What’s the point of Christmas if this happens ?

[stewart38]

My sister has bought herself a alarm radio. She wants me ,brother and mum to contribute towards it for xmas (its not cheap)

We will wrap it etc etc (well mum will) and give it to her for Christmas for a ‘surprise’ !

Her reasoning behind it is

Its what she wants and she would prefer that to a book she will never read,she is hardly short of money so…..

Well im going to buy her naff books, a musical bottle opener a duck that inflates to 12 times it size if you put it in water and a scathing quib and jibes calendar for 2007 etc. she is 38


Where is the sprit of Christmas ??

Discuss should you actually

a) get a Christmas present that someone actually wants
b) If you do surely they should ask for 3 items and you get one etc
c) What’s the point if the person knows exactly what there getting . if its like a new bike etc that’s different but she has actually already bought it !! Maybe im wrong she gets what she wants but the duck stays !



Ill be getting the Guinness book of records as I ask for it when I was 12 and keep getting it

[Trouble]

My sister has bought herself a alarm radio. She wants me ,brother and mum to contribute towards it for xmas (its not cheap)

We will wrap it etc etc (well mum will) and give it to her for Christmas for a ‘surprise’ !

Her reasoning behind it is

Its what she wants and she would prefer that to a book she will never read,she is hardly short of money so…..

Well im going to buy her naff books, a musical bottle opener a duck that inflates to 12 times it size if you put it in water and a scathing quib and jibes calendar for 2007 etc. she is 38


Where is the sprit of Christmas ??

Discuss should you actually

a) get a Christmas present that someone actually wants
b) If you do surely they should ask for 3 items and you get one etc
c) What’s the point if the person knows exactly what there getting . if its like a new bike etc that’s different but she has actually already bought it !! Maybe im wrong she gets what she wants but the duck stays !



Ill be getting the Guinness book of records as I ask for it when I was 12 and keep getting it

Well. You are quite correct. Seeing as you have so nicely put our answers into order, here goes.

a: you should endeavour to get something that somebody wants or something you would think they would like or attach the receipt. (this makes refunds and exchanges so much easier)

b: 3 items, 3 items, no you should always give a list of at least 20 and expect at least 50% back,, or is that just me !!!

c: knowing what your going to get is not the case if you do the list of 20.. xmas is like a box of chocs you never know what your going to get. for eg: i might have asked for a pink mobile phone but the shop ran out so i got a silver one. that would be a surprise would it not.

Anyway, spirit of xmas is still around, its for the kids and not for adults. When adults start getting involved,, expect a long bloody list.

[SteveK]

Where is the sprit of Christmas ??

Discuss should you actually

a) get a Christmas present that someone actually wants
b) If you do surely they should ask for 3 items and you get one etc
c) What’s the point if the person knows exactly what there getting . if its like a new bike etc that’s different but she has actually already bought it !! Maybe im wrong she gets what she wants but the duck stays !

My family has an alternative philosophy - we don't give each other expensive christmas presents; we only give each other nominal fun presents - definitely give her the duck!

We then give each other decent birthday presents, when you have the time and the energy to think of original useful presents that are actually appreciated.

Isn't the point of christmas really just for those who actually believe in Father Christmas (and where should I leave the sherry, mince pies & carrots please?)

[Shodan]

I don't see the point of pointless christmas presents. i.e. the type of thing you'll never use. It'll either just get taken back to the store, stored, or chucked.

I work on the philosophy of no presents whatsoever unless I really know someone really wants that present.

You see, I don't see Christmas as being this commercialised farce that it has become where we must buy each other presents and stuff and if we don't buy really expensive presents and stuff we are frowned upon.

I see Christmas as a time for friends and family and a good time to spend time with the people I care about. At the end of the day presents don't mean much, but good friends and family and some good time with them means a lot more.

(well ok, mainly about the people - got to have my Christmas dinner too )

[Double Trouble]

In our house we all get each other a little something. It's usually crap, but that's all part of the fun.

I can see your sisters way of thinking & if she was skint and couldn't afford it herself, then i would sympathise. She isn't skint, so I think you should refuse to contribute and get her some yardley soap (everyone gets it, no one likes it)

Oh and Happy Christmas Stewart. Families are a pain in the butt during Christmas, just do what I m planning to do. Hide a bottle of Baileys under your jumper, sit in the corner (the seat with the best telly view) and get merrily p1ssed while everyone else b1tches and does all the cooking.

[Gav]

No offence, I know it's your sister and all, but is she taking the p1ss or what?

If she wants cash for xmas she should just ask for it, not pretend it's to contribute towards something she's already bought.
Or better yet, ask for cash for xmas, explain what it's for, then go and get the clock in the sales.

Sorry Stewart, just seems like very silly behaviour for a grown up.

[Double Trouble]

It will all be over in a week. Then you can worry about how the hell you are going to pay your credit card bill.

And anyway Stewart, you can't have spent that 10 grand I gave you the other day already.

