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Does anyone here NOT want anything for Christmas?
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Smallish town in Ohio
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The in-law parents and relavtives keep asking me what's on my Christmas list. I keep telling them "I don't know" but the truth is I don't want anything for Christmas.
Sure, I'd love a brand new Macbook Pro and the 24" LED monitor. I'd love a brand new Toyota Camry. I'd love a 52" LCD TV. But those are too expensive to be a gift.
Anyone else feel this way? Wish the relatives wouldn't give you unnecessary clutter? Why do some people get so offended when you just want cash.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Madison, WI
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Asking for cash seems a bit callous towards the giver's desire to do something nice for you--The pleasure of gift-giving really is in the giving. If you don't want any things, tell them so and leave it at that. if they decide to give you cash then take it, but don't ask for it. That's tacky.
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One should never stop striving for clarity of thought and precision of expression.
I would prefer my humanity sullied with the tarnish of science rather than the gloss of religion.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
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Yeah, man, don't ask for cash. That's cold.
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__________________________________________________
My stupid iPhone game: Nesen Probe, it's rather old, annoying and pointless, but it's free.
Was free. Now it's gone. Never to be seen again.
Off to join its brother and sister apps that could not
keep up with the ever updating iOS. RIP Nesen Probe.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Los Angeles
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You can just tell them that given the current exchange rates, dollars are a great thing to hold on to. But I agree, there's no proper way to ask for cash.
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"The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground." TJ
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Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: NYC
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I totally don't want anything for christmas. . . not even cash. . .
Relatives and family friends could save their money instead. . .
Just dropping by to say hi would warm my heart in the cold December. . .
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PowerMacG4 MDD Dual867Mhz, MacOSX 10.5.5 Leopard
2GB Ram, 128mb Radeon 9800 Pro, 80GB HD & 160GB HD
MacBook Black: Core2Duo 2.2Ghz, MacOSX 10.5.5 Leopard
4GB Ram & 250GB HD
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: planning a comeback !
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Hey, you can always ask for Nothing.
-t
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Apr 2000
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I usually take a rain check if i cant think of anything. but asking for cash...nah....dont do it, the issue of amount is always sticky. Personally i prefer gifts(no matter how small) into which some thought was put into as opposed to something generic... like cash, ties, cologne, etc.
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Suffolk, VA
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I can think of a better car than an American made trash Camry.
But no, I really don't want anything for Christmas. Maybe a new Macbook, but nothing in particular.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Northwest Ohio
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Originally Posted by turtle777
Hey, you can always ask for Nothing.
-t
Isn't ~$5.50 quite a bit to pay for nothing? Not to mention the shipping charges to the United States.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
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Originally Posted by ctt1wbw
trash Camry
You should own one before talking trash.
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__________________________________________________
My stupid iPhone game: Nesen Probe, it's rather old, annoying and pointless, but it's free.
Was free. Now it's gone. Never to be seen again.
Off to join its brother and sister apps that could not
keep up with the ever updating iOS. RIP Nesen Probe.
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Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
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Originally Posted by macintologist
The in-law parents and relavtives keep asking me what's on my Christmas list. I keep telling them "I don't know" but the truth is I don't want anything for Christmas.
Sure, I'd love a brand new Macbook Pro and the 24" LED monitor. I'd love a brand new Toyota Camry. I'd love a 52" LCD TV. But those are too expensive to be a gift.
Anyone else feel this way? Wish the relatives wouldn't give you unnecessary clutter? Why do some people get so offended when you just want cash.
Tell your in-laws exactly what you said above. "These things are way too expensive to be gifts. Thanks for thinking of me, but I can't think of anything material that I'd want for Christmas."
My wife and I talked this over several years ago, and we've decided that we're not going to buy into "Commercial-mas" ever again. Our son is an adult, and even when he was little, we didn't go hog-wild with gifts for him. But now he understands that this is more about principle than anything else. Big things like huge TVs and fancy new computers are not gifts among us, though they may be planned-for expenses. We give each other CDs or movies, books, the occasional game or framed print, but nothing big and nothing expensive. That's just not what we think of as "gifts."
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Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Colorado
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I would like a girlfriend. Also, a really awesome sig pic. But beyond that, no.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Diego, CA, USA
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I will never ask for nor give cash. It's tres gauche. You're not even supposed to know how much somebody spent on a present — everybody knows what $25 costs. If I don't want anything, I'll just tell people that I don't want anything. If they still feel the need to give me something, well, hopefully it makes them feel good.
