So who is giving just charity gifts this year, then?? Come on, be brave!

[Pruners]

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We did this last year and the year before. I told all my family what I was doing beforehand though and said we didn't expect presents from them.

They gave anyway.

I like charity gifts, I asked for a goat for my birthday! I think we do have too much and I'd feel horrible getting stuff I don't really want whilst there are people dying of cholera. It's just unnecessary. I have everything I could need, why would I want more?

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I agree, perhaps you should have therefore asked for the stuff back so you could donate it to charity?

I agree Pruni.
Bloody selfish.
Next year I will tell everyone about 3 mths before that we are stopping presents in the Moondog household.

i think it is bad form to give charity gifts for so many reasons. they must be requested.

Not me. I love getting stuff and I love giving presents. Materialism rocks!

Yes it is I think.
You must ask for them for you.
That is the only truly selfless thing to do.

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its almost worse than that though pruners, it is saying that recipient doesn't deserve a present and they are materialistic and grasping to expect otherwise.

whilst staggering under weight of own stash like Pruni's extended family.

It's awful.

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I like nice pressies too.
Christ,am no joyless ascetic, believe you me.
Thnig is,I sooo like nice things that very few people have standards as high as mine therfore I don't like what they give me.

I like buying presents too.

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did you see the thing on the tv a while ago (maybe a morning news programme) that basically said charity gift giving at christmas (like a cow/goat/tools etc) was insulting and a waste of our money - should just give money instead to the charity. Buying a 'poor' person a goat or tools is insulting as they have aspirations too and giving them tools is degrading as they hope for more in life than that. They simply lack money, not ambition and have high hopes also.
Spokesperson who was saying all this was asked didn't the charities consult the 'poor' people before they came up with the selection of gifts and answered of course they said they did, but in the end money to the charity would be better.

Anyone else see this.

I agree - if someone gave me a goat, I' not sure how happy I'd be...........

I was given some charity gifts last year, but they came alongside the wonderfully tacky stuff. Which was really nice. I did feel as though it was thoughtful and a sort of donations done in my honour. But if it had come alone? I would have been a bit miffed.