Slinky: What you wrote, is exactly my point. I would rather buy H a gift, randomly. Because it’s something he loves and wants and has no idea it’s coming!

Christmas, in my opinion, is just the same as any other commercialized holiday.

It’s not that I don’t want to buy H a gift, but I would rather spend my Christmas holidays making memories with H. And surprise him later on in the year with a gift.

But next year we might do things differently! This is just how we have done things for the past 4 years!

“But we don’t believe in the gift giving for the sake of gift giving.”

Neither do I, but I guess I have a different opinion of what that means. To me it means giving gifts only when you truly want to. Since I haven’t had any Christmases or birthdays where I haven’t wanted to get my fiance a gift, he always gets a gift. Now, my extended family I have talked into doing a name exchange to cut down on the other gifts I’m “required” to give. And with less people to gift for, I find I actually want to give gifts again. It’s rather nice.

However, we don’t give gifts for Valentine’s, Sweetest Day, or (usually) our anniversary. Everyday is a day to appreciate each other so we don’t feel the need for a special day. We do generally take the day as an excuse to lounge around the house and play board games or something else together all day.

Jessie & Wellheeled: I hear yah! Who doesn’t like presents? And you’re right Jessie, as long as there is no debt, there is nothing wrong with gift giving!!

Maybe next year H and I will do things differently! Who knows.

I’m with wellheeled – I love presents. Both the giving and the receiving of them!

I have no doubt that my boyfriend and I will spend a few hundred dollars on the other – and that’s 100% okay in my book (as long as we don’t use credit or go into debt to do it).

It makes us both so happy to be able to give

Hey there – found you through SS4BC blog.

I have to admit I love presents. So my bf and I definitely exchange presents for birthdays and Christmases. Sometimes we also get each other “just because” presents. We’re also going to Disney World for our first big vacation together this year… so I guess that’s a gift we’re giving ourselves. And what an expensive gift that is!

Usually my husband and I give each other neat stocking stuffers. We give real gifts for birthdays. Two years ago,he surprised me with a trip to Hawaii for Christmas, he found rock bottom prices for airline tickets. I don’t know how or where, but he found them and we had a wonderful time.

Heather: I remember that from last year!! And then it kept breaking on you – is it still working?? LOL.

My husband and I haven’t exchanged gifts in years, for either birthdays or Christmas. However, last year he surprised me with an automatic starter for my van, and this year I *think* I am going to surprise him with a Wii. As hard as we try, sometimes it gets hard to stay “strong” and not give in to the gift giving spirit!

I always felt obligated, you know? My sister and brother in law are quite a bit wealthier than we are and love to buy tons of gifts – we always felt like we had to keep up but couldn’t of course; so every year it was feeling stupid and not good enough after the in laws Christmas get together.

This year, with the purchase of our first house, we’re just expecting people to understand and quite frankly – I’m glad to have the excuse. Don’t get me wrong, we’re still doing the homemade Christmas basket idea like I mentioned on the blog – but that’s it.

Bravo to the both of you for being willing to forgo a typical gift giving holiday in order to further your long term plans!!!

You all have great plans!

It’s so nice to hear when people don’t jump the money-loving-Christmas bandwagon! It sure makes me happy!