Okay then, these charity goats. Let's have a heated debate

[CappuScreamO]

I don't agree with buying them for people

I think if you want to give money to charity that should be your own responsibility and you should buy yourself a charity goat

but giving charity goats to people as presents seems a bit 'ooh aren't I good and beyond reproach and you can't complain that you have no gift because that will make you look grasping and mean'

I give money to charity at Christmas myself

but I buy my friends and family presents out of love hoping that they will bring them joy

I bought my dad a tree from the Woodland Trust once - that went down very well and my mum and dad went to see it in the forest.
But then I bought him an allotment in Africa for his 70th and that wetn down like a lead balloon so I think I went too far and won't do it again.

I'm one who'd rather nothing than a sodding goat. If people want to donate to charity for me, then ASK me what charity

My MIL gives bonkers gifts. She is fab, and I love her to bits, but half the time you don't know what on earth she has given you , or why.

One year I got a tea light holder in the shape of a sperm. The same year BIL got a bucket of old hinges and key holes (he was doing up his old house as she thought they might be useful)

This year the same BIL is going to get a bosuns whistle for christmas, in spite of him haveing no interest in, or link to, boats and sailing or the sea in any way ,shape or form! When she told me it was all I could do not to say ' WTF?'

But I would rather like a tealight holder in the shape of a sperm. My stepdad gave me the music to the elements song by Tom Lehrer last year (along with a periodic table ). For use in school . That was great!

Love using that song with the kids! They think it is great. there is an excellent flash animation version on the internet which I use.

She once gave another BIL at set of plates with fish on them because he once went fishing!

I forgive her though, because every now and then she give stunning family jewelry as gifts! so you never know how you will do in the present lotery thing

Good luck for the week end MB. Hope you both have a lovely lovely time.

I think it wrong wrong wrong. I cannot believe that anyone in their right mind, would give one to a child!

I'm sorry, ( well i'm not actually.) but... christmas to children, even the most religious children in the world, is about getting pressies, ones that they can unwrap look at, play with, reel off on a list to their mates at school, or anyone else who asks them what they got for christmas.

I would be incredibly pissed off and yes, ungrateful if some one bought me a charity pressie on my behalf! i give to charity my self. to charity of my own choice. its not much, but its what i can afford.
At christmas, i look forward to re stocking my bathroom with nice bubble bath, or getting new candles to make my home look and smell nice. i look forward to the clothes or books my family get for me. I dont buy these things for myself as i dont have the money! christmas and birthdays are the only time of the year i actually get anything nice for ME!!!

The 'stuff' my family give to me, is important. It shows they have thought about me, and what i might like. and if they get it wrong.. well, at leaset they have thought enough about me and cared.... call me , ( i'm not incidentaly) call me selfish and mean ( again, i'm not) but dont buy me a bloody animal that is not going to live with me. its not FOR ME, its for someone else. good god! a bloody virtual GOAT!!!!

and breaths again

DH and I don't give each-other presents as a rule, and the spend limit per person for Xmas tends to be £20 per child and £10-15 per adult, so we wouldn't be able to join in this charity game if we wanted to. Which I don't. As people have said, if you have a relative who you know is passionate about a cause and doesn't want anymore stuff it's a great idea. Otherwise it is just for the benefit of the "giver" IMO.

I would be furious if someone "donated to charity" on my behalf, doubly so if I'd gone to the trouble of buying them a present.

about the tree in the woodland trust... i can understand that better.. at leaset its something they can go and see! like, f you were to sponsor a dog at the dog home/sanctury. ( not as a gift, i hasten to add) you are actually allowed to go and visit them. they send you letters and pictures of 'your dog'
its something tangible... like a tree. ! sort of!

I say NO to virtual presents and YES YES YES! to bringing on the sparkly wrapped gifts under the christmas tree, that i can poke, shake and prod, sniff, rattle and squeeze in anticipation of what they might be. Ok so i've not particularly grown up...but is that not what christmas is all about???

Other than the religious christmas message... obviously... and my mum is a vicar... she'd be horrified!!