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Chuck
___
"Instead of either 'multi-talented' or 'multitalented' use 'bisexual'."
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Caught in a web of deceit.
Status:
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I would love to not get... or give... anything for Xmas.
However, we live in a culture in which people feel obliged to buy Xmas gifts. Damn annoying, esp. when you're not Christian. However, I've capitulated.
P.S. While asking for money is gauche, it's also the most practical. There is sure a lot of junk purchased for gifts at Xmas... or weddings... etc. If I ever get married, I will refuse to join a gift registry. Gift registries are gauche IMO anyway. So if they're both gauche, you may as well go for the more practical one: money.
Oh and gauche or not... when I give gifts, I often give money, in the form of gift cards. And guess what? Most people seem to really appreciate it, esp. the teens and stuff.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: California
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so asking for cash is a no-no. What about asking for gift cards?
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Caught in a web of deceit.
Status:
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I think it's perfectly acceptable to ask for gift cards. I asked for those on my birthday, and my relatives ask for them at Xmas (and I give them).
I paid for part of my Xbox 360 with gift cards. I greatly appreciated those gift cards.
"his mother and me"
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Toronto, Canada
Status:
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Personally speaking, if you can't give a thoughtful gift, don't give a gift at all.
I find gift cards and /or cash gifts insulting and would have no problem refusing them. If you know me/care about me then you know what I'd like. If not, then don't bother giving me anything.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Caught in a web of deceit.
Status:
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Originally Posted by Phileas
Personally speaking, if you can't give a thoughtful gift, don't give a gift at all.
I find gift cards and /or cash gifts insulting and would have no problem refusing them. If you know me/care about me then you know what I'd like. If not, then don't bother giving me anything.
I'd find it insulting that someone would decline a practical gift, just because I didn't know that person's inner thoughts and desires every day of the week.
However, the end result is agreeable to me. I'd be perfectly happy not to give people gifts just because it happens to be a holiday.
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Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: San Antonio, Texas
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Nothing here. I'm good. Oh, that whole peace on Earth thing, but don't go to too much trouble.
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Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
Status:
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Just a few weeks ago my wife and I had the chance to choose between "practical" (as in something a couple was registered for for their wedding) or "thoughtful" (a sentimental gift). We went "thoughtful" and it was a big hit. This DOES take knowing the recipient(s), but it's quite rewarding.
Because my extended family is so spread out and so ... diverse (I can get away with that!), we generally give stuff we know they like, which for this group at Christmastime is Smithsonian magazine (and sometimes National Geographic). Yes, we're a bunch of readers, but that's another example of needing to know your recipients.
(
Last edited by ghporter; Nov 29, 2008 at 10:25 AM.
)
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Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Caught in a web of deceit.
Status:
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One annoying thing is getting a "thoughtful" gift of stuff I already have. Yeah, they know me, but they don't know everything I own. Cuz really, how many people tell all their friends every little item they bought in the last year?
So, the advice some people offer is to give something the recipient might not otherwise buy. Well, that can be very strange advice. You know, often times they might not otherwise buy it, because they don't want it. Yes, it can really be that simple.
Thoughtful is great when it works, but practical always works (if the recipient is the type that likes practical).
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Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
Status:
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Originally Posted by Eug
One annoying thing is getting a "thoughtful" gift of stuff I already have. Yeah, they know me, but they don't know everything I own. Cuz really, how many people tell all their friends every little item they bought in the last year?
So, the advice some people offer is to give something the recipient might not otherwise buy. Well, that can be very strange advice. You know, often times they might not otherwise buy it, because they don't want it.
It can really be that simple.
Thoughtful is great when it works, but practical always works (if the recipient doesn't mind practical).
We have a friend who is HORRIBLE to buy gifts for. If it's something he likes, he buys it. Apparently, his momma never taught him to be nice to people by not buying everything he wants at Christmas and birthday time... So we sort of remind him "don't buy anything for yourself!!!" Now this guy is over 50 and has a rather technical degree, so he's neither naive nor stupid. He just doesn't think well sometimes... Getting him anything either practical or thoughtful is...difficult to say the least.
