tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post787722585577765322..comments2024-03-26T00:14:00.509-07:00Comments on Crunchy Chicken: The impact of holiday gift givingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-61275603963134573682009-11-30T06:37:52.945-08:002009-11-30T06:37:52.945-08:00We were talking about gift buying for the holidays...We were talking about gift buying for the holidays and I think in a few years - if not next year - we are going to quit buying for the adults in our family. Instead, we will adopt a family through some organization and purchase gifts for them. All of us are reasonably affluent and can buy whatever we want (or at least that which is in reach of the buyer's budget) and have no more need for &Billiehttp://billieryder.spaces.live.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-62572278705057316682009-11-29T22:47:25.558-08:002009-11-29T22:47:25.558-08:00I spent a lot on my husband but all was saved up i...I spent a lot on my husband but all was saved up in cash for just that reason. And everything was sustainable (can't say more than that as he could see this.).<br /><br />We got gifts for our close family but we also shopped green for everyone, largely handmade.<br /><br />For the 2nd year my brother and I are donating to causes for each other in place of gifts. <br /><br />Also this year my Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02583524755306491510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-58457443650648575472009-11-28T20:09:42.455-08:002009-11-28T20:09:42.455-08:00I own and operate a retail business (small, intern...I own and operate a retail business (small, internet, selling yarn) and I proudly participated in Buy Nothing Day, not spending a dime. I am so sickened by the excessive marketing - the newspaper that's 90% ads, the 50 emails I received with deals of a lifetime (whatever!) - and how rabid people get over acquring STUFF. The behavior is bewildering: the camping out, the running around and Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11528215281248264122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-23768506848666427892009-11-28T19:19:19.749-08:002009-11-28T19:19:19.749-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11528215281248264122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-84431181067071613932009-11-28T11:21:41.350-08:002009-11-28T11:21:41.350-08:00I also have experienced retail "holidays"...I also have experienced retail "holidays" from the other end of the cash register so I rarely shop on holidays. Only if I'm in the middle of a project and would need to go out anyway -- otherwise, it waits. I will have to consider making Sunday a "no shopping" day, too. I already get bent out of shape if people call me for my business or try to set up appointments for Laurie in Mpls.http://www.heirloomsbylaurie.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-40298884672966156512009-11-27T14:58:17.905-08:002009-11-27T14:58:17.905-08:00I grew up not expecting presents under the christm...I grew up not expecting presents under the christmas tree. Not that our parents were poor, it's just that they chose to spend the money on experiences rather than material things. And if I do ask for something expensive, they will say it's my christmas present for x number of years. <br />I would occasionally buy gifts for them because I happen to see something that they would like/need. Penny Baskethttp://pennybasket.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-30870587076580014152009-11-26T19:07:37.808-08:002009-11-26T19:07:37.808-08:00I completely agree w/ everything you've said i...I completely agree w/ everything you've said in this post.<br /><br />I'm kind of weird about the holiday gift giving thing. For the majority of my adult life, I told everyone I knew, upfront, that I do NOT want them to buy me presents, and that I will NOT be buying them presents. Primarily because I object to the notion of compulsory generousity. I like to buy people presents when I see Alliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09981628640737207011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-66556080704505350252009-11-24T20:46:53.714-08:002009-11-24T20:46:53.714-08:00I will probably do a bit of online shopping on Bla...I will probably do a bit of online shopping on Black Friday, as I am hoping to find a computer battery; I decided to repair the broken bits of my laptop rather than treating it as disposable, and this is the result. I do like Utahlawyer's idea of respecting those in the service industry by not shopping at certain hours, though.<br /><br />My gifts to people this year are not handmade, but Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14108673452766592183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-11207052589520096222009-11-24T20:13:43.255-08:002009-11-24T20:13:43.255-08:00My actual family, only the kids get presents and w...My actual family, only the kids get presents and we capped those at $10 - the same-age cousins are matched to each other so some of those gifts are going to be toys people already had.<br /> <br />My in-laws...every year I hate Christmas more and I think this is the year I declare I'm powerless over it and it's not my problem and I can't do anything about it. Every year, my Rosanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-61088920883490643092009-11-24T20:01:17.535-08:002009-11-24T20:01:17.535-08:00I wonder if participating in Buy Nothing Day reall...I wonder if participating in Buy Nothing Day really does any good. So the retailer of your choice doesn't get your money that Friday but they will the following day or later that week. If someone wants to get up at Oh God Early to shop, fight the crowds, buy a few gifts their people will like and save some money doing it, who am I to judge them as greedy or materialistic? Insane - yes. I did Lisa Nelsen-Woodshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-23161024416875776062009-11-24T15:14:37.525-08:002009-11-24T15:14:37.525-08:00I worked retail for five years while I was in high...I worked retail for five years while I was in high school and college. The experience ruined the holidays for me. I hated having to work 12 hour sifts on Black Friday, working the rest of Thanksgiving weekend, working midnight shifts before Christmas, working Christmas Eve,the day after Christmas New Years Eve, and New Years Day. I spent very little time celebrating with family and friends utahlawyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01917246727292868622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-48583446170166935672009-11-24T14:17:00.526-08:002009-11-24T14:17:00.526-08:00I love gift giving! I'm always up for the cha...I love gift giving! I'm always up for the challenge of finding just the perfect something for that special someone. <br />We do make many of our gifts. Family gifts are usually baking, bath salts or anything I can zip up and know they would like. Books are another thing I love to give and they can be old or new it just depends on what I find and how much I have to spend. <br />But the Sparklesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02806553694200529082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-89136501000045035732009-11-24T14:12:52.703-08:002009-11-24T14:12:52.703-08:00I would have said that I don't feel any partic...I would have said that I don't feel any particular obligation, but last year there was a family situation that pointed out just how zen I am NOT. It was hard to be the one who didn't chip in for the expensive gift. I would make the same decision again, but you're right when you say that fighting cultural norms isn't pleasant.