I just counted all the gifts I needed to buy this year (all done except for 2!):
27
That is four gift exchanges and 23 people. New additions to the list this year? My son's pre-school teacher, his teacher aide, and bus driver. My younger son's day care provider. My sons' speech therapist (same therapist for both kids). Am I overdoing it? Is all this really expected? I have no idea what I am "supposed" to do. I read that you are "supposed" to gift your day care provider a weeks worth of payment, but I can't afford to give a $50 gift to her. Instead I got her a $25 g.c. to a nice local store, because I really wanted to show her that we appreciate her flexibility and kindness. I got the speech therapist a $10 g.c. The teachers are receiving a notepad, candy bar, and mint lip balm (ok, it was really cute and caught my eye in Target - and at $1, I got a bunch for different people, including me!). And I'm going to give my son's bus driver a big Hershey's Kiss. (side note: I was going to get the teachers a $10 gift card too, until I realized that in several years, I could have 3 or 4 kids in school at one time, meaning 6 or 8 teachers...I just can't do it!)
Oh, and then there's the jobs. I had a gift exchange with my real estate company ($15-18). I received a present from my boss today (I'm going to take her my homemade granola next week - I hope she likes it). I got a lottery ticket from our office supervisor and candy from a colleague. We had a gift exchange with my Bunco group (can't complain about that one, it was my idea).
We exchange to some degree ($5-$50) with each of our siblings and SILs, as well as all of our nieces and nephews. DH and I both bring a gift to the cousin exchange. Of course, we still buy for all our parents and our one grandparent, not to mention our own two children.
Is anyone else driven nuts by all this?
I just ranted to my DH tonight and he told me I had a fat chance of getting any of his family (or mine, for that matter) to scale back because they enjoy the exchange. Well, I do too, but I am ready to just say ENOUGH. Enough shopping, enough organization (I have to carry a binder to organize my gifting), enough spending money.
At least I'm all done. DH can shop for the two people we have left - his grandmother and father. I'm DONE.
(I'm really NOT a Scrooge. I love the holiday - I even love shopping. I just want to simplify it - buy for my kids, DH, parents, and then maybe draw names with the rest of the relatives.)
Who do you buy for?
December 21st, 2007 at 04:09 am
December 21st, 2007 at 04:43 am 1198212226
There's no such thing as "supposed" gift or amount. You should gift because you wanted to, not because of societal pressure.
People are turning too materialistic. It used to be gifts are for children and adults exchange cards and get together for dinners. Now everyone wants gifts and tips and what not. This new type of holiday spirit makes me sick.
December 21st, 2007 at 05:32 am 1198215149
December 21st, 2007 at 01:45 pm 1198244720
But I am with Kimiko. I gave what I wanted to give. No formula. I gave a little cash to my gardener and to the preschool teacher. Much less than the formula. The only reason I gave them anything was because I wanted too. Because they are both such awesome people. Because I pay them so little for all that they do. Beyond that, I wouldn't bother.
It happened slowly for us. Stop exchanging with friends, then siblings. Then these days my parents don't even want to exchange at all. But we were all kind of on the same page.
Drawing names is a great idea too. My dad's family loves to exchange gifts. I know my parents could care less, but at least with the drawing it is just 1 family to buy for instead of 4. Phew. It's a good compromise.
December 21st, 2007 at 03:06 pm 1198249619
December 21st, 2007 at 03:13 pm 1198250023
Friends were a slow drop off of just not exchanging....we give cards (our card has pictures and news) and fudge to all who are nice, teachers or friends. I hope it is appreciated, and it is less than $10 each.
December 21st, 2007 at 03:46 pm 1198251989
I truely wanted to give a little something to our speech therapist and day care provider - I don't mind the teachers either, although I hear from my SIL (who is a teacher) that she gets $10 and $20 g.c. to places from parents. I don't mind a small token gift (fudge is ALWAYS good), but I can't (or won't) match that level. Just wanted to hear what everyone else thought...
December 21st, 2007 at 04:31 pm 1198254681
I KNOW it is a relief to the matriarch (my mil) of the family as she is on SS and retirement funds!!
And yes, there are rule breakers, as this family is still getting used to the idea.
Stick to your plan! And who cares if the family gossip goes on and on in 2008??!! There is always family gossip and the subject is usually far different than who got/gave what gifts.
December 21st, 2007 at 05:13 pm 1198257233
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December 21st, 2007 at 05:34 pm 1198258459
December 21st, 2007 at 08:47 pm 1198270073
December 21st, 2007 at 10:24 pm 1198275856