Would you consider a 'no-presents pact' this year?

MSE_Laura_F

Martin Lewis's blog Is it time to ban Christmas presents? was first published in 2009 but has just been updated. It examines the benefits of forgoing presents altogether.

Would you and your family consider it? Perhaps you do this already?

Gavin83

We aren't giving gifts this year. It's been a blessing to be honest.

I can understand why people give gifts to children but not really sure why adults bother giving gifts to each other. Just meet up and do the other stuff.

I suspect retail wouldn't like this approach however.

ceh209

OH's family are not doing presents between adults, I'm happy with this. I tried to instil this on my side of the family aswell, but they're having none of it. I have been essentially bullied into paying half of a membership gift for my parents, by my sister. My sister won't be receiving anything from me. When asked for present ideas, I've told them I don't want anything - so I fully expect to end up with some completely unwanted gifts on Christmas Day. Maybe next year they'll get the hint?

74jax

No we wouldn't consider this. 

Ramouth

I have suggested this to my family in the past but they were not keen.  I enjoy gift giving but do feel guilty about the amount of wasted resources so this year have really focussed on buying local and useful.  

tealady

Already do this (with 1 exception).
The relief from not exchanging unwanted items is immense.
We each buy what we want using the money saved by not buying stuff.
Works well for us.

mandy47

My side of the family just give a token gift. A bottle of favourite wine or a box of biscuits.
The in-laws won't even contemplate it. I wish they would because we are not that close. They don't really know us that well  so we never get anything we like or use.I don't think much thought goes into it. For example, huge cheese selection and I'm intolerant .  Infact we've received some really odd gifts in the past. They are usually donated after xmas to charity or the local food bank. 
I would rather they make a donation in my name or have a tree planted by the woodland trust.

maisie_cat

Hubby and I only buy for each other token presents, £50 budget. 
My siblings and I stopped presents for adults 30 years ago, Mum's idea, then as the children became adults that stopped.
It's more fun buying for kids than adults anyway, I used to love going to toysRus to get presents for 20 kids, although it did mean the childless of us received no presents at all.
I do send cards, but most of the family don't bother, in fact I have 3 brothers and have never received a Christmas Card from any of them.

powerspowers

My dads side of the family do secret Santa so buying 1 gift instead of 9. My mum equates gifts with love so I spoil her! I’ve stopped buying for friends and work colleagues, I usually make a charity donation instead. 

middlewife

I have a birthday in early December so gor the last two years have asked people to buy me one gift and donate to mind, shelter, macmillan or fare share for the other. You wouldn't believe the fuss! So far only my sister and sister in law have done it, my hubby and 4 kids seem to think its ungrateful, or maybe it will mean I don't buy them something. I figure at 59 I have all I need, but many don't....

[Deleted User]

We have considered it many times but not gone completely to this. We all buy for our parents & children but as there's 4 siblings all with partners and with children, it's a lot to buy for so we have moved to Secret Santa for anyone who wants to be involved and then no one feels pressured. We put on a £50 budget and just get one nice gift each but still feel like we are participating. We have used Elfster website this year which has worked brilliantly as it does it all for us of who has got who and you can also add a wishlist of ideas so no one is stuck but you don't know exactly what you will get. This has felt like the right compromise for us. And one 'wanted' present and not lots of useless junk.
One sibling wanted to go down the 'token gift' of a bottle of something etc for each person but it felt pointless - everyone is just essentially swapping the same thing and you end up spending as much money as one nice present for someone with secret santa.