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Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
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Banned
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Indy.
Status:
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I love receiving gifts. Even if I have duplicates or it normally wouldn't be something I'd buy myself.
Admittedly, I am a guy who is very hard to buy for. My hobbies are expensive, and I have most everything I need/want. My wife is great at finding me things I didn't know I wanted. And she is a frugal shopper and will spend less than $100 on me per year. I love buying her gifts. I almost always hit her size when buying clothes and she loves getting jewelry as well. Often, I try to get her little trinkets and such or photo albums and she loves those as well.
My wife's parents always ask for a list and will not buy anything off that list. That is a bit of chore, but it shows that they listen and care enough to get only what you want. Often we get gift cards from nice restaurants that we normally wouldn't go to. These are really appreciated.
There have been a few gift throughout the years that I would consider "clutter" or an internal "what in the world were they thinking?!??!". But a few of those gifts have become cherished gifts and things I hold very dear. My grandfather (who passed away in 1999) gave me a super-ultra-cheap pocket knife from the live-stock auction house he was working at one year. The blade looks like it would snap cutting yarn. And while I admit that I have never used the blade, it sits on my computer desk where I see it everyday and periodically I will carry it and every time I feel it in my pocket I think of him.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Caught in a web of deceit.
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by ghporter
We have a friend who is HORRIBLE to buy gifts for. If it's something he likes, he buys it. Apparently, his momma never taught him to be nice to people by not buying everything he wants at Christmas and birthday time... So we sort of remind him "don't buy anything for yourself!!!" Now this guy is over 50 and has a rather technical degree, so he's neither naive nor stupid. He just doesn't think well sometimes... Getting him anything either practical or thoughtful is...difficult to say the least.
Eh?
Are you actually being serious? (Not sure, just asking.) Cuz it seems ludicrous to criticize someone for paying his own money for stuff he wants.
In his case it would seem that gift cards would be the most logical.
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Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
Status:
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Originally Posted by Eug
Eh?
Are you actually being serious? (Not sure, just asking.) Cuz it seems ludicrous to criticize someone for paying his own money for stuff he wants.
In his case it would seem that gift cards would be the most logical.
Yes, I'm serious. He is the kind of person who gives really thoughtful gifts, but seems to go out of his way to buy any and everything anyone might give him in return. It becomes very difficult to be polite in gift giving when the intended gift recipient gifts himself with everything. We're not "mad" at him, just frustrated that he doesn't "get" the whole protocol about gift giving.
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Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: planning a comeback !
Status:
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Originally Posted by Person Man
Isn't ~$5.50 quite a bit to pay for nothing? Not to mention the shipping charges to the United States.
Hey, nothing is for free, not even Nothing.
-t
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Caught in a web of deceit.
Status:
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Originally Posted by ghporter
Yes, I'm serious. He is the kind of person who gives really thoughtful gifts, but seems to go out of his way to buy any and everything anyone might give him in return. It becomes very difficult to be polite in gift giving when the intended gift recipient gifts himself with everything. We're not "mad" at him, just frustrated that he doesn't "get" the whole protocol about gift giving.
Hmmm... Well, I think this reinforces just how meaningless this "protocol" is then. Maybe we'd all be better off if we just didn't have this obligatory holiday protocol.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Smallish town in Ohio
Status:
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If anyone wants to get me something, an Amazon gift card would be great. Kthx bye.
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Aug 2007
Status:
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I have a 2 year old so when I'm asked what I want for Christmas, I merely point out that I don't need anything and that if they feel they want to get me something, put the money towards a gift for my daughter instead.
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MacBook Pro 13" 2.8GHz Core i7/8GB RAM/750GB Hard Drive - Mac OS X 10.7.3
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Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
Status:
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Originally Posted by Eug
Hmmm... Well, I think this reinforces just how meaningless this "protocol" is then. Maybe we'd all be better off if we just didn't have this obligatory holiday protocol.
Excellent point. It's not that we even buy anything fancy for each other, but we do try to have something to give for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas and so on. I just thought it was amusing (in a way that frustrates me and my wife) that this one person knows the game and plays it, but acts in a way that keeps others from playing it.
