Apparently I am a "sad specimen"!!

TravellingAbuela

I was mortified to read a comment in the Daily Mirror yesterday on Brian Reade's page which read as follows - "Some of life's saddest specimens flock to New Year's sales to buy next year's Christmas presents".

Well, ok, I'll put my hand up, I am one of those sad specimens! Admittedly I don't flock there on the first day but I do like a browse in Boots, and maybe Debenhams and BHS, to see what I can pick up in their half price sale to use as gifts for birthdays and Christmas presents in the coming year. Does this make me a sad specimen or just very MSE?

(And dare I even admit to awaiting the 75% off sale in Boots to buy even more gifts to stash away!!) :rotfl:

Own_My_Own

TravellingAbuela wrote: »

"Some of life's saddest specimens flock to New Year's sales to buy next year's Christmas presents".

'' While the rest of the saddest specimens wait until December, and run round like headless chickens spending a lot more than they need to.'' :D

Goldiegirl

That journalist has probably insulted many of his readers - it's not really the way to increase circulation!

I hardly ever read papers these days, I get my news from the Internet or tv. I don't care what they say in the papers, I just do things my way, and that does involve looking forward to any Boots 75 percent off sale!

GreyQueen

Not unless sad is spelled s-a-v-v-y.

I bought some of next year's gifts between Crimble and New Year so I guess I get double-saddo bonzo bonus points in DM land.

Couldn't give a toss what the DM thinks of savvy and well-orgainised people like the OP and me. Just annoyed that they probably gave the flack who wrote this drivel enough spondulicks to pay their leccy bill this month.

When millions are running around in a lather come December I shall be chilling on my sofa with a good book and a cuppa and letting them get on with it.

sjprmc01

Umm I wait in anticipation for Xmas eve so I can go on boots.com and buy half price toys for the kids for the following Christmas

It's perfect timing for me as by then I've bought that years presents and usually get paid early too so have cash in the bank

If that makes me 'sad'. I'm glad to be!

pleasedelete

But don't you end up buying a lot of stuff that no-one wants or needs and it just goes regifted or sent to charity?

We had 80 recognisable Boots sets at the school summer fair- almost £1000 of tat (sorry unwanted generic gift set).

I would much rather get a 99p bunch of flowers or a 50p item bought with me in mind than a generic reduced gift set bought for someone or because it will come in handy just because it is cheap.

To me nothing says I couldn't really care about you more than getting last years reduced (or regifted) set from Boots. If you don't know someone well enough to get them a personal gift however small then maybe it is time to discuss not exchanging gifts with them?

Gift giving isn't about how much you spend it's about getting something that someone will adore. If you wouldn't spend £10 on an item for someone then it is no better at £2.50 UNLESS you absolutely know that it is just the perfect gift for your auntie/granny/dog. But let's be honest- very rarely is it the perfect gift- usually its a generic filler. The person will probably regift it, give it to charity or even bin it.

Giving shouldn't be about the cost or saving money. Many of my best gifts I received cost a few pence- but the thought was there and so I loved them.

Also if you owe any money at all you need to add on your highest interest rate to the price. Adding 30 per cent because you could have paid off some debt but instead stock piled gifts suddenly doesn't make them that cheap anymore. AnD in sainsburys and boots they are always 3 for 2 and so the idea of them being half price is a con as they are never sold at full price.

A bespoke £1 gift says I know all about you, I love you and I care. Honestly with friends and families it is not about the cost but getting the perfect gift.

Sambucus_Nigra

I'd suggest stop reading the Daily Mirror.

sjprmc01

Well it's mainly just my kids I advance buy for. I done it last jan for this Xmas too they all got 'good' next pjs that I'd bought them all the next size up last yr in jan sale

I don't generally buy gift sets unless they are for myself or OH to be put into use (not as gifts) but again, I buy the kiddy toiletry/makeup sets


I am aware of how the boots '3 for 2' gift thing looks, but other stores do it too and they don't get the same bad rep! I don't gift out to people though (none of my family/friends bother)

I also have a small stock of birthday party pressies for if the kids get invited to one so I can usually pull something together without having to run out to the shops

Blackpool_Saver

Providing you have given thought to the gift, and it is not recognisable as a sale/last years, then it is not a problem, and good luck with it

pleasedelete

sjprmc01 wrote: »

Well it's mainly just my kids I advance buy for. I done it last jan for this Xmas too they all got 'good' next pjs that I'd bought them all the next size up last yr in jan sale

I don't generally buy gift sets unless they are for myself or OH to be put into use (not as gifts) but again, I buy the kiddy toiletry/makeup sets


I am aware of how the boots '3 for 2' gift thing looks, but other stores do it too and they don't get the same bad rep! I don't gift out to people though (none of my family/friends bother)

I also have a small stock of birthday party pressies for if the kids get invited to one so I can usually pull something together without having to run out to the shops

I think your own children are different (if young) as you know they will need pjs etc etc.

I think children's party gifts are the worst items for being regifted endlessly! I am sure that the same ones cycle forever in some party circles- when mine were young there was a jigsaw I saw at least 3 times!

pleasedelete

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

Providing you have given thought to the gift, and it is not recognisable as a sale/last years, then it is not a problem, and good luck with it

But isn't almost every gift set recognisable as last years sale? Well I would probably assume that someone giving me a last years gift set was regifting something they had received the year before but not wanted. Is that worse or better?