It’s The Thought That Counts
Every fall and every spring I do some house cleaning. Sometimes it involves windows and deep cleaning the carpets, but mostly it involves surveying the gifts I’ve bought over the past year that are stored in our basement.
I love finding deals. Ask anyone who knows me. At Christmas I’ve been known to spill the beans and tell a person that I got their gift on clearance for $3. The bigger the deal, the bigger the thrill!
Most of the time my husband is embarrassed at my announcements to family and friends, but I figure he should be proud. It saves him money.
I’m in charge of the gift buying for this household, which means I buy all the presents for his family as well. This is no easy task people.
You try coming up with interesting gifts for folks who love red tractors, tell the same redneck jokes yearly and laugh like they just heard them for the first time, decorate in “French Country Wal-Mart” and only eat at Applebee’s.
No easy task people!
I admit to purchasing some loser items in the past just because they were such a good deal (that and I ran out of ideas). I also admit to getting a few, “why the hell did you buy me this gift” looks too. You win some, you lose some. Isn’t it the thought that counts?
FOR THE RECORD - I’ve never bought anyone this…
With my husband’s family it’s all about the sell. It wouldn’t matter if I bought them poop on a stick, they’d “oh” and “ah,” then thank us repeatedly. You could give them one walkie talkie and they seriously wouldn’t get it.
When it came time to wrap gifts last year my husband griped (once again) about what I’d purchased for his family members. I recall him saying things like:
“Too many knick-knacks.” AND “What will they do with that?”
So this past year I changed my game.
I’ve only bought a few of items I absolutely could not pass up for gifts this year. None of which are for his family. This year he is on his own. Let him fight the traffic and crowds. Let him find the poop on a stick dipped in gold.
For better or for worse maybe, but no one ever mentioned buying in-laws gifts.
My name is Emily. I’m 30 years old. I have often been told that I ask a lot of questions, but I think I have more to say than ask.
hilarious. next year he’ll be back to begging you to bargain shop.
Good for you. I did the same thing with Bill - that’s when his family started getting gift cards for Christmas.
My wife’s like you with deal-sharing, even if it makes her look cheap.
And, I for one would just shut up if my wife did the shopping (she does, and I don’t always like what she gets, but it always goes over well, so I shut up and count my blessings).
He’ll be begging for help come Dec 22.
I have, along time ago, had a big-mouth-billy-bass in my possession. Gift to our son from, can you guess?, the in-laws!
~hangs head in shame!~
(Oh, golly, I’m under Oh, The Joys. I swear I’m giddy!)
Love & Blessings,
Alli
But how can you pass up Big Mouth Billy Bass?? He sings!
Is it horrible that the thought of buying gifts hasn’t even entered my head?
BahHumbug.
Fantastic!
Eww… Applebee’s. I’ve vowed never to eat there again.
[…] Fenicle put an intriguing blog post on It’s The Thought That Counts.Here’s a quick excerpt:You try coming up with interesting gifts for folks who love red tractors, tell the same redneck jokes yearly and laugh like they just heard them for the first time, decorate in “French Country Wal-Mart” and only eat at Applebee’s. … […]
Oh god, not the singing mouted fish.
My father has this.
This is exactly why we do NOT exchange gifts. Not only does he bitch about the cost of gifts the entire time while opening them, I’m thinking about how inappropriate the matching thong set both his wife and I open at the same time. And the Anne Geddes monthly planner—nothing is more disgusting than babies dressed up like something other than babies and then put in flower pots.
YIKES!
Is it almost that time again? Dex thinks Christmas should have to happen every other year–it gets too exhausting!
[…] Fenicle added an interesting post on It’s The Thought That Counts.Here’s a small excerpt:You try coming up with interesting gifts for folks who love red tractors, tell the same redneck jokes yearly and laugh like they just heard them for the first time, decorate in “French Country Wal-Mart” and only eat at Applebee’s. … […]
I tried this approach one year and left my husband in charge of buying gifts for his side of the family. None of his relations received a gift at all. While I was embarrassed, I was also smug and self satisifed. At least he felt acutely the value of my gift shopping for his family in the past. I was pretty pleased with things until his mother blurted out, “You know, the only one it reflects poorly on is you.” So you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t, Christmas shop that is.
OOOh! CCE! I just found out that my mil thinks I am horrid that I make my husband buy gifts for his family, now she thinks I don’t love her. humph.
Good for you for shopping ahead Fenicle, I am so bad at that. I am going outlet shopping with some friends again this year at the end of November to try and fill my list.
My aunt bought that fish thing for my dad. Seriously. I am not kidding. My dad didn’t even fish. Weird.
I had forgotten about the fish.
The fish that everyone in America got one year for Christmas.
Ew.