Ben by Daniel Shelton for December 08, 2022

I don’t like stores that urge you to set up a gift list. However, when it comes to children you see only a rarely it helps to know what the latest interest is.

In my family we make a wish list on Amazon for others to choose from. We don’t like to waste money on things someone doesn’t want.

All the credit card bills end up on my desk; I don’t encourage spending.

I appreciate Wish Lists. I want to give people things they want, not things I think they should want.

My kids just want me to Venmo them, whatever that is.

Yay for the Giftster app!

When my family still got together for Christmas we did away with buying individual gifts. We instituted a grab bag game instead. Everyone brought a couple of whimsical inexpensive wrapped gifts which were all piled onto our table. Everyone took turns unwrapping something. Bartering, trading, and haggling was encouraged. It was a lot of fun.

It does sort of take the fun and spirit out of Christmas.

The spirit of Christmas has evolved a bit. It’s more like the greed of Christmas.

Our daughter sends us links to possible presents for our grandson. Then, when we decide on something, she orders it from Amazon Prime (she has it and we don’t). We don’t mind, makes things easy.

I let my wife buy her own gifts. That way it’s the right size, color and exactly what she wanted. I learned this decades ago.