<br /><br />This year, I'm aiming to make a lot of Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-53151888891283228832009-11-24T12:10:02.815-08:002009-11-24T12:10:02.815-08:00I love buying/making/giving gifts. But I definitel...I love buying/making/giving gifts. But I definitely don't do Black Friday. I am making a lot of nice gifts this year, and was pleasantly surprised to see that my holiday savings account will have more left than I expected. I think Mr. Cheap and I are going to do less for each other (most of the things we REALLY want are huge, like built-ins in our family room, so why spend on what we don'Cheap Like Mehttp://www.cheaplikemeblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-11517335320919860542009-11-24T11:28:47.043-08:002009-11-24T11:28:47.043-08:00Thankfully I will be able to skip Black Friday as ...Thankfully I will be able to skip Black Friday as I won't be celebrating with my MOM! She makes me go shopping on black Friday if I am with her - and I truly hate it. But I love my mom. But I hate Black Friday. But I do really love my mom.Rechellehttp://mysistersfarmhouse.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-53421880276668059972009-11-24T10:32:51.585-08:002009-11-24T10:32:51.585-08:00My gift giving theory is that I don't want to ...My gift giving theory is that I don't want to buy people things they "need" - they can buy them for themselves. I want to buy something that jumped out at me and said their name. I only exchange gifts with my parents and a few close girlfriends, and we all feel the same way, so Christmas gifting is really a pleasure, especially now that I mostly buy from local artisans.Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07984025469026273694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-80844266751251216952009-11-24T09:54:53.108-08:002009-11-24T09:54:53.108-08:00I can manage not to buy gifts (being due to give b...I can manage not to buy gifts (being due to give birth next week is an excellent excuse not to shop), but how do I persuade my parents to stop buying crap for me that I neither want nor will use?travelling sheepnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-39087809028084160192009-11-24T08:57:47.328-08:002009-11-24T08:57:47.328-08:00Four or five years ago, we decided to buy fewer gi...Four or five years ago, we decided to buy fewer gifts for family members and donate the money we woudl have spent on them to a local charity. On Christmas, we put a card to the family on the tree, and someone reads what has been donated. <br /><br />The first year we did it, everyone was a little surprised/puzzled by it, but now that we've done it for a few years, it's expected.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-83483890372563173592009-11-24T08:43:27.762-08:002009-11-24T08:43:27.762-08:00"Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn..."Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! "Maybe Christmas", he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas.. perhaps.. means a little bit more!". Dr. Suess<br /><br />It's sad that we have lost the true meaning of Christmas. We are a family of haves so I buy very few gifts. I buy for my grandmother and two nieces every year and I Sharihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17306023123607674984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-30753311167847323942009-11-24T08:17:06.709-08:002009-11-24T08:17:06.709-08:00I don't know what we will do Friday but I rare...I don't know what we will do Friday but I rarely buy anything lol. Though I don't control my hubby. I have however finished Christmas shopping and I think I did well environmentally speaking. Cant say what I did but lots of handmade, organic, USA made products. And my brother and I are donating to causes for each other for the second year and my friend and I are going to do something Lisanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-68884524326246038642009-11-24T08:16:15.254-08:002009-11-24T08:16:15.254-08:00I am 100% on board with the buy nothing aspect of ...I am 100% on board with the buy nothing aspect of Black Friday. Unfortunately, I also work in retail, so I will participating in the selling lots side of the equation. The only saving grace is that the items we sell at the store where I work are for the most part not cheap crap and encourage people to get out and about in nature.<br /><br />Oh, and it happens to be my wedding anniversary as well.Annanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-82073743941028790962009-11-24T08:15:50.493-08:002009-11-24T08:15:50.493-08:00I'm very much in favor of the gift of experien...I'm very much in favor of the gift of experiences over the gift of stuff. We gave the kids sets of coupons last year for things like 'baking with mom' or 'go to the children's museum.' They were THRILLED with them.<br /><br />I do enjoy buying/making/getting gifts for others. I don't generally find the experience stressful. But then, I ask for wish lists (or Nonienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-64558414482649721042009-11-24T08:10:42.014-08:002009-11-24T08:10:42.014-08:00I had thought we were going out of the country for...I had thought we were going out of the country for christmas (in-laws) but as it turns out not, so now IU will have to deal with the gift issue. I always make great stockings for my own kids and give them each at least one present to open, but they are usually quite small, like coloring books, crayons, etc. My teenager is getting knitting needles. Harder is what to get for my mom's family andAimeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358194304460170717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-60154240885501817572009-11-24T08:02:59.574-08:002009-11-24T08:02:59.574-08:00I also have experimented two kinds of presents wit...I also have experimented two kinds of presents with mixed feelings : <br />- handmade gifts : I've tried offering handmade gifts around, but only my mother really appreciate them ! From my in-laws it has been sometimes quite cold ("Ow, it's very blue !" or a toddler who just prefers not using the toys I made...etc). So now I limit it to my parents, bf, and the women of my familyLilhttp://lil-dans-les-nuages.over-blog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-60981601994555166942009-11-24T07:57:28.141-08:002009-11-24T07:57:28.141-08:00Some people I give to out of family obligation. Ot...Some people I give to out of family obligation. Other I want to give things to. I find it harder to give gifts to people who like 'junk'. I really want to give somthing useful. Sigh.<br />I think I will try books again this year ... Oh well.Jenettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12839122452372826100noreply@blogger.com