Cathy Classics by Cathy Guisewite for December 08, 2013
December 07, 2013
December 09, 2013
Transcript:
Saleswoman: How about this lovely $300 crystal vase? Cathy: No, thanks. Mom and I have a "no gift pact" this year. Saleswoman: A "no gift pact"? Charlene: My mom and I have one, too. We're helping each other simplify. Cathy: Dad, too. We're giving no gifts to the grown-ups in the family. Charlene: My husband and I agreed on no gifts, too. Cathy: Also my girlfriends. We all promised no gifts. Charlene: Office friends, too. Also neighbors. No gifts to neighbors. Cathy: I'm buying nothing for the people I'm closest to... Charlene: Nothing for those who mean the most to me. Cathy: We're shopping only for borderline friends and obligatory acquaintances. Saleswoman: How about this lovely $300 crystal vase? Gift List: Non-Gift List:
Never bought for friends nor they for me (us). That would be expensive and stupid and just result in more junk in the house. Nothing ever said, just never did. Husband used to have give secretaries in office, but it always seemed stupid as does anyone want a random item that 7 other women are getting also?
Managed to get one sister and her husband to agree not to trade gifts. Mom was in financial straits a few years back and got other sister to agree to give/spend what we would give each other (and husbands) to mom and not accept gifts from mom. Sister & h apparently broke pact and accept gifts from mom. Mom refused my gifts if I won’t take from her so no gifts there. Send niece and nephews checks – in their 20’s. Husband’s sister and her husband and us exchange checks – stupidest idea I ever heard of. We buy for their 2 girls as they are young. These nieces get so many gifts that most are never used (one year s-i-l gave the one they had then 64 gifts just from “Santa”), their gifts are literally tossed onto a pile in a spare room and they have no idea what they have and stuff has never been opened.
I decided years ago gift giving was stupid. I would buy my sister a sweater at Sears with the gift card from what she bought me the year before, and vice versa and I was never sure if I was buying her the same sweater as the year before or not. Husband and I will buy something if we see if during the year and hold it to get as a gift – I have gone 5 years with no birthday, anniversary, Xmas (or other) gifts as there is nothing to get.