Have you downsized your gift giving this year? I definitely am for sure. I have a lot of financial stuff on my plate right now and a lot of unexpected expenses these past two months. Thus I felt it more important that we stay financially healthy than spend money on Christmas giving. I’ve actually been downsizing my gift giving for years. Getting away from individual gifts and moving towards cheaper “family” gifts. This saves on shipping, shopping, and spending.
But how have I downsized my gift giving? Well by being honest. I have had a couple of friends who have hinted about gift giving, coworkers, etc. I am brutally honest and say that I hate doing it, and I really can’t spend the money on it.
I’m not sure if it makes people wonder how weird I am, but my DH and I don’t give gifts to friends. We do our immediate families and cards to friends and family. But we don’t give gifts to coworkers or friends. I also opt out of Secret Santa at work. Sounds scroogish, but honestly it’s tiring and expensive.
The truth is that do you really give the person what they need? What I need is towels, but towels I pick out for my bathroom. Not towels made for me or bought for me that aren’t my taste. I also need underwear, again something I should probably buy for myself. Do I NEED anything else? Not really.
So what can you really buy people other than gift cards that make sense? I guess if you know your friend then you can buy them perfume or lotion they use. But what if they are like me and stockpiled a bunch of the stuff they already know they use? What if they like eating out? Then how is a GC to a restaurant any different? Maybe cooking a nice meal for them, but what if you do that already?
Truth is I think that gift giving at Christmas is really commercialized. That people are trying to “spend” the right amount and not really considering what people need. And I’m also sure that many people don’t really “need” much. Stuff they need they prefer to buy for themselves, and true luxuries? Well maybe they aren’t even sure they’d enjoy them.
Right now my DH was looking at our wine rack going, where did all these wines come from? Well gifts, too bad I’m pregnant and haven’t been drinking and won’t be for awhile! He was like “why are people giving us wine??”
So I guess the thing is when you gift people things, it should be something thoughtful they can use and like. Otherwise, what’s the point?
Are you downsizing your gift giving? Necessity or Just simplification? I’d have to say necessity and simplification.
Oh and if you are, you are joining the 65% of other consumers downsizing their holiday spending. Check out Discover Card tracking and asking consumers about their spending. Why am I not surprised? I don’t think I’m in bad financial shape, and yet I am definitely spending less.
11 responses so far ↓
1 Melissa // Dec 7, 2009 at 11:18 am
I am giving exactly three gifts this year. One for my parents, one for my sibling gift exchange, and one for my significant other. Total damage will be less than $350. For once, I may actually have a merry Christmas season.
2 Lynn // Dec 7, 2009 at 12:47 pm
We definitely are cutting down on gifts but still have a budget of $1K. Last year we eliminated sibling gifts and are doing so again this year. We are only buying for the nieces/nephews with a limit of $30. We set a limit of $150 for each of my girls but that also includes gifts for their birthday which is in January (we haven’t decided what they are getting for their b-day or from Santa). We are sticking to a strict $50/person for our parents but probably won’t even spend that much. I am hoping to spend more like $750. Last year we spend close to $1500 so this year we are doing much better.
3 Meg // Dec 7, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Can’t downsize past zero, which is where we’ve been the past few years (will say it again, one of our best decisions EVER). At this point, we’re actually trying to increase the time we spend with family and friends, and even doing favors for them — but while still keeping it very manageable.
4 Pam McCormick // Dec 7, 2009 at 2:27 pm
VERY IMPRESSED with zero YEAH to you Meg and anyone else who has put a stop to this maddness.total budget for Christmas for daughter/son-in-law,spouse,parents,8 nieces/nephews, 8friends,2 bosses, tree/plants or flowers,food, charities is 2K.I am really open to comments-suggestions critic me p-l-e-a-s-e.Seems like alot of money to me.
