Money Moral Dilemma: Should I buy my family gifts when I go on holiday as they do for me?

kesyery

Maybe an easily  portable small bottle of local booze, but only if I remember.  Some folk do, some folk don't.  Not a big issue in my book.

captainwobble

I would buy them a small bag of foreign sweets that you cannot purchase here.  That's what i do as the tourist tat as you say will be a gift they just would not use or probably like.  Cant go wrong with a small bag of sweets.

Annemad

I stopped bringing gifts home from holidays a long time ago. I told my family I wasn't doing it anymore and told them to bring me nothing back from theirs. I don't need another fridge magnet thank you

KaelaLee88

I agree to bring back some food for them - I know they'd appreciate you thinking of them Our Family used to do this but stopped after my Mam passed away - these little gifts were important to her xx

ginger_chocolate

If you happen to see something you genuinely think they would appreciate (and can afford) then sure, but don't buy tat for the sake of it. Send a postcard instead.

Pollycat

ginger_chocolate said:

If you happen to see something you genuinely think they would appreciate (and can afford) then sure, but don't buy tat for the sake of it. Send a postcard instead.

We always sent a postcard to a friend of ours whenever we went abroad.
When he died we found out from his family that he'd kept them all.
They handed them back to us and we spent a long time reading them, reminiscing about our holidays and our friend, laughing and crying.
I've kept them.

JayD

Whilst I am sympathetic to the view that buying unwanted gifts is ecologically unsound and can be stressful, I do feel that this is your family's tradition and that it would, possibly hurt them if you did not bring them a little something back. I agree with others here, that something that can be consumed, and that may have some connection with the place you have visited, is probably the best type of gift to buy for them. Just don't turn it into a stressful souvenir hunt.

Kt70

MSE_Kelvin said:

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

When my parents or my sister go on holiday, they usually bring me back a small gift, though I always tell them they shouldn't, as it's often something I don't need. I'm going away soon for the first time in a while and I'm wondering if I should buy them gifts - I feel that whatever I buy will be a waste of money, but I know I'll feel guilty if I don't bring something back like they always do for me.

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I buy a tea towel that is printed with local info or the name of the area I’m staying in. 

Madyana

It's always a tricky one, but buying a local delicacy usually goes down well. Personally, I resent spending time on holiday shopping and don't like receiving unwanted prezzies. I have let my family know, but they still buy stuff for me! Generally a waste of money.

Pollycat

Madyana said:

It's always a tricky one, but buying a local delicacy usually goes down well. Personally, I resent spending time on holiday shopping and don't like receiving unwanted prezzies. I have let my family know, but they still buy stuff for me! Generally a waste of money.

And in my opinion it's rude to disregard other people's wishes.