How Many Unwanted Gifts Did You Get?
I mean, I really don’t want to put a dampener on your chirstmas spirits or anything like that. Far from it. You might very well think this is me:
No, that’s not me. That’s the Grinch. I’m not the Grinch. I’m not saying don’t spend money. It’s after christmas now anyway, so it’s too late, the money is already spent. So why am I writing this now?
Please read on, you will see, there is a point to this (well, 4 points actually, once I counted them).
What We Can Learn From Our Christmas
In this post: Promise Yourself A Happy, Stress-Free Christmas I wished you a happy, stress-free Christmas, and I hope that’s what you had. did you? did you get past the 9.58am mark without arguing? We did. We made it to about 10.10 before we had our first argument but it was brief and about something very small (a lost remote control).
We then went on to have one of the best Christmases we have ever had. We took our time opening our presents and enjoyed a really relaxing day. We had gotten each other fairly modest but thoughtful presents and nobody was disappointed with any of them.
How We Saved A Lot Of Money This Christmas
Yes we did. We had a fantastic Christmas and we have saved a lot of money. How? Well, we enjoyed great food and time with family, we watched some TV shows, went out for a nice walk with our dog and enjoyed our presents.
We did have some more expensive items that each of us wanted, but we have decided to have a few less expensive items on Christmas day and wait until after Christmas, when the sales are on to buy the more expensive items – thus saving a lot of money.
In actual fact, the couple of more expensive items we were thinking of buying have now become one item. Having paused for thought we have decided we don’t really need the other one.
I did still get a couple of presents which I won’t particularly use (I won’t say what they are just in case whoever bought them is reading this), this is because it’s really difficult to tell friends and extended family you’d rather not receive anything or if they’re not sure not to get you anything at all instead of wasting money on something you don’t really want – it’s sometimes tricky to put across this message without it getting awkward. Luckily in my case the things which aren’t much use are really small and therefore very little money has been wasted (plus, don’t worry, I will find a nice and loving home for both items).
What’s The Point?
Before I hand over to you, the point of me writing this is to remind you of a few things. Well actually, there are four points and here they are:
- You can be smart about what you buy and save money, even at Christmas, without spoiling the fun,
- the important things are the things you can’t put a price-tag on anyway (hopefully you got that from this and from the previous post)
- if you have unwanted gifts, don’t just shelve them or throw them into the back of a cupboard, find someone who does want them and will use them
- even if money has been wasted on unwanted or over-priced gifts, now is a good time to recognize that (i.e. right in the moment when you realize it, when a good example is right in front of you) so that you learn for next time
Now It’s Your Turn – Any Unwanted Gifts?
So now it’s your turn. How many unwanted gifts did you get this Christmas? How many unwanted gifts did you give? Did you pay over the odds for any gifts you gave or receive gifts that were too expensive? What do you plan to do with those unwanted gifts? Do you know of anyone who would find more use for them than you do? Can you find them a better home? Please let us know in the comments below… (and be honest!)
If you have absolutely no unwanted gifts and have not overspent this Christmas either then bravo!! How cool is that?
What did you enjoy most about this Christmas?
This is hard for me to respond to since I haven’t even got all my Christmas presents this year yet except one which was cash. And I think cash is always acceptable. In previous years, I’ve received several things that I didn’t have any use for. I’ve learned to just accept them and try to find a use for them. If all else fails, I donate it.
I think you’re very right that if you’re smart about it and think about what you need, you can save money and get some good gifts. I think getting some smaller items and waiting until the sales come out afterwards can work really well.
Yup – I’m about to start shopping for a couple of things I really want right about now 😉
You didn’t get all of your present because you travel so much?
best wishes for 2012 Steve!
I haven’t been traveling too much this year. It’s because I’ve been working a lot lately so I haven’t had the time to go and get them. It sounds like they’re in the mail though on the way to me. I guess Christmas will just be coming a little later for me than usual.
I’m not sure I put the right address on mine Steve, but it’s the thought that counts 😉
I hope you got all you asked for anyway (& presumably you got them all by now?)
Good to see your blog still going strong over the XMas & New Year period!
take care,
Alan