Exchanging gifts - have you stopped?

[Jus Cruisin]

Saw this over on THT and thought I'd see the answers here. This is really aimed at us. The long marriage (ie old farts) group.

Have you stopped exchanging gifts at Christmas? We pretty much stopped 15 years ago with a few exceptions. We're dinks, so no kids to exchange with and the nieces and nephews are adults. We would spoil them at Christmas until they hit 16. The family get-together is in the summer now. My wife and I now get stuff when we want and don't wait for Christmas or any other special dates.

Anyway, interested to see if I'm in the minority or majority.

 

[Halfhitch]

Pretty much the same for us old farts. It is a tradition that was started by merchants anyway, to get the majority to open their wallets for them.

 

[Golfman25]

We still exchange. But the gifts aren‘t anything special. Usually just clothes and other misc things. She sends me the links to what she wants and I click on buy.

 

[Pirate Lady]

My wife and I now get stuff when we want and don't wait for Christmas or any other special dates.

Same here. We dont do gifts. Kids are in other states/countries. Wife and I have pared our needs way down. Nothing we need, so we have become very frugal.

 

[my3sons]

We are pretty much the same between the two of us but we have adult kids and a 1 year old grandson so we spoiled him pretty good for his first Christmas and I’m having a blast playing with all the toys with him.

 

[BillK2632]

Same for us, no gifts, just enjoy the day. We buy what we want when we want - which really isn't much - funny how the importance of things tends to dwindle as we get older. Our Christmas to each other is not putting the stress of the perfect gift on ourselves! A fire in the fireplace, some football on TV and a good meal made for a pretty good Christmas!
Now, I think if/when any grandkids come along that will change - it will be game on!

 

[aerobat77]

We definitely exchange , and its not just peanuts like socks . We celebrate the time , put decorations on the house and have always a big christmas tree . We plan what we would like to buy around the end of the year and stop to do - maybe santa claus brings it !

This year for me a new hunting rifle scope and my wife wanted a beamer in the cellar - and santa claus heared her !

I know its silly and childish but we love to be childish around christmas and enjoy the time !

 

[bobeast]

Meh. At this point in the journey, we just get whatever we want, when we want it, rather than wait for some arbitrary date on the calendar.

 

[keokie]

We have been together for several decades (married since 5 years in). We still celebrate all the aspects of Christmas including decorations, big get togethers and meals... and gift exchanges. We enjoy the holidays very much.

 

[Woody]

Saw this over on THT and thought I'd see the answers here. This is really aimed at us. The long marriage (ie old farts) group.

Have you stopped exchanging gifts at Christmas? We pretty much stopped 15 years ago with a few exceptions. We're dinks, so no kids to exchange with and the nieces and nephews are adults. We would spoil them at Christmas until they hit 16. The family get-together is in the summer now. My wife and I now get stuff when we want and don't wait for Christmas or any other special dates.

Anyway, interested to see if I'm in the minority or majority.

We do pretty much as you do, things have wound down the last few years.

 

[Windjammer]

There is a Santa Claus!

 

[Maggieiscrazy]

Yep, I’m done buying crap that people don’t want just for sake of buying crap for people. Didn’t even buy one gift this year.

 

[Creekwood]

We started toning it down a few years ago. One or two small gifts only. This year was nothing. But we just finished our new lake house construction and just moved in. That is a gift we gave each other and will keep giving for decades.

 

[b_arrington]

We still have teenagers in the house so are in gift giving mode. It’s changed though, few gifts but bigger. For example my son got parts and gas cards for his Mustang; my daughter got a lacrosse rebounder and AirPods.

My wife usually buys what she wants and lets me know what I’ve gotten her. Then I get a few small things for her. I ordered a new pair of Merrell shoes, and my wife surprised me with an Apple Watch. Mostly we can get what we need/want when we need it, but we give gifts to celebrate the spirit of Christmas.

 

[Blueone]

The present I bought myself got delivered today. It even came wrapped.
It’s a combination Mill/Turn center…. Y axis, glass scales…. Bad ass

What $300k looks like 5’ off the floor

 

[play dough]

My wife sews (mainly quilts) so some of that stuff gets gifted to immediate family but otherwise, gift exchange ended when the boys left home. We send them a holiday check to use as they please. We host the family Thanksgiving dinner that is usually well attended, but a Christmas gathering has pretty much evaporated with family now scattered across the country.

 

[Steve S]

The present I bought myself got delivered today. It even came wrapped.
It’s a combination Mill/Turn center…. Y axis, glass scales…. Bad ass

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What $300k looks like 5’ off the floor

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MORI makes great machines. Good choice!

 

[Blueone]

MORI makes great machines. Good choice!

The only problem is the company themselves have gotten very arrogant. I asked myself on the first purchase and the second ….. who the fuck is the customer…… and that pissed them off….. if I did that to my customer I would be gone….. so buy a MORI but don’t ask them for help is their moto. Especially if you are little

 

[Steve S]

The only problem is the company themselves have gotten very arrogant. I asked myself on the first purchase and the second ….. who the fuck is the customer…… and that pissed them off….. if I did that to my customer I would be gone….. so buy a MORI but don’t ask them for help is their moto. Especially if you are little

Sorry too hear that changed. When I got into the industry in the 80’s, Yamazen handled MORI and took care of the customers. I worked for Yamazen in the tooling division and tooled a lot of the Mori’s in the Chicago area. Then they wanted to handle the sales directly…

 

[Blueone]

Sorry too hear that changed. When I got into the industry in the 80’s, Yamazen handled MORI and took care of the customers. I worked for Yamazen in the tooling division and tooled a lot of the Mori’s in the Chicago area. Then they wanted to handle the sales directly…

When MORI bought Deckel everything went south….. then MORI went direct with sales….. Elliot/Maruka went to Doosan…then all shit broke loose. Unfortunately MORI makes a crazy good expensive machine….. so you fight them, hate them…. Fight them…. Don’t pay them…. Fight them some more….. and agree….. very painful