Has gift giving and receiving become less enjoyable?

[myrdale]

Well there is definitely some skill to gift giving.

I try to be conscious through out the year to hear what people mention.

Earlier this year my mother mentioned wanting some new mittens. So guess what she got. They were about $75. While they are intended to be more for hiking, they will serve her well around the house and walking in the woods.

I decided to forgo a $60 Nintendo game for by nephew (8) and got him about $20 in pokemon cards instead he was thrilled.

Most of the stuff I got my niece (5) I wasn't terribly impressed with. Then I found a neon pink glow in the dark chicken that screams when you squeeze it. Best gift ever.

My sister got some shirts. Nothing big there.

Total cost $250? maybe a little more.

I hate gift cards, but usually for my mother's birthday I will give her a $50 to restaurant. She can take my sister or one of her friends and have a meal or two on me.

[Like2Plan]

I prefer NOT to travel during Christmas & other major travel periods for just that reason. When I can travel/vacation during off-periods like Jan-Mar & Sep-Oct, and other "unpopular" travel times, I'll do it. Travel is cheaper, and crowds are lighter.

Quite so. We try to make lemonade out of lemons. We have been able to use this time to go to Pasadena for the Rose Parade a couple of times (which was on my bucket list--including volunteering to decorate one of the floats) and Times Square for NYE. We've done Disney World quite a few times-- I love to watch the fireworks especially over NYE which are always absolutely awesome and extra special. But these trips require a lot of advance planning starting at least a year out. (But, I will say anymore WDW requires a lot of advance planning even during the lighter crowd times).

[disneysteve]

The holiday time is not an ideal time to go to a lot of places due to crowd levels,

I think the best travel option during the holidays is a cruise. No matter what, the ship only holds a certain number of people. If it's 3,000, it's 3,000 whether it's March or June or December. Even better if you live within driving distance of the port so that you don't have to deal with the craziness of the airports or the hiked up fares. You'll pay more for the cruise itself but that's worth it.

[msomnipotent]

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This was one of the most depressing holidays I have had in a long time and the only surprise is we both came home very ill since daughter and SIL were sick. That was a surprise as they never mentioned they were ill in discussions before we traveled there.

This was also one of my worst, too. And one of the kids had the flu and no one said anything about it. I can understand that everyone wanted to be there because my FIL was just diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer and has a few months left, but don't infect everyone with the flu. That's the last thing he needs right now.
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I usually LOVE to give gifts. I have a wish list for people that I maintain all year and put a lot of thought into it. This year was just so far beyond a total pain in the ass and I'm glad it is over with. The stores just made it so hard to shop. Kohls sent the wrong order 4 times and then my husband was accused of trying to shoplift by the cashier when he tried to return one of the items. All someone wanted was a certain set of socks. I talked to several CSR's about the problem and then was finally told that they will not be trying to send me the correct pair.This was on the 23rd, after I was promised twice by other CSR's that the correct pair would be sent in time for Christmas. Two online shops actually raised the prices in my cart after I used a coupon code. Another forgot to activate a gift card I bought. I ordered 8 little cans of a special olive oil imported from France for gifts and all but one can had expired 6 months ago. I didn't notice until after I handed them out, so I was so embarrassed when people gave them back to me. I used credit card points to get the kids I tunes gift cards and discovered on Christmas Eve that my nephew stole them all and I had no time to buy anything else. Technically, I'm not out any money but I have to replace $175 worth of gifts now. It was just another embarrassment I had to face when I had to explain why I don't have gifts for some of the kids. I also discovered on Christmas day that he drank several hundred dollars worth of whiskey, most of my cigars, a bunch of beer, and money is missing. Again, I was so embarrassed because I offer whiskey and cigars to people, and then have to come back to the table empty handed. And to top it all off, I overcooked the prime rib roast because my stove broke and it seems to be running much hotter than it did before the repair.

I keep telling myself to be thankful. We almost lost my uncle early in the month when a slightly complicated surgery turned into a really big complication, but he managed to get released right before Christmas and is on the mend. I managed to get the kids together to bake cookies all because a kind repairman drove an hour out of his way to fix my stove at 7am that day. I was never so pleased to pay $300 for a $17 part in my life. And despite all the problems I had with Christmas dinner, everyone had a good time and there was only 1 fight where someone threatened to call the police and only one person cried tears of drunken rage. That's pretty good for my family. But this Christmas just broke my spirit. I didn't even decorate except for a tree with some lights on it. I didn't even put decorations on it. I'm just so glad it is over and I"m planning on scaling back a lot next year.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

We do a lot of experience things for the kids. I admit I hate build a bear, but my kids love it. Yes it's a thing but it's a thing they pick and we do lunch and make it an event. It's actually fun even if I hate build a bear. Think american girl doll tea.

[bjl584]

I enjoy gift giving. But it is getting more difficult as my friends and family become more established. Everyone already has everything, and gift cards are lame.

We have taken to making Amazon wish lists.
It's been a big help and takes out the guess work.