Comments on: Gifts Are About Feelings, Not Dollars http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/gifts-are-about-feelings-not-dollars.html personal finance blog with anecdotes, advice and commentary. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:21:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Foobarista http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/gifts-are-about-feelings-not-dollars.html/comment-page-1#comment-204901 Foobarista Wed, 26 Dec 2007 10:20:59 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/gifts-are-about-feelings-not-dollars.html#comment-204901 We have some rules: 1. We do "real" presents only for immediate family. When my mom or grandma mention that something broke in the house or something, we note it in the "Christmas candidate" list; we subtly check whether the item got replaced in the meantime. My brother and I just ask each other what we want for Christmas (within budget reason) and buy it; what we lack in surprise is made up for in avoiding <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadweight_loss" rel="nofollow">deadweight loss</a>. The presents are wrapped and put under the tree, of course, and we'll always buy each other a few DVDs as well. 2. When we visit the in-laws in China, we bring back lots of interesting - and cheap - little trinkets, which make for good presents for coworkers and admins. 3. For my wife and I, we take what some may regard as a coldly rational approach, but one that works: we plan one house upgrade or purchase and announce it at Christmas as our "present" to each other, although it may not actually be done at Christmastime. It helps that everyone in my family is quite rational and likes to stick to the "one big, good present" doctrine. As for commercials, the ones for fancy diamonds are interesting: even I couldn't help noticing that every jewelry ad was promoting a S-shaped pendant with a bunch of diamonds in it; doubtless DeBeers was doing its thing. And does anyone actually buy their SO a Lexus or Benz for Christmas? My wife would kill me if I did that :) We have some rules:

1. We do “real” presents only for immediate family. When my mom or grandma mention that something broke in the house or something, we note it in the “Christmas candidate” list; we subtly check whether the item got replaced in the meantime. My brother and I just ask each other what we want for Christmas (within budget reason) and buy it; what we lack in surprise is made up for in avoiding deadweight loss. The presents are wrapped and put under the tree, of course, and we’ll always buy each other a few DVDs as well.

2. When we visit the in-laws in China, we bring back lots of interesting – and cheap – little trinkets, which make for good presents for coworkers and admins.

3. For my wife and I, we take what some may regard as a coldly rational approach, but one that works: we plan one house upgrade or purchase and announce it at Christmas as our “present” to each other, although it may not actually be done at Christmastime.

It helps that everyone in my family is quite rational and likes to stick to the “one big, good present” doctrine.

As for commercials, the ones for fancy diamonds are interesting: even I couldn’t help noticing that every jewelry ad was promoting a S-shaped pendant with a bunch of diamonds in it; doubtless DeBeers was doing its thing. And does anyone actually buy their SO a Lexus or Benz for Christmas? My wife would kill me if I did that :)

]]> By: Ryan S. http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/gifts-are-about-feelings-not-dollars.html/comment-page-1#comment-204727 Ryan S. Tue, 25 Dec 2007 17:17:01 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/gifts-are-about-feelings-not-dollars.html#comment-204727 Well, I admit I do like nice stuff, but being the frugal guy I am, the reason I like that stuff is to see how long I can keep it working. My iBook keeps saying "replace me", but it's still going strong at nearly four years old at this point. I'd love to get a new MacBook to replace it, but I'm not sure when that'll happen (it could be soon, since AmEx is offering me $100 off $1000 at the Apple Store for Business). I love my iPods too, but I use them heavily, and I almost always have one on. OTOH, I don't own a TV. :) - Ryan Well, I admit I do like nice stuff, but being the frugal guy I am, the reason I like that stuff is to see how long I can keep it working. My iBook keeps saying “replace me”, but it’s still going strong at nearly four years old at this point. I’d love to get a new MacBook to replace it, but I’m not sure when that’ll happen (it could be soon, since AmEx is offering me $100 off $1000 at the Apple Store for Business). I love my iPods too, but I use them heavily, and I almost always have one on.

OTOH, I don’t own a TV. :)
-
Ryan

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/gifts-are-about-feelings-not-dollars.html/comment-page-1#comment-204566 Jonathan Mon, 24 Dec 2007 14:06:01 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/gifts-are-about-feelings-not-dollars.html#comment-204566 There is a societal pressure to "one-up" other gift-givers, another manifestation of the all-powerful drive to keep up with the Joneses, or the Smiths, or the Jacobsens, or anyone else for that matter. Personally, I would much rather receive a gift that is thoughtful, useful, and demonstrates that the gifter really knows me, rather than an expensive paperweight that I will lovingly display in the back of the storage closet. There is a societal pressure to “one-up” other gift-givers, another manifestation of the all-powerful drive to keep up with the Joneses, or the Smiths, or the Jacobsens, or anyone else for that matter.

Personally, I would much rather receive a gift that is thoughtful, useful, and demonstrates that the gifter really knows me, rather than an expensive paperweight that I will lovingly display in the back of the storage closet.

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