In store and online customers shopping want to shop , where there is a good Return policy. As many as 1/3 of people receiving gifts for the holiday return them.
TV reported survey.

Why buy something that the person don't use or want?

Know what a person can use before purchasing anything for them. IMO

Sometimes you want to be nice to people & want to give them gifts even you don't know what they like & what they really want..
Merry Christmas Toody

I agree toody. I have been known to just throw (still wrapped) gifts into a storeroom. The ex found them 3 years later,but as i tell everyone i don't want anything for christmas.

So it is not always a good idea mk.

Just my experiences.

I don't exchange gifts with anyone anymore. It's too much stress and too much money.

Merry Christmas MK !

I send gifts all year long but not at Christmas ;-)

I worked with a woman for years she said , she disliked going to her in-laws for holiday because they always looked what type of gifts are given to them and how much they cost. That was no fun for her.

I think that's Wonderful. !

There were many years I sent my sister homemade cookies. I'd start a month ahead of time, deciding what to make, usually 3 or 4 different kinds of cookies. Buying the ingredients and baking them and finding the right may to mail them because she doesn't live near me. I put thought into and she liked it. I can't seem to get into it these days.

Cat, that is a nice gift, however lots of Work. If you like baking thou , it's ok.

Mostly you ask what the other would like to have and try to get that. And sometimes you know them well enough to surprise them with something you are quite certain of they'd like.
Buying nonsense is nonsense, a total waste of money. But I think common sense also helps. Like not buying someone a perfume when you know they've got expensive taste but you don't know exactly what, or you think a cheap replacement will do fine too.

I bought my daughter a gorgeous dreamcatcher. She wanted one, there was a reason for it. I knew she hadn't gotten one yet as you cannot get any nice ones in this area, just them flimsy commercial BS ones.
I had one come over from Vladivostok, far end of Russia for me. It cost a fortune, handmade, and it was gorgeous. I knew the second I saw it that was the right one.
She didn't know I was shopping around for a dreamcatcher for her, nor had she told me what kind she herself was looking for. But I know her, and so I just knew what to look for.
I gave it to her a few days ago (won't see her tomorrow) and she loved it, and so does her partner.

Buying something can go very well, you just have to know the other person, and pay heed to what they talk about in the time leading up to Christmas.

I agree, Crystal. You bought a very thoughtful gift for your daughter.

I buy quirky, or useful things with no one in mind, then when we gather I pass out the gifts by giving, or asking who wants it. When gifts are gone, they're gone.

Oh, kids always get something ... ho ho ho!

Good idea, SAM.

My daughters and I no long exchange gifts for Xmas or birthdays. I send two grandsons some money which they use during the year on trips etc.

Frankly, I don't give a damn.
I give gifts (anytime) based on what I know about the person and what I decide might give them pleasure.

When I give someone a gift, that is the end of my commitment to the endeavor.

Watching their reaction is merely a justification (or not) as to how well I know them.

Every gift I give is based on how well I know that person and how important they are to me.

If I have good judgement, my gifts are accurate to represent my relationship to that specific person.

There is absolutely no reason to bestow a gift to someone I have no personal relationship with.
I don;t give gifts to people that have not 'touched' me.

I really don't understand giving a gift to someone that is not special to me.

Any gift buying I'm gonna do,
I generally get done by the end of Summer.


Christmas Eve, my favorite pastime is
going to a mall or large discount store,
and watching people brawl over the left over
last minute crap.



Oodles of fun.

Justification.