Am I a Scrooge? (Presents for adults)

[TeaAndCock]

I don’t want to receive or buy anything anymore for the adults, it all feels so pointless, a hassle and a waste of money. Happy to buy for kids, teens, young adults - who don’t have the cash to readily spend on what they want. I’m trying to buy less material shit, I don’t care if I’ve got nothing under the tree. I’ve suggested to family on my side that we stop the secret Santa for adults (£100) but it’s not gone down well so I guess others enjoy it. Anyone else feel like this or am I totally joyless and lacking in festive spirit?!

I’m with you @TeaAndCock, I’ve been ready to stop gifts for adults for years- I’ve tried saying that to DH’s family but no one listened. What’s frustrating is that we’re so scattered that it’s difficult to know what people want (I ask their partners) but perhaps I should just say nothing for me, please, and hope it gradually fizzles out.

I genuinely don’t want gifts, the Christmas celebrations and food are enough!

I only really buy for my parents and a couple friends. I love buying for friends as they all have pretty quirky interests and hobbies like me but I hate buying for my parents, my DF buys what ever he likes so never really wants or needs anything, my DM doesn’t really have and interests or hobbies and neither does her husband. This year I am just buying food/drink gifts for them.

I don’t have many younger children to buy for now, I have cut out a lot as no one ever says thank you. I just buy for one niece and nephew. I would rather spend my money on my teen/young adult dc and close friends.

I’ve often thought why doesn’t every family member go out/ order something that they have hankered after but dismissed as not needed/ a luxury that they KNOW they will really enjoy… they get what they really want as a treat and nobody has to rack their brains/ spend time sourcing unwanted/ unsuitable gifts… job done.

Me too!

Except for small edibles (preferably the sort you wouldn’t normally buy for yourself) we stopped doing most adult presents a few years ago. Spouses and adult dcs excepted, however I won’t buy dds anything unless I know exactly what they want.

I will admit to a couple of twinges of sadness some years when I had nothing to speak of to open, but hugely outweighed by enjoying Christmas much more without racing around buying ‘stuff’ for no reason. I still did presents for ds and really enjoyed that.

Life has changed a lot since that time and unfortunately so has my entire family circle (not really, they’re lovely!) but I’m back to adult present buying. It’s not good.

Apart from my very young nephews and nieces I don't 'do' presents for anyone apart from my wife. I have spent far too much over the years on presents that are either barely acknowledged or go completely unused. Absolute waste of time and money. Just to be extra sure we tend to go overseas for Christmas.

OP If everyone has the money and is desperate to spend it on adults how about suggesting you all buy something for a homeless charity or local refuge? Imagine how many warm pairs of gloves and scarves that could buy. Sometimes people enjoy gift buying so perhaps suggest that there are people who would really benefit from this generosity. They can still choose. Some local collections ask for something for 16-25 yr olds in emergency housing or women in crisis shelters. A Boots gift set means a lot to a person who has left their house with just the clothes on her back. A bottle of nice shower gel or a moisturiser or a glove/scarf set is a luxury when you have nothing.

We have done secret Santa for the last three years. Our limit is £100.00 which we all agreed to. There is my three adult children and their partners.
sometimes I get my son in law which means I don’t actually buy my own children a gift which is a bit odd but it does seem to work well

We still do adult presents, but nobody wants any more ‘stuff’, and we prefer to choose our own clothes and accessories, so it’s usually small ‘treat’ type edibles only, or maybe a book, if we know the sort of thing they like.
I was 😱to read of a £100 Secret Santa!