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Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Manhattan, NY
Status:
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I try to be generous throughout the year by taking my friends out to dinner, buying them a drink, or even a gift at the time they indicate there is something they want that they don't currently have. Waiting until an appointed day (like Christmas) to randomly buy tons of gifts that go on my credit card is something I gave up long ago. I had a few friends who thought that a nice test of our friendship was to see if I could read their mind and get them the perfect "thoughtful" gift for them. They would never tell me what they wanted and if I didn't get the right thing they would pout for weeks because obviously if I were a good friend I would known what to get them. Thank God I'm not friends with those types anymore.
So, my gift at Christmastime is to bring some wine to a party, or throw a party or whatever. No more Christmas gifts received or given. I love Christmas now.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Rockville, MD
Status:
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Ask them to bake you some cookies
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Colorado
Status:
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Oh BTW, it's great when somebody bakes you cookies or something at Christmas. I don't mind getting stuff like that at all (or giving).
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Hong Kong
Status:
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Just say No to Christmas.
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Status:
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Originally Posted by Andy8
Just say No to Christmas.
Bah! Humbug!
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Bellevue, WA
Status:
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Originally Posted by design219
You should own one before talking trash.
co-sign.
For Apple-related product, I will wait for MacWorld SF 2009; although I don't mind having another telly in my room.
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Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: inside 128, north of 90
Status:
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I asked for things, but what I really want are things done around the house. Knowing that will never happen, I'd like the things.
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Copenhagen
Status:
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I actually managed to think up (*) something I could use this year: pots and pans. Well, mostly pots. The ones I have all have only one handle or no lid, so they can be a bit of a bother to pour boiling from.
(*) When I say ‘think up’, what I really mean is that I happened to look at the mountain of undone dishes on the kitchen table just when my dad was asking me what I wanted for Christmas, and the sorry state of my pots struck me.
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Baltimore, MD
Status:
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I've wanted and asked for nothing for Christmas (by which I mean that I've specifically stated that I didn't want people to give me anything not that there's nothing in particular I wanted) for probably around 15 years. Hasn't happened yet...
As far as the cash, or gift cards, or gift question: gift cards are really one of the worst possible gifts. It's like saying 'I don't really know you well enough to get you a thoughtful gift, but I also don't trust you enough to not go buy porn and booze with the money'. Additionally, gift cards generally result in the recipient overspending because the other option is to under spend and then be left with a $0.15 gift card that will probably just go in the trash which is exactly what the companies want to happen.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: The New Posts Button
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Originally Posted by nonhuman
As far as the cash, or gift cards, or gift question: gift cards are really one of the worst possible gifts
It's true, but enigmatically, they're socially acceptable when cash isn't.
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Baltimore, MD
Status:
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Originally Posted by Dakar V
It's true, but enigmatically, they're socially acceptable when cash isn't.
Most of the time I consider that a sign that I'm doing things right.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: The New Posts Button
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Originally Posted by nonhuman
Most of the time I consider that a sign that I'm doing things right.
I think the same thing when I'm taking a dump in the middle of a restaurant.
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status:
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I'd rather get a gift card than cash. With cash, I'm tempted to spend it on something responsible like gas, groceries, or rent, and I'll feel guilty if I splurge on something I don't need. With the right gift card, this isn't an issue.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Standing on the shoulders of giants
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Is it that you don't need or want anything, or do you not need or want anything for Christmas?
I always need computer related stuff, blank DVDs, ink, printing paper, SD card, USB drive etc. I've been honest with my relatives and relatives of my wife and said what not to get so I'm pretty sure that it'll be a couple of jumpers, shirts and a book from the list of authors that I have already supplied
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Standing on the shoulders of giants
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Originally Posted by Dakar V
I think the same thing when I'm taking a dump in the middle of a restaurant.
Before, during or after the meal?
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: The New Posts Button
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Standing on the shoulders of giants
Status:
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Originally Posted by Dakar V
Meal?
Bravo, very good.
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Banned
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Indy.
Status:
Offline
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I dislike gift cards because they often cost me money. I hate that a store will get free money if I don't spend the whole portion of the card, and I hate carrying cards with ~$1.13 around with me all the time. If I get a gift card, I promptly use it and throw it away.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Smallish town in Ohio
Status:
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That's why Amazon gift cards are great because you'll be back a 2nd time and the balance of your card easily carries over to the next purchase.
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Banned
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Indy.
Status:
Offline
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I think giving cash is less tacky than Amazon.com gift cards.
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