and tell dh to pass on that I would like vouchers to any of his side who asks.
DH will prob choose some sweets or something for me with the kids so they can see me open something.

I do think not having much money does make you appreciate things. I wouldnt say a box of cheap body lotions would be unappreciated by me. My mum has bought me a fiver face mask from wilkos and I was with her when she got it in September and its one of my xmas presents. I honestly cant wait for it I have walked past it a million times since then in the shop and I cant wait to try it. 6 weeks to go!!

A box of cheap body lotions would be useless to me. As would a box of expensive body lotions. Because I don't like using body lotion. It's not about the cost, it's about being given stuff you would never use.

Me. So for the second year running I've asked the people who will definitely get me something (parents, brother etc) to get me Amazon vouchers.

I've just opted out of DH's family's secret santa for this very reason. I'd rather they spent the money on DH or DD.

Why does use body lotion anyway?
In same vein, who uses baby lotion?

I use body lotions but I would buy them for myself .