The wife and I agreed not to get each other anything for Christmas. I didn't have to worry about spending money on crap and she didn't have to stress about buying me things I don't need. Of course we did have to shop for family but this year we created a budget. We allocated $50 per person and we stayed under $500. Believe me it was a great feeling, other years we've had to spend close to $2,000 on family and each other.
Even as we tried to shun the holidays we got a ton of stuff from family. Here's a few of the items that stood out:
-Apple TV
-Apple iPod Shuffle
-4 Nike Golf shirts
-Juicy Couture perfume
-Coach wristlet
-Gift cards: Macy's, Chili's, P.F. Chang's, Best Buy.
In the end, I'm glad this is over, I really don't like people giving us stuff and us having to stress about buying stuff for them, why can't Christmas be more like Thanksgiving? just a nice family dinner with friends and the people we love...
I hope everyone had a great Christmas!
HS
5 comments:
We have the massive retail marketing machine to thank for the gift insanity that seems to characterize Christmas. I hate it too.
I like the holidays in general. I like decorating the house, spending time with family, etc.
I hate the "buy crap for your friends and family" and worse "the more expensive the crap you buy, the more it shows you love your (friend, family member, etc.)"
I think I would be a Scrooge if it were not for our kids, so no worries. This time of year is very commercialized. I am sure you and your wife do for each other throughout the year, so no worries there!
It is sad that there is no joy in your holiday. Christmas is about one gift -Jesus.
I felt such joy in my family going to my church on Christmas eve and watching my boys help each other set up lego sets on Christmas day.
I wish that for you and your wife too.
I've felt the same way for several years! My family sits around and opens mountains of presents and six months later I can't remember what I got OR gave the previous year! I keep wanting to suggest to my family that we keep it simple, maybe one gift each, or a price limit. It just seems so wasteful.
Like chrisscully, I also like the holiday season: the cooler weather, the decorations, the food (especially the food!) but that is truly enough for me. You and your wife are starting a new, SANE holiday tradition with your mantelpiece Grinch!
Forgot to mention- that is not our living room, our Grinch is cute and small... the one one that picture is ugly!
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