How do you decide who to buy presents for???

I know, the point of giving gifts is because you want to give something to someone but how do you decide who you get things for. Are you selfish when it comes to presents?

If you have a sibling or relative that you dont like but will be there for the holidays, do you get them something? What about someone who never gets you anything in return? Step siblings in or out? Co-workers, do they matter?

Yes, we do have people for whom we're compelled to buy, for whom we do not want to buy. Truth told, they probably don't want anything from us. They don't get anything for us.

There's a family-politico reason that we do it.

I can't go too far into it, because I'm afraid they're watching.




Step siblings are out, but I love them. I do usually try to get something for my step-mother, because my father has passed away and I feel like she got cheated a little. She hasn't remarried and I just feel like she gets forgotten.

I get something small for all of my coworkers in my department, because I want to.

Siblings are all-in and so are their spouses and any children they have, or will ever have.

In my family, it's usually discussed. Since there's a lot of people depending on which side, we'll draw names, so everyone only has to get one gift and we do a "secret santa" or "white elephant" type of thing.

I always get gifts for my immediate family, though - my brothers, my dad, my husband and my son.

We don't have "step" anything in my family, so I have no idea how that would work.

And co-workers, usually something small.

I stuffed the ballot box!

I don't have a sibling I don't like. I do have a brother that never gets me anything, but he can't really afford it, and I don't mind. I still buy him something every year. I also buy for my sister, BIL, neice, parents, one aunt and uncle (who always get us something nice), and grandfather.

On my husband's side of the family, we all discussed it and we just buy for my nephews. I have 6 nephews, and my husband's parents and their spouses. The sisters and brother thought it would be better to just buy for the kids and that's fine with me.

Quote from jenni. : On my husband's side of the family, we all discussed it and we just buy for my nephews. I have 6 nephews, and my husband's parents and their spouses. The sisters and brother thought it would be better to just buy for the kids and that's fine with me.

in our family, we only buy for the kids and grandparents. I only get a gift from my wife, which I buy myself: Nikkor 18-200mm lens

Quote from HeyLookItsMe : I know, the point of giving gifts is because you want to give something to someone but how do you decide who you get things for. Are you selfish when it comes to presents? If you have a sibling or relative that you dont like but will be there for the holidays, do you get them something? What about someone who never gets you anything in return? Step siblings in or out? Co-workers, do they matter?

i refer to past precedent....if we have exchanged gifts in the past, then we will continue to do so. if the person is new...then depends, if he/she is nice, i'll get him/her something, vice versa.

Buy a present for your department admin. You usually need them on your side. Also, any other office-mate who helps you out (like the other admin who scores you the company major league team tickets).

You're only supposed to buy gifts for people who have given you something in the past.

Quote from incogito : You're only supposed to buy gifts for people who have given you something in the past.

How does that work? You start off with no one gifting to no one, so then by that logic no one will ever gift each other? Someone's gotta start.

I PM Autumn, and she tells me who I buy for..

I try to get a little something for the cousins and extended family but don't seem like they want a family relationship. But this year it's a no

i give to everyone in my family/extended family except for one cousin I haven't seen in like 10 years who never bothered to acknowledge the gifts I would send. but it seems to me that If it's too much to send an email/facebook message/text or card to acknowledge a gift I took the time to mail, then it's not worth the effort.

Of the ones that I see regularly at family gatherings, I don't receive gifts back from all of them, but at this point in my life the greatest gift I receive from them is the gift of time with them.

I also give to a few close friends, regardless of whether I receive a gift in return.

Quote from acesmuzic : Of the ones that I see regularly at family gatherings, I don't receive gifts back from all of them, but at this point in my life the greatest gift I receive from them is the gift of time with them. I also give to a few close friends, regardless of whether I receive a gift in return.

That's really sweet.