Cathy Classics by Cathy Guisewite for December 08, 2013

Why not give of yourself to those closest to you (instead of your wallet). Make something, bake something, clean their house or babysit. True friends appreciate that more anyway.

Ow—I felt physical pain from this [eye-roll].

And, anyone notice that the saleswoman offered the same vase in the first and last panels?

HI, MOM. Good Sunday Morning, “Cathy” Clan.

Yeah, the saleswoman heard, “Blahblahblah”. She only cares if she sells something. If I have a “no gift” agreement, I wouldn’t even be in the store. I’d happily be at home relaxing!Hello Cathy clan!!

My wife and I have a no gift agreement too and have had for many years. BUT – every year she gets me gifts for Christmas so I, being a wise husband (at times anyway) make sure I also have gifts for her. Hmmmm – not sure if I am her borderline friend or an obligatory acquaintance. I do know I am smart enough to have a gift for her no matter what she says.Happy Sunday Clan!

I’m just about at the “No Gift Pact” point myself these days. I don’t have much of a problem buying for friends but I ran out of ideas to surprise both my husband and mother with a long time ago when it comes to gift-giving. For the last I don’t know how many years now, I’ve had to resort to just asking them what they want because I can never come up with anything on my own anymore. You wouldn’t think it would be so hard shopping for people you know as well as I do them but in fact, they’re absolutely impossible! They never seem to want or need anything — and if they do, they just buy it on their own at some other point during the year so there’s not much left for me to get them by Christmas. It really takes away all the fun for me having to do things that way but what else can I do? I mean, how many sweaters does someone need anyhow?

Hi, rgcviper!

Susan: Cathy DOES have one other child in her life, you know . . . Electra! She definitely can’t [or shouldn’t, anyhow] forget about her sweet little furbaby when it comes to all her Christmas shopping!!!!! ;-)

Hello and Happy Sunday, fellow “Cathy” friends. We got approximately another 1" to 1-1/2" of snow again last nice to add to the approximate 4" we got on Friday. Sure wish I lived in Florida instead of Indiana. I am not — nor have I ever been — a snow / cold weather person and that’s not something that will ever change, even if I live to be a hundred years old. Can’t wait for the day when retirement comes and we can move to warmer winter climes. It may not be Florida [as my husband doesn’t want to live in Florida] but at least it won’t be here anymore!

Since I have a large family and am back in school, most of my family doesn’t expect a gift from me and my best friend and I have never given gifts. She has a large family also. I gift my children, their dad unless we have a no-gift agreement like we do this year and the aunt and uncle who raised me. Last year, I gifted my sister and her children since they were struggling.

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.