How many gifts do you

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-16-1999
How many gifts do you
3
Mon, 12-06-2004 - 10:35pm
receive actually have a WOW value to equal the expense of the gift? I have noticed that many times people work like dogs and spend lots of money to buy gifts. The recipient is touched by the effort and the thoughtfulness of the gift. But... it is something that while appreciated, really doesn't have the WOW power that it should for the amount of money spent. I know that when I receive a gift which I know either costs too much or that I don't like as much as I should, I feel really bad. I know the person worked hard and spent a bunch of money with the goal of getting me something wonderful. But there I sit with a gift that I know cost too much and that I don't really have a use for that equals the moeny and effort the person expended. One year we went with our adult/ teen kids on a Christmas adventure to a flea market. Each person received an envelope with a name and $10 in it. The goal was to buy the best gift or combination of gifts you could for $10.. You were to spend the entire $10 and not a penny over. The gifts could be serious, gag, new, used whatever... It was a hoot! The amazing thing is that the gifts everyone ended up with were terrific! DH got the strangest (and funniest) coat of arms (which now hangs in our study). Part of the fun was the fact that many time people resorted to begging sellers to lower the prices so they could afford the gift. People then were trying to hide them in their coats or whatever as they made their way to the car. Some people got things that cool as they were, nobody could identify which made it even more fun. A big part of the gift was the story that was told about the adventure of buying it.It gave each person two moments in the spotlight. First they had a chance to hear how special they were to the person who had their name and felt loved as their realized that the person really thought of them. And second, they were in the spot light when they told of their shopping adventure. The stories were embellished a little for sure but it only added to the fun. Something similar could be done at a dollar store and you could probably get away with $5.00.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Mon, 12-06-2004 - 10:49pm

Wow! What a terrifc idea for a youth group or other group instead of a traditional gift exchange. A fun adventure, a lesson in the power of a dollar (and in the power of negotiating), and cheaper than most gift exchanges to boot! Not to mention a great bonding experience. I love it!!

Yes, I hate when people spend too much on gifts for me. Many people who buy for me seem to think that the gifts have to be brand new, or that if they get a really good deal on something they have to keep shopping until they've spent as much as they think they should. I actually prefer for people to get good value for their money, and would rather have a used, thoughtfully chosen gift than anything else. I clip coupons for my husband for things I want and instruct him not to pay full retail for anything. I also make a point of telling anyone when the topic arises, that I hope they will not pay full retail for anything they buy me, and that I prefer used items to new.

By the way, dh & I have a $15 upper limit on gifts for each other. He has already purchased my gifts on sale. I am sewing some items for him that he has been wanting. I'll actually have to purchase fabric (most projects I make out of salvaged materials from old bed sheets, t-shirts, remnants, etc., but this project requires some specialty stuff that is difficult to find except new), but it will still easily come in under the $15.

Heather

Avatar for cl_beckymk
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 12-06-2004 - 11:19pm

That sounds fun!!!


I'm trying to think back at the "Wow" gift factor and can't really remember any - which is kind of weird that honestly I can remember one specific Christmas that I got a Bubble Yum doll and thought that was great, along with a keychain with my name on it.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-21-2004
Fri, 12-10-2004 - 11:16am

last year my in-laws gave us a state of the art digital video camera.. and let me tell you, I was not happy. I of course, didn't tell them that. I was gracious and said thank you. The reason I was mad was because the gift was not given out of love, it was for the "wow" factor. It was our first big christmas celebration with both sets of parents and they wanted to "one-up" my parents. It really pissed me off. When I opened the gifts from my parents, I actually liked them more! My parents put thought into, the got me a special book of irish folklore (which i love, by the way) a new journal and a locking make-up case - because I had complained to my mom that my daughter always gets into my makeup (she's two!!). I know my parents felt inadequate for spending so little, but I loved their gifts more! I will take a nice thoguhtful gift over an overpriced one any day!!!

kel