[stewart38]

In our house we all get each other a little something. It's usually crap, but that's all part of the fun.

I can see your sisters way of thinking & if she was skint and couldn't afford it herself, then i would sympathise. She isn't skint, so I think you should refuse to contribute and get her some yardley soap (everyone gets it, no one likes it)

Oh and Happy Christmas Stewart. Families are a pain in the butt during Christmas, just do what I m planning to do. Hide a bottle of Baileys under your jumper, sit in the corner (the seat with the best telly view) and get merrily p1ssed while everyone else b1tches and does all the cooking.

I agree !! double yep on the way


She earns stupid money and I mean stupid

Yardly talc and a used stratch card

Haven’t got your present yet but will have a look today

Going to buy some xmas cards for the house as I only have 2

[Double Trouble]

:

Going to buy some xmas cards for the house as I only have 2

Please tell me you are joking. I'm gonna start crying in a minute.

Just to depress you further, i will be stalking you on Friday. Please don't hide from me like you did last time. I haven't got the energy to chase you round Ashtons all night.

[Cruella]

Just to depress you further, i will be stalking you on Friday. Please don't hide from me like you did last time. I haven't got the energy to chase you round Ashtons all night.

Cue - Benny Hill Theme tune.

[Double Trouble]

Cue - Benny Hill Theme tune.

[stewart38]

Please tell me you are joking. I'm gonna start crying in a minute.

Just to depress you further, i will be stalking you on Friday. Please don't hide from me like you did last time. I haven't got the energy to chase you round Ashtons all night.

Please dont spend too much time looking for me on friday as i wont be there

Our truth or dare i thought was on 27th black tie , upstairs

[LMC]

Dragging this thread back from MSN chat to the original topic...

You could be particularly vicious and buy your sister this...

[mikeyr]

Dragging this thread back from MSN chat to the original topic...

You could be particularly vicious and buy your sister this...

Or you could do what I do which is, disown the entire Family and bugger off skiing for two weeks. No Xmas cards/pressies for ayone........BAH Humbug

[Double Trouble]

Stewart. Did your sister buy you this jumper and hat combo last year.

If she did.....no wonder you don't want to buy her a present.

[Daydreaming Diva]

My sister has bought herself a alarm radio. She wants me ,brother and mum to contribute towards it for xmas (its not cheap)

Well im going to buy her naff books, a musical bottle opener a duck that inflates to 12 times it size if you put it in water and a scathing quib and jibes calendar for 2007 etc. she is 38

To me gift giving is an active thing that the GIVER does. The giver spends time thinking about what someone would like or needs and then goes to the trouble of trying to obtain that something, or if they can't think they trudge the shops to find something. It's obviously much harder when someone has pots of money and everything they need as they are usually pretty fussy about what they will give house room to. (I have someone like that in my family and I hate buying presents for her as I know she won't like anything I buy unless it has a designer label which I can't afford).

I love to receive a surprise gift myself and wouldn't ask for anything specific (unless asked to do so) as so much of the pleasure of receiving it would be lost. For me, it isn't so much the gift, but the thought that went into it that counts. Even when the person gets it wrong, the intention was obviously there. So if I were in your shoes, I would buy your sister a real surprise. Give her what YOU want to buy her, something that you think appropriate, and I have to say, after her behaviour, I would definately go for the duck and possibly a book that YOU would really like to read then when she complains you can have it back and read it yourself.

[Lynn]

Unless of course you've said at one point, or several times 'I have no idea what to get you for Christmas' - in which case she might have decided to make it easier by suggesting you contribute to something she knows she really wants.

I know what I want to get a someone for Christmas because I know he wants it but wouldn't just go out and buy it for himself. I also know that if I go and buy it, it might not be the make/model/have the features that he wants. So I'm going to make up my own 'gift voucher' to be 'redeemed' after Christmas when I'll go out to the shops with him and buy it. He has no idea I'm doing this and I'll also give him a few little pressies to open on Christmas Day. That way he gets the 'thought' on Christmas Day, but still has the pleasure of selecting something he really wants.

[Daydreaming Diva]

[B]
I know what I want to get a someone for Christmas because I know he wants it but wouldn't just go out and buy it for himself. I also know that if I go and buy it, it might not be the make/model/have the features that he wants. So I'm going to make up my own 'gift voucher' to be 'redeemed' after Christmas when I'll go out to the shops with him and buy it. He has no idea I'm doing this and I'll also give him a few little pressies to open on Christmas Day. That way he gets the 'thought' on Christmas Day, but still has the pleasure of selecting something he really wants.

Simply splendid idea - just up my street if I was in your situation. Well thought of!

[Lynn]

Simply splendid idea - just up my street if I was in your situation. Well thought of!

I've done it before - with someone I wanted to buy clothes for, obviously best if they go and try them on - so created a 'voucher' for a day of girlie shopping, complete with coffee and lunch included on the voucher. It was great fun and worked well.

Better than a voucher from a store because it also includes spending time with the person.