This is supposed to be a happy time of year and now I feel like I wanna cry!!
Why are people so selfish?? Why do people expect so much?? I'm sorry, it might not be in the spirit, but I am annoyed at having to spend money on presents for other ppl because they expect I should! DH and I aren't really even getting anything for eachother. We've bought some things lately that we wouldn't usually buy so we just said that will be our present to each other. So if I'm not even buying for him why should I have to buy for other ppl!! I don't have heaps of money and we have a baby coming and it feels like all the bills come at this time of year. So I'm sorry if I'm selfish but I'd rather save what money I do have then buy you something crappy that you don't even need!!!!!!!
I was just talking to my mum and she was telling me what to get her!! I never tell her what to get me or how much to spend! And the things she was saying weren't exactly cheap. My brothers and I aren't buying for eachother either b/c their younger and they have no money and we don't really care, we'd rather just spend time together. Then mum tells me I will have to buy something for her husband (not my dad and the biggest pig in the world). Why do I have to?? Why should I when I'm not even buying for close family members?? It makes me so angry!!
She's already bought me a present so now I feel like I have to buy them one. But seriously I couldn't care less if they got me a present or not. I have told people this before. I'd rather they didn't buy me a present (coz then I wouldn't have to spend my money on presents for them, that would be a great present!!), or they donated money to charity or something. That would make me happy!! That is what I think Christmas is about. But they won't believe me, they just say "oh, yeah right, as if you wouldn't be annoyed if I didn't get you anything". wtf?
Well that's my rant, I sound like the Grinch but anyway, lol.
And I love Christmas usually!! And now I'm sad and cranky about it Not fair.
SJ I totally agree & youknow what, don't go out & buy anything for your Mum & her DH. Its rude to expect presents & if she was to say something onthe day thats even ruder.
OH hun I know what you mean. DH and I have a $50 on each other and have a budget for everyone else. I was telling my sister and mum this the other day and saying that I was trying to find something int e budget and my sister kept going on about how it's only Christmas once a year,don't be tight blah blah and then says oh you must have some money, you just did the kitchen (DH renovated himself to save money) plus you got the baby bonus etc!!!! FAR OUT I felt like telling her it's none of her business where we spend our money but i would rather put it into the house than crappy presents.... Sorry to vent in your thread but you are definitely not alone!!!
Tan your sister has a weird way of thinking. You MUST have money becaus eyou jsut did your kitchen? Ah one would think you would have no money left because you just did your kitchen? You just got hte baby bonus? YEAH because you just had a baby & thats costs money....
I find it really hard too... I don't like to encourage the commercialism of this time of year. I have tried to make things for our closest friends children, especially since I know they will buy something for our girls. Over the years I have started doing more and more "making" and less "buying". This year I made the girls in the family aprons and bought some wooden puzzles from Oxfam for the younger children.
With my mum however, its her birthday a few weeks before Christmas, so I try to get things for her for both and I do small things but I want her to feel special too. I live on the other side of the world, so its one time I can do that.
I hate it when ppl think you must have money because you just did so and so...... well maybe we saved up for ages for that, and maybe we don't want to spend our spare money on you!!!! Maybe we have things we need to save up for that are more important!!
Thanks FJ. I have a photo here of me and mum at my wedding which I was thinking of framing for her but then I was angry that my wedding was 3 yrs ago and she hasn't ordered any photos herself or put them up or anything, lol. I have some christmas cookie cutters so I was thinking of making some shortbread for the stupid husband because I already have the ingredients and that's free, lol. And I don't really care if he thinks the present is dodgy anyway because as you may be able to tell I do not like him!
One time I gave her a charity thing. You know one of those things where you get a card saying you've bought school books or something for someone in another country. I figured I didn't have enough money to buy her something she would really love so why not use the money I did have on something useful. And then the next year she made a comment 'Oh you're not going to get me one of those charity things again are you, I didn't even get anything'!! WTF???? She said it in a jokey way but it still made me feel bad.
Now I feel like I can't not get her anything b/c I've spoken to her about it and I'm going to be at her place for Christmas That will be fun!!
I just keep thinking, at least next year will be good, I'll have a new bub to enjoy it with!
ETA- oh, vent away ppl, good to know it's not just me and I'm not the grinch, lol
We don't do christmas. Me and DH don't buy presents for each other or the kids.
We don't buy presents for his family - however - we will make them some cookies or something to eat in a nice basket or whatever - because they feel it necessary to buy something for the kids. Before we had kids - no presents - and I LOVED it.
My family on the other hand - cannot live without presents As many times as I have tried to get them to do the "no presents at xmas but make a big deal out of birthdays" it doesn't catch on. So yes, I am forced to buy people crappy presents that will probably never get used.
I've changed in the last couple of years though. I get my step dad FUN crappy things instead of just crappy things, and I get a basket and fill it with goodies for my mum that I know she will appreciate, little hand creams that she can toss in her hand bag, gluten free biscuits etc.
My mum usually calls me up and says oh I sorta need this - and I just say - tell the others (my brother & sister) cos I've already got you something.
You don't have to buy anyone presents. People shouldn't give presents to recieve presents
Do what I used to do to those who expected things... give a small gift under the Kmart wishing tree, and give them the thank you card worked a treat
My sister did the most beautiful thing for us this year - they are really struggling at the moment with money, so she got some gift boxes, and put in a couple of things she'd grown in the garden, some home made bikkies her kids had baked, a notebook that her kids had covered with pretty coloured paper, and a nice calendar. They were a real labour of love and so thoughtful, and I appreciated them so much. It really *is* the thought that counts! If other people can't appreciate that, that is their problem.
My brother and sister in law always give us a card that tells about their donation to Oxfam, which makes me feel really happy, too.
Too late for this y ear, but next year perhaps you could pre-empt it all by saying well before gift giving season, "This year we aren't purchasing gifts - we can't stop you doing it but please don't be offended if you receive something home made or alternative."
Christmas is making me angry!!!
Not fair.
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As many times as I have tried to get them to do the "no presents at xmas but make a big deal out of birthdays" it doesn't catch on. So yes, I am forced to buy people crappy presents that will probably never get used.
worked a treat 
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