Vince and I don’t buy each other gifts for birthdays, Christmas or anniversaries. I know that would bother a lot of people but it works for us. I really dislike buying gifts for adults, unless it’s just a little surprise – like a pretty nail file for Nicole or if I see that she needs something knitting related and it’s a surprise or something she wouldn’t buy for herself. And, of course, gifts for Addie are always fun. But for most adults . . I just feel like anything I’m giving them is something (1) if they wanted, they would have bought for themselves already or (2) something they may never use and will just take up space.
I used to think giving quilts or handmade socks or knitted items was a nice gift but most socks have to be hand washed and dried flat and who besides a knitter wants to do that? Quilts . . many people have their own idea of decorating and don’t want a quilt unless I’m able to know what colors they want. With either quilting or knitting, for the cost of the materials, I could buy a pretty nice gift but . . anyway . . I find gift giving frustrating.
Long ago Vince and I decided we’d just buy our own gifts or, as is the case most of the time, we just buy what we want when we want it.
So, we have an anniversary coming up and neither of us had intended to buy a gift for the other. This morning, Vince said “I found something online I want to buy and it’s $100 so I’m going to buy it for my anniversary gift. You can spend $100 on yarn.” I said “I don’t need any yarn but I’m fine with you getting what you want.” Then I remembered that I have two sets of needles coming from Overstock, should arrive today, so I said “Hey, I have needles coming today. That can be my anniversary gift.”
I failed to mention that there are two sets of Knitter’s Pride Nova Platina coming today and a set of Knitter’s Pride Zings coming next week. I’ll just say “Oh, that was part of my anniversary gift” when they arrive.
Dodged that bullet. 🙂
DonnainKS says
You are funny! Too often I hear, “didn’t know we were expecting a package” when he has picked up the mail! Just another of the retired husband stuff. Happy upcoming anniversary; what a wonderful life you two have!
Elle says
We don’t do gifts either. We do experiences and have since our 20th (19 years ago 😉 Every 5y it’s a big trip to a new-to-us place in the USA. The rest of the years, we take a “brown sign” trip. We hit a highway near home, and stop at every place that is noted by a brown sign. We’ve seen so much of our state this way. Some of those days have been 18 hours long-1 turned into an overnight unexpectedly.
Stuff is gone in no time….experiences are memories.
Mary says
We are also doing experiences. Those don’t have to be washed, dusted, vacuumed, or any of the other chores our “things” require! Plus no one can take them away and they never get old!
Sue Edberg says
We don’t buy gifts for ourselves either – especially since the year we gave each other the same Christmas gifts without planning it. My husband was doing a little bit of traveling for business and our suitcases were old and horrible. I bought him some new suitcases and he bought me some new suitcases! Needless to say, some of the suitcases were returned to the stores. Also, that same Christmas, we were making our own greeting cards and, again, without either of us knowing it we made the same card for each other. That was the last year we exchanged gifts and cards!
Nelle Coursey says
They happened to be sent in separate packages!! I think that is a great idea. I have always treasured anything someone has given me. Whether I needed it or not. I think if someone goes to the trouble to make something for me and give it to me, then I can love it as much as I love the person giving the gift. Besides I know what goes into making a quilt and knitting items. I would certainly treasure either of those items!
dezertsuz says
Yeah, we’ve quit doing anniversary gifts, too. LOL!
cassews says
We buy for each other year round. So bdays and anniversaries its usually money to buy what we really have wanted for a long time. OR if we are buying an expensive item for the 5th Wheel then that is the gift!