Really cutting back this year

[Mrssweary]

Am I being really tight by just cutting back on gifts this year, all of my siblings are grown up and there’s only my sister with kids one of which is a teenager, I used to go all out buying gifts per person, making hamper style boxes for everyone, adding cash to Christmas cards, making sure everyone had their favourite beer but this year I’ve hardly seen a soul of my family and they no longer really interact with me, so I’ve only bought them a box of M&S chocs each, the ones in the tins. I feel really mean but I am determined to stay strong and not add anything.

Anyone else in a similar situation or had a similar situation, how did you cope?

q

Doing exactly the same

Yep

It's the perfect and right thing to do. Christmas has become about overconsumption and the expectation of lavish gifts for adults is so juvenile and bizarre in my opinion.

Keep your hard earned money and treat yourself!!

If they don't interact with you why even bother with the box of chocolates. Don't gift just for the sake of it.

Our grown up family agreed to stop presents altogether a couple of years ago.
It's been wonderful. No expense and no rushing around for weeks buying stuff nobody wants, just spending happy times together. It's made Christmas much better and more enjoyable.

When are you going to see them to exchange gifts?
What have they gifted in previous Christmases - up until last year?

We’re only buying for the under-18 relatives this year.

We all agreed to stop buying presents for each other years ago, which gave me 13 people less to buy for each year which is so much less stressful lol xx

I've stopped buying for extended family who I don't see one year to the next. It's doubtful I'll even see them over Christmas. I'm buying for far less people this year and tried to be more modest.

Perfectly reasonable, I’ve done the same!

Thank you all for your positive comments, it makes me feel much better actually

Haven’t bought a Xmas present in 20 years. Earth still rotates.

We haven’t done gifts for a few years now, though all the kids are adults now. I find December far more enjoyable & Christmassy this way. No shopping stress & no-one is broke. We ditched cards last year too, that was a gift in itself. As long as everyone is happy & healthy at the dinner table on the day, we all agree it’s been a lovely Christmas.

I am only buying for under 18’s this year. The adults are doing Secret FC although I’m sure somebody will get confused and do both!! We also do a quiz with a lucky dip to which we all contribute, not junk but nothing over £5 and max 3 items each… good fun and we swop at the end if we get something inappropriate, works out fine..,

I've got 3 siblings... 2 have children. We all get together on Christmas Day at our Mum's house. Two of my siblings and their husbands barely help and barely speak to me. At all.

I would love to get out of all of the present buying...!

I dont do christmas at all.
This year well in few days im going to be painting my whole flat out.