Christmas Cupidity, 2nd Ed. Difficult Situations

[avax]

To be honest, I'm dealing with a lot of persnickety people this season who insist they don't want anything. Is this the new movement towards some green awareness and zen living?

Is it merely an image thing?

Has anyone ever regifted... consistently? That thing that was on your shelf for 4 years but unmolested and untouched since the time you removed it from its wrapper years ago - is it regiftable? Is regifting a subculture that's hushhushed because of its taboo quality? Where else would it go? In the trash? I don't have time to make a garage sale. I don't even have a garage. So you have that buddy that doesn't really make an effort to keep intouch and they want to hang out for coffee. What better time than to bust out a blast from the past, repackaged to be the inthing this season? What about the spouses of good friends? It's not nice to leave them out and I don't know how many boring home-items I've given out already.

Is it against the rules to give out cash?

If your supervisor or boss keeps taking you out to lunch/dinner, do you owe them a gift?

How much shelf life do your gifts have before regifting? Are you sentimental? A bit mental?

Do you get jealous of trees with more presents under them or do you think "ew, more junk to clean out next year," or "oh god, not another candle or bath set".

Do you create wish lists from department store online catalogues and give them out?

Do you avoid walmart? www.linktv.org/video/1514

Are you conscious of where you shop? Do you care?

HOW MUCH WRAPPING PAPER DO YOU USE ?
You know, the thin film used to conceal a "surprise", but gets thrown away more than it gets recycled.

More importantly, do you regift?

[attilathehun513]

I would shop as soon as possible at the nearest and cheapest retailer before Christmas and get the Christmas shopping done as soon as possible, and then for left overs go to Boxing Day--btw, why is tomorrow called Boxing Day in the first place. Just curious.

[black mamba]

avax said:

That thing that was on your shelf for 4 years but unmolested and untouched since the time you removed it from its wrapper years ago - is it regiftable?

If you've regifted something you've partially eaten, I don't think this question needs to be answered.

[viruslabrat]

I don't think that people declaring they don't want anything is part of some green awareness or zen living. I think they're just merely tired of the chaos of Christmas shopping and don't want to be stressed out with the burden of choosing gifts for everyone. In a tricky situation where someone says they don't want anything but you feel you have to give them something I would just make a donation on their behalf to a charity I think they'd approve of (eg. the RSPCA sells donation gift cards). If it's an image thing then they can't really argue because they're not actually getting anything and it's still keeping with the Christmas spirit.

I honestly don't mind someone re-gifting something to me AS LONG as it's something I would need or like. I was always getting second-hand books and toys as a kid and I'm not fussy about stuff now. It has to be in good condition though. I have re-gifted stuff to my mom but only because she constantly re-gifts stuff to me (usually soaps, cheap perfume etc). I use the stuff she re-gifts although I don't really like them. I always end up using the cheap perfume as insect spray for slower moving insects. It works after several sprays.

I like cash as a gift but it usually ends up paying for everyday things like petrol, food etc. I prefer gift vouchers for giving and receiving. I made up a list of things I wouldn't mind receiving for Christmas and about half of it was for gift vouchers to various stores. I think it's easier for the person giving and you get to choose exactly what you want! Plus you get to take advantage of the post-Christmas sales without spending any of your own money so you get more for less.

[xandra]

bake cookies.

[avax]

Dec 26, 2007 3:48:40 GMT -5 viruslabrat said:

I don't think that people declaring they don't want anything is part of some green awareness or zen living. I think they're just merely tired of the chaos of Christmas shopping and don't want to be stressed out with the burden of choosing gifts for everyone. In a tricky situation where someone says they don't want anything but you feel you have to give them something I would just make a donation on their behalf to a charity I think they'd approve of (eg. the RSPCA sells donation gift cards). If it's an image thing then they can't really argue because they're not actually getting anything and it's still keeping with the Christmas spirit.

I honestly don't mind someone re-gifting something to me AS LONG as it's something I would need or like. I was always getting second-hand books and toys as a kid and I'm not fussy about stuff now. It has to be in good condition though. I have re-gifted stuff to my mom but only because she constantly re-gifts stuff to me (usually soaps, cheap perfume etc). I use the stuff she re-gifts although I don't really like them. I always end up using the cheap perfume as insect spray for slower moving insects. It works after several sprays.

I like cash as a gift but it usually ends up paying for everyday things like petrol, food etc. I prefer gift vouchers for giving and receiving. I made up a list of things I wouldn't mind receiving for Christmas and about half of it was for gift vouchers to various stores. I think it's easier for the person giving and you get to choose exactly what you want! Plus you get to take advantage of the post-Christmas sales without spending any of your own money so you get more for less.

Thanks for the thought-provoking post.

I usually don't make lists because it puts the obligation on others as soon as they know I have a list. If I have a list this year, chances are they'll be obligated to hear my list next year. I also shop.. peculiarly and am more set in my ways than I'd like to think. THUS, I receive gifts, open them... find to my horror that I no love it long time... and pass it along. A lot of them are beautiful too - crystals, jewelery, books, lamps, dishes etc etc name brands I do not need. I think the list idea is a good idea for many people, either way.

It doesn't bother me either I suppose because the things I want or need, I somehow find within my budget. I take grotesquely, sinful pleasure acquiring things on my own... having them given to me is half the fun taken out. I hope that makes sense.

I'd say the gifts I keep and cherish are the ones that have memories and travel attached. If I drive/trek/fly somewhere and meet someone on the roadside who gives me a piece of string, or receiving photographs from my mum's cousin when he was a journalist, and I have kids drawings from children whose names (sadly) I don't remember. I had a friend fly in from NJ who brought White Castle burgers across the border to see if customs would let him. Too funny. (It's ok, I let those go) I also had a dear friend send me plants through the mail (internationally) and that was an adventure with security and took some planning.

Xandra, I've regifted cookies too. And spelled my name with the crumbs that were left. Just kidding.

Anyway, like you, I've grown up with used items also. Hm - I do think however we should note that "regift" doesn't necessarily mean "used". As was mentioned, it could (often in my case) just mean opening the thing and realizing "no thank you", pass along. And if I'm sent to hell because of it, I'll regift the ticket there too.