Christmas is coming
@GardenGerty (160713)
United States
October 12, 2015 7:24am CST
Christmas is coming--time to get more "stuff". Hubby and I are talking, and I do not think we are going to buy gifts.
We had a friend years ago who started giving "experiences" to his loved ones. He had regular coffee dates with his dad. It is so neat, I think.
Most of us do not need more "stuff"
I think hubby and I are going to have a special three day weekend escape sometime at the end of the month of December. We have company coming mid December.
My online earnings will help pay for the trip.
I think I have to work hard to make time for fun.
25 people like this
28 responses
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
12 Oct 15
The "experience" thing is so sweet. Too much consumerism in gifts now anyway. I think just spending time with loved ones is enough
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
12 Oct 15
I will have company mid December, daughter, son in law and grandkids. We will do a little bit of shopping for that. I usually use my Amazon and get books and toys.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
12 Oct 15
@Susan2015 Exactly, because at least you are both ending up with something that is of value to you.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
12 Oct 15
We pretty well buy what we want when we want it anyway.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
12 Oct 15
My husband and I do not always buy gifts for each other. Most years we opt not to so we can focus on gifts for the kids. As for stuff, there's actually quite a bit we could use. I've gone a couple months without a good pair of oven mitts, mostly because I keep forgetting that I need them until I go to try to use them and can only find 1 and have to use a towel along with it. We could also use a ton more towels. New furniture, stuff to fix up the house...
The years of just barely scraping by have taken their toll.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
12 Oct 15
My daughter has been married eleven years, has four kids, so one year I got them a rainbow of new towels so each family member can have their own color.
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
14 Oct 15
@katsmeow1213 It may be too late now, but usually in September Walmart puts Beach towels on sale. I have gotten really nice, fluffy and colorful ones for little cost. I bet the big kids would like that.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
12 Oct 15
@GardenGerty That's a great idea. Each year I keep thinking of getting each kid their own towel, but I don't end up doing it. It's hard with the older ones too.. the littles would take a super hero towel, but it's hard to find a nice towel for the older kids.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
12 Oct 15
Yeah sounds like you really need to take a break GG and by the sounds of it no you dont need any more stuff haha. Maybe you can just celebrate Xmas another way.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
12 Oct 15
I think we will go on a long weekend to Branson after our company leaves in mid December.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
12 Oct 15
@TiarasOceanView We have been saying that we were going to go for about five years. It is time we start doing some of those things.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
12 Oct 15
@GardenGerty Branson is lovely and economical too.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
12 Oct 15
We have had a lot of stress in the last two years, so I think it is great too. I joined myLot in November 2006. It was about six months old. I missed it for the two years that it was run by someone else. It came back to the original owners in July and so many of my old friends are enjoying being back together.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
14 Oct 15
@KnehKnah Many of us are long time members, which shows that it is a really great place to be.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
12 Oct 15
sounds a lovely idea - hope you get to go somewhere amazing
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
12 Oct 15
It will not be exotic, but we will probably go to the next state to a theme park area. Branson, Missouri. They have lovely shows and such and lights etc. I want to go as part of a group tour on a bus so we do not have to either of us drive and so we get group rates.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
12 Oct 15
@GardenGerty sounds a great way to enjoy Christmas
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
14 Oct 15
It will be very relaxing and worth doing.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
12 Oct 15
We will likely go to Branson. I am pushing for a bus trip so neither of us has to drive.
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
12 Oct 15
we quit givin' gifts some years back 'xcept fer the young'uns. in these days 'n times, most folks jest go out 'n buy whate'er they wish anyhow 'n who needs more 'schtuff'?? i'd rather get schtuff fer folks when they need it 'n can't afford such 'n give it to 'em on the spot. too much commercialism fer such a religious holiday...
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
14 Oct 15
Did you ever hear of "Advent Conspiracy"? We did that a time or two. Many churches and denominations get together, plan to buy one less gift per person and donate the money to a big cause. We helped dig water wells in third world countries one year. Another time we gifted personal water purification devices. One time just our church gave cash to send to Haiti to give to a particular shoe maker near a church there to make shoes for children. If you do not have shoes you are not allowed to go to school.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
14 Oct 15
@GardenGerty see, that's a wonderful thingy to do 'n to me what the 'season' 'tis all 'bout - givin' to those who're in need. kudo's to y'all!!
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
12 Oct 15
We buy gifts for everyone else but we buy something for the house at Christmas. So if we need a new sofa, or appliance, we give it to ourselves as a Christmas gift
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
12 Oct 15
This is a great idea in my opinion. One year we got a yard fireplace for ourselves.
1 person likes this
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
• United States
13 Oct 15
That's a wonderful idea. Leo and I don't exchange formal gifts. We just give a few kids gifts.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
14 Oct 15
It is a matter of what is in your heart. No point in just giving for show.
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
12 Oct 15
There is still time left to earn more and when that time comes have the time of your life
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
12 Oct 15
Now that we are finished with moving our home, I will earn more and that does help with having fun.
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (10095)
• United States
13 Oct 15
I was complaining the other day about all the Christmas stuff out before Halloween and yet today I bought my first gift to put up. I don't need more stuff but my kids always insist on something so this year I told them I want PJ's. Experiences are awesome gifts.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
14 Oct 15
I used to buy pj's for the kids each year. I should do so for the grands.
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
12 Oct 15
The special coffee mugs, and things like that do not grab me, and hubby tends to buy those kinds of things.
@marguicha (223132)
• Chile
12 Oct 15
Most of the older people (I include my daughters) do not need much at home anymore. At least nothing that I can give to them. A photo can be nice or a plant if they like them. Nothing terribly expensive.
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
12 Oct 15
My kids like books and music. Hubby and I make joint purchases sometimes for ourselves.
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
12 Oct 15
I do not care for the gimmicky things. My oldest grandchildren want gift cards to their favorite stores. My daughter is very picky about what we get for her four children.
@Carol2015 (136)
• Zhengzhou, China
12 Oct 15
You still have two months. There is heaps of time. Just like Chinese Spring Festival, 15 days is enough for us to make preparations.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
12 Oct 15
We will enjoy taking the trip. We will have company before that. It is always plenty of time.
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
13 Oct 15
I like the idea of giving experiences rather than gifts. If my wife and I are buying something new for Christmas, it will be something we both want and like - usually another bookcase!
@JESSY3236 (19941)
• United States
27 Oct 15
That's sweet. The problem I have with Christmas is that my fiancé's birthday is on Christmas Day. It's hard to think of two gifts every year.
