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katestineI hate hate hate being forced to give presents I disagree with.
I suspect my gift giving regimen is rough on my friends, but I much prefer giving presents when I think of something awesomely cool to give, than having to come up with a great idea this year bc I was inspired last year and now we have a gift-giving tradition. I also would prefer to give group gifts, or gift over several holidays, although my argument for this is more shaky: I would say that it's bc my friends and family would generally love things that are more expensive than I can reasonably spend on them, it seems to me most smaller presents contribute to the deadweight loss of Christmas. Well, I would say that, except then I realized that now that my mum has lent me her heartrate monitor and a portable cassette player, the only things I could think of that I want for the Winter Consumerist Holiday cost $5-12 :) And the main reason I want them is that they are kitchen toys I keep saying I will buy but then I want to accumulate a $125 order for Amazon's kitchen store and thank G-d I don't want THAT many kitchen toys.
Note: this is me saying that I don't need Chanukah presents, unless you have a really great inspiration.
But here's the real rant: I'm thoroughly vexed that my cousin is getting married this weekend and I have to buy her a present that I've been coordinating with my siblings - and her choices all suck. She's registered at five stores, two of which have horrible websites that don't show pictures of their $350 silver platters. At the three other stores, she doesn't list any large appliances (which seems like a good close family gift) and the only large items she asked for were either purchased or a set of knives, the latter of which was on two different registries. We could all pitch in and buy her an all-clad stockpot, except that I think spending several hundred dollars on a stockpot is dumb. I suggested we buy her a full set of towels: it's useful and in the right price range, and maybe she'll think of us every time she uses her nice white towels. Except my sister hated that idea. Worst of all, I think we're going to end up buying her wine goblets, of which I generally approve, except that it's $50 each for pretty (if you like that sort of thing) engraving, instead of fine crystal. For $50 each, I can buy Riedels! or 6 of my Spiegelaus. Grr.
I suspect my gift giving regimen is rough on my friends, but I much prefer giving presents when I think of something awesomely cool to give, than having to come up with a great idea this year bc I was inspired last year and now we have a gift-giving tradition. I also would prefer to give group gifts, or gift over several holidays, although my argument for this is more shaky: I would say that it's bc my friends and family would generally love things that are more expensive than I can reasonably spend on them, it seems to me most smaller presents contribute to the deadweight loss of Christmas. Well, I would say that, except then I realized that now that my mum has lent me her heartrate monitor and a portable cassette player, the only things I could think of that I want for the Winter Consumerist Holiday cost $5-12 :) And the main reason I want them is that they are kitchen toys I keep saying I will buy but then I want to accumulate a $125 order for Amazon's kitchen store and thank G-d I don't want THAT many kitchen toys.
Note: this is me saying that I don't need Chanukah presents, unless you have a really great inspiration.
But here's the real rant: I'm thoroughly vexed that my cousin is getting married this weekend and I have to buy her a present that I've been coordinating with my siblings - and her choices all suck. She's registered at five stores, two of which have horrible websites that don't show pictures of their $350 silver platters. At the three other stores, she doesn't list any large appliances (which seems like a good close family gift) and the only large items she asked for were either purchased or a set of knives, the latter of which was on two different registries. We could all pitch in and buy her an all-clad stockpot, except that I think spending several hundred dollars on a stockpot is dumb. I suggested we buy her a full set of towels: it's useful and in the right price range, and maybe she'll think of us every time she uses her nice white towels. Except my sister hated that idea. Worst of all, I think we're going to end up buying her wine goblets, of which I generally approve, except that it's $50 each for pretty (if you like that sort of thing) engraving, instead of fine crystal. For $50 each, I can buy Riedels! or 6 of my Spiegelaus. Grr.
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(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-08 01:02 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-08 04:45 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-08 01:35 pm (UTC)Not that I care, mind - this year I've been giving out cleavers like candy.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-08 02:43 pm (UTC)Yes, it is supposed to be bad luck for the giftor if they don't receive something in "payment" for the blades.
Often people will give a knife with a penny taped to the card/package. The recipient then takes the penny and gives it back to the bestower as "payment" for the knives.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-08 02:22 pm (UTC)Also, maybe they already have all the big items? Is there an item that you could "upgrade" on her registry? We registered for a regular toaster over, but our best man and his wife decided that we needed the convection oven feature, so they got us a better one instead. So right. I use that All The Time to make fast, easy dinner for just the two of us. We also love the large pewter platter that we didn't register for that we can heat up and put brisket on at Passover and turkey on at Thanksgiving. It might me our most consistently used "nice" serving dish.
Have fun at the wedding!
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-08 03:53 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-08 04:45 pm (UTC)That's so neat about the platter! I agree - gifts one didn't ask for but love are the best!
Thanks!
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-08 02:29 pm (UTC)I'm never going to convince them that they have bad taste and want stupid things that aren't going to work well. It's what they said they wanted, so they can't blame me when it's a piece of shit.
There is one exception, though... I think I'm going to quit giving my nieces and nephews gifts. All of them already get anything they need from their parents, grandparents, or other aunts and uncles. I'm seriously considering just starting bank accounts for them and depositing money at appropriate gift times. Sure, they'll think I suck for a few years when they don't get presents from me. But when they get a big pile of cash when they turn 25 or something, they'll understand. I need to discuss this with my wife still.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-08 03:24 pm (UTC)COMPLETELY UNRELATED
Date: 2006-12-08 03:43 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-08 03:51 pm (UTC)In my humble opinion, you should by all means buy the gift that you think is best for your cousin, even if that means you and your sister must part ways on what to get. The Reidel or Spiegelau glasses would be wonderful: So beautiful and easy to clean that you'd want to use them every day, but not so expensive or delicate that you'd be reluctant to risk breaking them. Towels are likewise one of those thoughtful gifts that will be used and appreciated again and again.
I probably shouldn't even get started on the blatant greed that is the modern gift registry, huh?