Are you more of a gift giver or a receiver during Christmas?
By aconner
@aconner (218)
United States
November 27, 2009 1:17pm CST
My husband and I are trying to accomplish the goal of being a one income household so that he can stay home with our newborn son and go to school. I told him our Christmas this year will be pretty small but it's not a big deal for us as we have never been big on the gifting idea of Christmas, rather celebrating the true meaning of the holiday and spending quality time with family and friends. I love giving gifts and it's always been hard for me not to be able to go out and get every person in the family a gift. But when asked "What do you want for Christmas?" the only things I can think of are necessities for the family. I can never think of anything I truly want that would be worth purchasing. There are things that I want for a minute, but once I get them I may use them a couple of times and then they turn into clutter.
My husband said that he wants me to think really hard of something that I want for myself. He says that as a mother I will tend to deprive myself of things to give more to the family and that I deserve a gift. But I can't think of anything. I've searched the internet for ideas of things that I could use or things that I want but can't find anything worth the money that I would use on a regular basis.
Do you face this problem when people ask you what you want for a gift? Do you enjoy giving gifts more than receiving or the other way around?
3 responses
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
28 Nov 09
I definitely love to recieve gifts but it's sometimes hard for me to come up with what I want. Whenever people ask me I say I don't know because generally I don't know. That and I hate telling someone something that I'd want that is crazily priced because I feel bad for making someone spend a lot of money on me. I think it's insane to expect someone to shell out a lot of money for items. I work hard to purchase a lot of expensive items myself. I guess I feel like because I want them it should be my responsibility.
Now, I do buy gifts for people. I think a lot about what the people I'm buying for would enjoy but it sometimes gets hard to think about them. I always feel like they'll think what I've gotten them is stupid so I hate giving people things even though I try. I always feel like I'll be laughed at or told off for the gift.
@aconner (218)
• United States
29 Nov 09
Yes, you and I are alike when it comes to asking for items. I'm the same exact way.
However, when it comes to gifts that you give, if someone tells you off or laughs at what you got them (unless it's supposed to be funny :) I would have to say it would be ungrateful of them. I've had someone do that to me before, a family member to be exact and I have a hard time giving them gifts every year, but not out of fear that they will tell me off again, but out of fear that my gift won't be appreciated. I made it known that I spent a lot of time searching for a meaningful gift and if they didn't appreciate it I would be glad to take it back and get my money back and not worry about getting them a gift anymore. I think it's ridiculous that a person can't show their appreciation for a gift.
@Jayervin (64)
• United States
28 Nov 09
Personally, I like to give gifts rather than receive. It makes me happy to see that they're happy from the gifts that I gave. Even though it's fun to receive gifts, sometimes the gifts that you get, you don't even want. I also learned the hard way that even if you do give gifts to people, that doesn't mean that they'll give something back. It's kind of a let down, although now I'm not really caring much, but I gave my friend around thirty dollars for his birthday and Christmas gift, and he didn't give me anything in return - both Christmas and birthday. Kinda sad, huh? Haha, just kidding. But yeah, it's cool though. At least he was really happy when I gave him the money.
@aconner (218)
• United States
29 Nov 09
I have to disagree with you here. I don't give gifts expecting to receive something. I know people that are that way and it's a bit frustrating. There have been times I honestly couldn't give presents and when they got offended saying "I got you ____, and you couldn't even get me something.", it's a bit annoying. I love seeing and hearing the response from receiving a gift. I always try my best to give gifts that I know the person can use.
