Oi Vey! So much kop drey I save by being Jewish. We give little things to children/grandchildren when young (and of course expect nothing in return) and never exchange gifts with another adult. My daughter sends home-made biscotti to her in-laws and gets something like a box of chocolates.
If it’s something I like, I’d much rather have a “hard” copy, single or box set of a series, of something rather than in virtual streaming. It’ll always be there and won’t be subject to the whims of the provider as far as availability goes. Then there is the ease of using rewind or fast forward without pissing off the streaming and locking it up.
Yes, I have Netflix. I still live having some things on DVD - both for the extras you sometimes get and also because I will always have it and it will always be available to me.
Hold on to your hate - I also still have vinyl LPs and a turntable. And yes, I use them.
I won a gift basket of such things at my niece’s baby shower in April. I might gift it to kaylasfriend as a thank-you for dog-sitting in early November while kaylasmom was in the skilled nursing facility.
I’m getting up a carload to head to the landfill. Since we’re headed to SCal reaaly soon, I also want to just empty the refrigerator and be OH SO DONE with Thanksgiving!
~VOW
For a while there, my MIL was always giving me kitchen gadgets. Remember the Salad Shooter? Or the hand-held blender wand thingy? yeah.
One that I eventually came to love, tho, is the rotisserie. It sat unused for ages - too big for any of my cabinets, and I had limited counter space. I was ready to toss it, and my spousal unit said “Why not just give it a try?” And I did. And I love it greatly.
Fortunately, that was the last appliance she ever gave me. In fact, we pretty much convinced that whole side of the family to quit gift-giving, and we resorted to white elephant or $10 Bad Santa games, and it was a lot less stress and a lot more fun.
My one sister, on the other hand, goes to a dollar store every year and gives us ornaments, despite me telling her every year for the last 15 that we don’t do a tree and we don’t decorate. The ornaments end up at the thrift store. And I expect we’ll get more this year. She just doesn’t listen.
Please don’t give me anything that isn’t consumable (like food, cash, or gift cards) that you don’t know for sure that I want.
No cute knickknacks, no fancy health or beauty products, no souvenir dishwater or drinkware. Please no goddam clothing items. … I’m sure I’ll think of more.
Why throw it in the landfill, when there could be FIRE?
Yesterday my mom asked me what I wanted for Christmas. And then told me that they are telling people to not buy things for them because they don’t need more stuff. Really?
Short answer: add me to the “anything” column. Pretty much if I want something, I buy it for myself.
Longer answers:
Anything related to one of my interests, unless you know me very well. Chances are if you can find it, I’ve either already got it or don’t want it (for example, Doctor Who stuff–there’s a ton of it out there, and I’m interested in a very small subset of it).
“Gifts for Her.” I am the world’s biggest tomboy. I can probably count on one hand the number of things designed for the typical woman that I’d be even vaguely interested in, and have fingers left over. Don’t get me perfume, bath sets, anything frilly, jewelry, etc. I guarantee you I won’t use it.
Seriously, just don’t waste your money on me. I promise I won’t resent not getting a gift. Fortunately, my spouse’s family has pretty much given up on everything but token gifts (like candy–yum!) for the adult members, and unfortunately both my parents are gone so it’s not an issue anymore.
Our family trades names for gifting. We write up a wish list, put the list in a hat and draw. I am always very specific - what I would like (color/size/scent whatever), where it’s available, and even a model number if available. I will email my Amazon wish list.
If my nephew/niece/daughter/her boyfriend get my name all is good.
But if my sister/brother-in-law/mother get my name? When my brother-in-law drew my name a few years ago, I received two wall calendars. I don’t use wall calendars. I realized the freebie one hanging on my fridge was still on July just a few days ago. If my sister draws my name and doesn’t want to go to a specialty store, and she won’t buy anything online, she’ll buy what she thinks is “close enough”. And my mom? Bless her heart.