Should gifts be indulgent or practical

[CeeceeBloomingdale]

I love indulgence, something I wouldn't buy for myself. Not necessarily expensive but something frivolous. Some of the family are very practical and turn up their noses at frivolous gifts and wouldn't even appreciate the value of certain brands, e.g. White Company smellies would be akin to Asda to them. I like nicely wrapped gifts and appreciate the effort, other just plonk things in a gift bag. What do you like to give and receive?

[quote mogloveseggs]**@Jigglypuffler* @woodhill* it's this one
Biy crackly when it's loud but it does work. The dc thought it was hilarious when we first got it and people sounded like they were in the dashboard [/quote]
Thanks,

Do you just put your phone nearby, does it play your i-tunes

Still occasionally use an ipod😊

Something you want
Something you need
Something to wear
Something to read

DEf depends on the person. For insatnce one year I got my mil teatowels. (after husbansd suggested it. I didn,t know what else to get do I did.) She was genuinly happy. Other people would hate it. Some people like bathroom sets when others would think they are frivolous.

Depends who the recipient is and to relationship to them. My mum is buying some canisters for storing sugar, flour etc in. She has bought me a hoover in the past. I wouldn't like my husband to buy them for me... She will also buys gift for me, not the 'house'. (Her terms... She buys us all individual gifts, then something practical that benefits all of us).

@woodhill it plugs into the cigarette lighter. Then you connect your phone to it in settings. On it it shows what frequency to tune your radio to. Save that setting then off you go. I play Spotify through it, Netflix through it-kids watch movies on long journeys, phone calls etc

Depends. I like Elemis and use it a lot of skincare but I ask for some bath/body items for my birthday/Christmas as I am reluctant to buy these for myself despite loving them.

I go for an upgrade on practical items sometimes or an item I may want but don't need.

DH is all about practicallity. My mum gets more luxery items as she wouldn't buy them herself despite being able to as she feels she is wasing money. It has a lot to do with having money trouble and a war time childhood.

I like a mix, though there are some items I'd never use (body lotion, candles for instance. Who wants to be greasy and sooty?)

From the POV of giving - obviously you try to give what the recipient would like, not what you prefer. Obey the platinum rather than the golden rule.

I guess it’s nice to get better quality than what I would normally buy, so chocolates (love posh chocolates), nice smellies, expensive gin etc..etc..

In a way those items are practical anyway as they are going to get used/eaten?

My mum tends to buy me practical things but they are cheap (think primark socks) so are just things I would normally buy myself anyway. I have asked for things like sauce pans from my dad before because it’s something useful and even cheaper ones cost a bit.

I think it’s nice to receive a mixture of useful and luxury items but I hate getting useless things that I will never use, would rather someone gave me a voucher or cash.

All these varied answers... It's almost like you need to tailor the gift to the person you are buying for!

It's hard when you don't know them though. I always get something expendable but luxurious for people I don't know - that's not food.

One thing that sticks out as important though - if someone does express a preference you should try and respect it. Even if it's for no present at all. Remember that the idea of a gift is to bring the person pleasure - if it's not something they want or would find intrusive then consider why you are doing it.

@mogloveseggs

Thanks - it was the picture with the SIM card that threw me.😊

Like using a blue tooth speaker presumably

Thanks for the replies. I have learnt what people like and don't like now after years of trial and error and tailor accordingly but it's interesting to see the differences in preferences. Now let's hope they note my preferences too 😉 (teetotal for 15 years but still get given booze every year)

Definitely depends. DH's grown up daughter asked what she could get us last year we had a new vacuum cleaner. You have to know the person.

As for wrapping. I am very environmentally conscious so lots of glittery paper, bows etc wouldn't make me feel special. I would feel uncomfortable when it came to disposing of it. I would far prefer a non-glitter gift bag that can be reused.

I think I prefer luxurious things over practical. Practical is nice when the giver knows you well or you've told them - eg. DH's socks have holes in, I'll get him some or X said she needs a new cycle helmet.