5 dogatemyfinances // Dec 7, 2009 at 7:45 pm
I disagree with this — in fact, I think I’ll post on it. The holidays are a built-in excuse to give gifts (bribe) people who can make your life easier.
6 *pol // Dec 8, 2009 at 12:08 am
I feel a bit guilty for admitting it, but I am releived that people are finally getting as conservative as me with the holidays!
I do find ways to give without being scrooge. I give pretty tins of home-made treats to neighbours (the bribe for staying neighbourly). I give a dollar scratch lottery ticket to coworkers on Christmas eve day. It’s a joke because it could be your ticket out of the job (LOL). I get my kids to make something for Grandparents. Heartfelt and inexpensive. That sort of thing….
7 R.May // Dec 8, 2009 at 8:40 am
Not really downsizing because I already am pretty limited. My two best friends, the family member picked from a hat (under 20.00 limit), and my daughter. Co-workers get baked goods with a recipe. And I pick a child from the Angel Tree every year. It’s not about stuff.
8 R.May // Dec 8, 2009 at 8:42 am
Not really downsizing because I already am pretty limited. My two best friends, the family member picked from a hat (under 20.00 limit), and my daughter. Co-workers get baked goods with a recipe. And I pick a child from the Angel Tree every year. It’s not about stuff.
I don’t do teacher gifts, the postman, the garbage collectors or any of the random people you are ‘supposed’ to tip or gift to. That drives me insane.
9 R.May // Dec 8, 2009 at 8:49 am
Sorry don’t know why that posted in duplicate..
Pam – you can try talking your family into a name draw. That’s what mine does and it works well, the kids get really into picking something for their person.
For friends, aside from my two dearest, we gather on an evening at someones house, some will bring a dish or drink but not required. A couple hours of cathcing up and silliness is better then any thing!
Charity – as long as you can afford what you are giving, it’s of course a wonderful thing. Just make sure you are giving to charities that truely mean something to you and you have looked into how much money goes to overhead vs the program. It’s taken practice but I no longer feel guilty saying no to the billions of charity requests including those check-out dollar donations. Currently there’s a Toys for Tots box in the lobby I walk past several times a day guilt free.
10 Keila // Dec 8, 2009 at 2:38 pm
I am definitely downsizing this year. I am expecting a baby in February so the SO and I decided to get something small just so we can have something to put under the tree and unwrap. I am also exchanging with my sister and her BF because they are spending Christmas Eve with us and we agreed to spend about $75 total.
I like to bake so I will be giving co-workers and friends baked goods.
11 LAL // Dec 13, 2009 at 10:13 am
Melissa Good job on cutting back, sounds like you are happy.
Lynn, sounds like you want to cut back as well. I think we might splurge on our parents gifts and spend $200, but it’ll be on digital wireless picture frames in prep for the baby.
And my grandmother I have to ask her what sort of baby picture frame she wants. That’s it.
Meg, zero sounds nice. But Christmas isn’t about “gifts” of course. But spending time with family.
Pam, I think being honest is best. When I stopped in college with friends, I told them I was broke and couldn’t afford anything. Then as we got older and got newer friends, I explained again I don’t believe in spending money on Christmas. The RELIEF on people’s faces was amazing.
Dog, I read your response and will blog about it soon.
Pol, sounds like you have put together thoughtful gifts. I like cards for most friends and neighbors with our picture to show a quick update of us. Next year baby Christmas photo. Nothing fancy.
R.May I don’t do postman, garbage, etc. Why should I? I don’t even see them. My mom does this whole rigamarole and it seems stupid. It’s not even the same post person, newspaper, garbage every time!
Charity I usually throw in money into salvation army ringers, DH thinks i’m weird.
Keila, Me too about baby in Feb. I am buying my DH a new camera likely, but not sure. It may or may not happen. But that’s it for us. I am getting a 3d ultrasound for christmas. Something I wanted sooner, but my in-laws are coming so I decided my gift to them was waiting and allowing them to see it live.
First grandchild on either side after all.
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