Has anyone else gotten to the point where you'd be quite happy not exchanging any gifts (for any holiday, etc). with those in your circle?

I have to say, I'm kind of burnt buying gifts for everyone in my circle for each holiday, birthday, etc.

I not only feel like I'm out of ideas, but I am not interested in spending the money on stuff that the other person doesn't even need anyway.

Also, I just don't want the gifts that are given to me either. With trying to declutter and make due with less, the whole gift-giving thing is getting old.

I keep imagining how simple Christmas would be minus the gifts that end up being unnecessary anyway.

Anyone else feel this way?

I am sick of my girls getting stuff lol
I know that people mean well, they just have SO much, and really do not need anything else. My inlaws have started a fund for them, which will be great, something for later in life instead of plastic crap for today.

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married 8 years to a crazy Brit, mommy to a banana, she is 4 and a pineapple who is 11 months, mommy to 3 ~angel~ babies

The older I grow the more earnestly I feel that the few joys of childhood are the best that life has to give. ~Ellen Glasgow
~Childhood is that wonderful time of life when all you need to do to lose weight is take a bath

Honestly, I am tired of giving gifts to those who do not appreciate it. No thank you whatsoever. I'm not saying writing me out along winded thank you letter. Quick call or even an email will suffice just to say: Thanks Uncle Johnny & Aunt Alice for the widget.

As far as my girls receiving gifts, yes, they do call and thank whoever for whatever. But I am tired of no thought put into their gifts. A barbie for a 16 year old? Come on. Just do what my MIL does--nothing. No card, no gift, no call. Works for me. And the kids don't miss it nor do they look for it.

The money boat has rowed to shore here and it's not setting sail anytime soon.

YES! I feel the same way as you! Maybe because I am getting older (I'll be 40 this year)! I'm even getting to the point that I don't want anything. I just want to keep it simple.

It's hard to figure out what to get parents, siblings, nieces and nephews ( We can't afford what they really want) etc.

If it were up to me I would say "Happy Birthday is enough"! And forget the stress.
Last year was bad for us and it just makes me almost hate the holidays , esp Christmas because we have to buy for everyone and it's all about money. I know we don't have to, but we want to and then it's neverending.

Oh, and like the OP mentioned about thank you cards. I'm all about thank you cards and some people just don't do it. Unbelievable.

I would love to have a no-buying Christmas. I'll start the trend with me this year and them maybe it'll catch on with my family like a pay it forward.

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All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother- Abraham Lincoln

Love that!

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All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother- Abraham Lincoln

I think that everybody gets burnt out on this. You are definately not alone!!!

Christmas gifts I don't mind. I put thought into those and budget year round and also make a lot of the gifts. I also will give birthday gifts. We just cannot afford much more than that. I have told my family this and they come off with the, "It's ok, we want to give your kids gifts." Finally at Easter when my brother brought a huge box of toys to our Grandma's for my boys, I had to tell him that we are getting rid of things in our house and that it's very nice, but I don't have room for all of it. I would love to stockpile on toys and gifts for other people, but I simply don't have the room or the money. It's hard because you don't want to seem ungrateful.

I said to Rusty a long time ago that we should buy less for Christmas. This year I only got things for the kids on his side. I know what you mean about Thank Yous. I got his sister something for her birthday last week and she doesn't have the decency to call and Thank us. Of course what can you expect from a selfish person like her I guess. I always send Thank yous.

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Mom to Kellan 12-16-2000
Brooklyn 12-27-2005
Nolan 10-15-2007
Wife to Russell 10-14-2005

I feel that way too. It does get stressful and the joy is taking out of it for everyone. We are down to exhanging only with our friends and family's children, except those that dont have kids. Then we agree to a limmit in price. This has calmed things down considerably. Maybe stop doing birthdays with people? Unless they are kids.

At this point, we really only buy for each other, our kids, and our parents. I have a big family and none of us could afford to all buy for each other so we limit that to just 1st bds, and special occassions like Communions, Graduations, etc.

Once in a while, my friends and I will send each other alittle something in the mail for no reason. That's so much more fun than the obligatory bd gift.

It'll be up to you to end this. Who knows, maybe the others in your circle feel the exact same way, but are too embarrassed or afraid to stop it too. I was very embarrassed to tell my SILs we could no longer afford it, but it turned out just fine. Looking back, I see I didn't have anything to be embarrassed about. I wish I had ended it sooner!