Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

Hundreds of wasted pounds

79 replies

Pinkpinot · 23/11/2013 08:42

I love Christmas
I love my family
But presents I buy just get wasted
Last year we bought some carefully thought out lunches/pamper day/ wine tasting
All of the offers expired
I found a bag, 6 months later, of little things that I had given my cousins in my mums. Been there since Christmas

I feel like I don't want to bother

OP posts:
AliceinWinterWonderland · 23/11/2013 16:58

If I ask them, they'll all say "oh don't get anything for us, just buy for the kids"

So why can't you just do this then? Just buy for the kids.

Personally I wouldn't want a gift voucher for some type of activity, as then I'm obligated to go somewhere and do something. (although to be fair, my family and friends know this about me, as childcare and such would be an issue)

Marne · 23/11/2013 16:59

We don't really bother with adults, just buy for the kids, I buy for my parents but I only spend around £10, my mum likes smelly's so I get her some nice hand cream and some nice shower gel, my dad has just bought himself a 3d tv so will be getting him a dvd, I don't buy for my my brother or sister in law. I'm not really bothered about people buying me gifts, my mum will take me shopping so I can chose something, much easier this way as I hate getting things that I wont use (just a waste of money).

VerySmallSqueak · 23/11/2013 17:04

If you must buy them something,ask them what they want.

starsandunicorns · 23/11/2013 17:05

Yy to buying a goat etc I use centrepoint or presentaid at least its not wasted

Bubbles1066 · 23/11/2013 17:07

We don't buy presents for adults at all! It's so freeing. We just buy small presents for kids. I have a £150 budget for presents this year for everyone, including my 2. No debt, no wasted presents.

ShinyBauble · 23/11/2013 17:38

Anyone who is doing the give a goat to a starving family thing, there is some debate about whether it's a positive thing to do or not.

According to what I read a few years ago, the families who receive a goat have to feed it, they're not allowed to kill it, many people of colour in aid areas are lactose intolerant making the goat a useless drain on already stretched resources, and if they do kill the goat to make it of practical use, they run the risk of being blocked from further help from the charity.

Maybe it's a more positive giving situation a few years on, but it's a good idea to read into it.

DrHolmes · 23/11/2013 17:57

I hate getting vouchers. I got a photo session voucher last year and that has expired.

I'd prefer to unwrap a gift. Maybe the carefully thought out presents were not suited to them in the end.

Pennythedog · 23/11/2013 18:09

She did ask them what they wanted...

I am actually curious what they bought you though. It might give us a clue as to what to get them.

InTheRedCorner · 23/11/2013 18:11

shiny thank you for your post I will look in to it.

starsandunicorns · 23/11/2013 18:13

Shiny I didnt know that I might just do centrepoint this year

minipie · 23/11/2013 18:39

OP, if I said don't get me anything I would mean it. Please don't carry on buying gifts for people who clearly don't want them, it will only upset you and potentially make them feel guilty.

Our family now only does charity gifts for adults. it's SO much better than everyone trying to guess what each other wants and usually failing. I recommend the Good Gifts Company, they do loads of charity gifts - yes some are goats but very few. there is a huge variety and they range from sight tests to hot meals to protecting woodland to dementia research. And you get a Christmas cracker with a description of each gift inside so there is something to put under the tree iyswim.

Original poster
Pinkpinot · 23/11/2013 18:54

I said if I asked them they would say 'don't get us anything'

I haven't asked them before

You lot have made me feel worse

I give up

OP posts:
minipie · 23/11/2013 19:03

Ah. sorry, I misunderstood. (probably because I have a relative who has insisted on buying gifts even after we repeatedly asked her not to).

Honestly in your position I would ask what they want, if they say nothing for us then ask again (in case they were being polite the first time) and if they still say nothing then get them nothing! (but go to town on the kids). and ask them to get you nothing or charity gifts in return.

Flisspaps · 23/11/2013 19:06

Ask them what they want. Get them that.

Not something that you've put lots of thought and money into, but have actually got wrong.

Why on earth would sensible advice make you feel worse? Were we all meant to come on here and tell you all what terrible, ungrateful people they are?

expatinscotland · 23/11/2013 19:07

STOP BUYING IT, THEN!

They said only buy for the kids, so take them at their word.

Original poster
Pinkpinot · 23/11/2013 19:08

Expat
They never fucking said that

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 23/11/2013 19:11

But you said if you asked that is what they would fucking say. So why do you waste money on them? That's just silly. Stop doing it.

juneau · 23/11/2013 19:19

Just buy food and drink - that way you don't have to worry about things expiring. If people have Amazon wish lists - great - I buy them things off those. Otherwise, I get them nice foody stuff and a bottle of whatever they like to drink. They don't have to find 'homes' for things, they get to have a few tasty treats - perfect.

NoAddedSuga · 23/11/2013 19:20

Christ sake, if you want to get rid of your money, as you seem so intend on doing, then please hand it over to me, i would be far more grateful than anyone you would ever know.

Problem solved, you have still spent the same amount of money, but it would of been well spent!

Original poster
Pinkpinot · 23/11/2013 19:31

Dear lord
I don't intentionally waste money on them

Last year I bought a few well considered ( I thought)
Voucher type presents

They have time, childcare, flexibility, dad is retired fgs and had friend to go with
They simply didnt get around to booking it

Many of you have pointed out that they were in fact crap not very thought out presents, which I tend to disagree with as I did buy things that they like
Anyway that made me feel crap

I do actually want to buy my family who I love something they want for Christmas
There are things that they want/need I'm sure
I intend to ask them outright this year

OP posts:
NoAddedSuga · 23/11/2013 19:34

I would seriously not buy this year.

NoAddedSuga · 23/11/2013 19:36

Why is it so important to you to buy them something?

Whats wrong with spending the festive season in each others company etc.

Why do you want to buy them presents when the gifts are not getting used?

Original poster
Pinkpinot · 23/11/2013 20:21

Er, cos its nice, cos its the tradition
Cos it's what people do at Xmas
Isn't it?

OP posts:
NoAddedSuga · 23/11/2013 20:28

Its not nice to buy presents for people and finding them unused without a second thought.

Its not nice to feel like you have to buy presents.

Your missing the meaning of christmas.

Original poster
Pinkpinot · 23/11/2013 20:32

I was being sarcastic there suga!

I don't feel like I have to, I want to

OP posts: