Is anyone else not going to buy people stuff for Xmas this year?

[tjwash]

I'm getting people cards, helping my wife out at the shelters by giving food to homeless people, and visiting or hanging out with relatives we haven't seen in a while.

I don't hate Christmas, in fact I love it. I love the winter season, the decorated houses, the holiday parades, and everything else that goes along with it, but I am just not going to be forced by the media to feel like I am some awful person because I will not take place in some narcissistic orgy of blatant consumerism.

I may feel a little awkward if someone gives me a present, and I don't have one to return, but what I think I will do is invite people over to our house for dinner instead of giving gifts out this year.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. don't give Christmas gifts

as I'm not Christian. I do give holiday gifts and spontanious gifts throughout the year.

[Aiptasia]

2. only for my nieces and nephews

my friends and family are just going out to pre-planned christmas parties and saving the money. None of us really need anything and we'd just rather share each other's company than give gifts.

Christmas presents for the little ones, but that's about it.

[skygazer]

3. I chucked the rampant consumerism years ago

I don't see the sense in being made to feel guilty about buying overpriced stuff for people at one single time of the year. I've gotten so that if I see something at any time of year that I think someone I care about would like, then I buy it and give it to them. Why should it just be Christmas? It turns into an ugly contest so often and there is the stress of "oh, the Smiths got us such and such last year and we only got them this and that - we have to spend an appropriate amount this year."

I like your idea of having people over - after all, it's supposed to be about friends and family and love, not material things. I buy gifts for my kids and grandkids (though this year, I will not be buying for the adult kids - can't afford it). I bake for some of my close friends. I send cards. And that's it.

[tjwash]

4. I like the baking thing.

Except I suck at it.:D

[havocmom]

5. Getting a very young friend a subscription to National Geographic for kids

and making a couple of garments. That is it. Might make some pear butter to send to my brothers and my sister. Making marmalade for my husband.

One finds Christmas more enjoyable when one throws off the activities related to what society expects and does only what one feels is right. Get in touch with your heart and give from there. Those who don't 'get it' don't deserve your worry. Those who get it, don't actually have to get a present, do they? Those who love you will appreciate time and your company.

Tell everybody you spent all your Christmas shopping $$ on phone cards for some troops in Iraq. Less stress and shopping mania = more time to contemplate what the season should really mean to each of us. And more time to go for walks to look at the lights! :D Hold hands with those you love and take the time to breath slowly in their company.

havocmom guarantees you will enjoy the season more.

Have yourself a merry little christmas

[noordinaryspider]

6. Not doing it at all this year....

....and we wouldn't even if there wasn't a boycott going on; it's been a gradual process; we're sending out cards absolving people of the responsibility of getting us gifts this week and leaving the tree and the ornaments in the closet in hopes of using them in happier days.

Yes, I do have children.

[Starlight]

7. Gift suggestions...

You don't have to participate in the crazed consumerism to give gifts. Some of my favorites:

* donations to charities like ACLU, Amnesty Intl, Greenpeace
* subscriptions to progressive publications like The Nation, The Progressive, Mother Jones, Columbia Journalism Review, Utne Reader
* handmade jewelry, baked goods, etc
* offers of your time & labor like shoveling snow, mowing grass, washing car, child care

[Mend]

8. 8 kids, 11 grandkids getting our love, no gifts.....eom

[tjdee]

9. The teacher, the bus driver....UGH.

I always freak out this time of year. I have a few hundred in my savings, and I was all happy until I realized Christmas is coming.

And I don't buy a lot.

[Lady Effingbroke]

10. Everyone is getting the exact same thing from me this year....

Nothing. Nothing costs nothing so you can give all the nothing you want to everyone on your list for, well, nothing!

[utahgirl]

11. My adult children

will get one gift each. And that's all my shopping. Why? Well, the economic recovery seems to have blown right past here without stopping. I'll bake something for friends at work and a couple of neighbors.

[yellowdogintexas]

12. Just my husband, daughter and my sister's kids

Actually, I will just send some $ to the nieces/nephews.
Don't know what I will get my daughter yet. Have to get through her birthday first (Monday)
Don't know what my husband will want either.

We have three little ones in his family so i will get them something, but all the adults have agreed : no gifts. We are all going to get together to eat and have some fun during the holidays, but that is it.

what i will buy is: something from my Sunday School class charity auction..probably a seat at a dinner hosted by one of the other couples in the class...or maybe two, depending on how high they go at the auction.
or a nice something brought for the silent auction
ingredients for my cakes to be auctioned off
supplies for my wreath/centerpiece/whatever to be auctioned off

I have already done my Diabetes/Cystic Fibrosis/MS/Leukemia donations.
and renewed all my museum memberships.

Donation to my church's special Christmas Offering on Christmas Eve.