I really appreciate when people get me something I need or they know I like.

Love a proper posh candle or chocolates or jewllery - but again the person stills need to have an idea of what I might like? A big tin of mediocre biscuits will go straight in the foodbank as I know I won't enjoy eating them and think it's just a waste of calories.

I think the problem is when you dont know the person that well, you don't see them often but still feel like you need/want to give a gift. In that case better to be small, useable and a little luxurious?

I was just reading the other thread about people not using their 'best' things and I wonder how much the value we place on things and what we are worth factors into this.

I buy DP practical things. He hates shopping so just the fact I've saved him having to go to a clothes or other shop is a present to him. Likewise my mum buys me (amongst other things) plain socks every year and I love the fact I don't have to buy or think about socks all year as a result.

Practical things are nice if you particularly asked for it. But for gifts, I think it's a bit disappointing if given something are basic practical things however useful they are. If it's high quality one that you wouldn't normally buy for yourself, then practical gifts maybe nice too. I think it's a matter of balance.

There’s a Galaxy advent calendar on amazon for £1.99 with free delivery galaxy

Oops sorry wrong thread!

I like a mix - but the worst thing to give me is money or a box of chocolates as I would like an actual gift to open etc

I do all the present buying on behalf of DH & I for DS, DF, DB & ptnr, DMIL
I buy all DMIL gifts to my DH, our DS, my DB & ptnr & DF
I buy all my DB & DF gifts to DMIL, my DH & my DS & my DF's surviving siblings, a couple of his neighbours too .... and then I wrap them all - after all that I feel like Father Christmas and would like someone to spend a few minutes thinking of a thoughtful gift for me.

My favourite gifts over past few years have been from below - a variety of incrediblt £££ or £ and all just as loved by me:

a lovely charm bracelet from DB where charms all reflected a decade of my life

Lovely selection of Jo Malone (I do buy these products but this was a lovely generous selection)

Pair of diamond earrings

A lovely pair of small scissors where the handle is in the shape of the eiffel tower
A brass pencil sharpener
A metal ruler
Chanel No 5 bath soap

When I had no money I loved a practical gift!

Now I'm a bit better off I love an indulgent one.

@Carrie76

Oops sorry wrong thread!

It was a very worthy public service announcement!

@pinkksugarmouse

Definitely depends. DH's grown up daughter asked what she could get us last year we had a new vacuum cleaner. You have to know the person.

As for wrapping. I am very environmentally conscious so lots of glittery paper, bows etc wouldn't make me feel special. I would feel uncomfortable when it came to disposing of it. I would far prefer a non-glitter gift bag that can be reused.

I agree, I never buy glittery things as they can't be recycled. I love brown paper and baker string or twine. I have been learning macrame to ties the parcels up in a fancy manner

[quote Jigglypuffler]@mogloveseggs what Bluetooth converter do you have? I need one but I'm a bit of a technophobe so get lost as soon as I start looking![/quote]
Ha. You're a step beyond me, I don't even know what they do!🤣

wine ,wine and more wine, or a fancy soap/bubble bath /hand cream ,or soap and glory body butter which i know isnt fancy but i love it

@BeaLola

Please tell me someone else does the Christmas dinner!!

How on earth did you get landed with doing everyone's shopping? Did that for a game of soldiers!

@CeeceeBloomingdale

I love indulgence, something I wouldn't buy for myself. Not necessarily expensive but something frivolous. Some of the family are very practical and turn up their noses at frivolous gifts and wouldn't even appreciate the value of certain brands, e.g. White Company smellies would be akin to Asda to them. I like nicely wrapped gifts and appreciate the effort, other just plonk things in a gift bag. What do you like to give and receive?

OMG this is the same in my family. i am an only child but my in-laws hate frivolity. They want things like potato bags, new rake, baking tray.... This is all fine but I want to be buying all the gorgeous gifts from The White Company too but they don't want or even like it....