Ask:
In the Tightwad Gazette, the author states that you should save money on gifts by asking the recipient if the gift is something they want or not (giving an unwanted gift is a wast of money) I can't imagine doing this and personally think that it would take all the fun out of gift giving and receiving Personally I love suprise gifts even if it is something I can't really use!!! I also love picking out gifts for people. Am I alone in my thinking?
Answer:
I agree. I love the surprise in receiving gifts. I like to see what others have hand-picked for me. If someone asks what I want and gets me exactly what I say, it can take the fun out of it. (with the exception of dh, who is totally clueless and often needs a list). If you're really concerned that the person won't want the gift, you can always include a gift receipt.
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No you are not alone! I enjoyed reading the Tightwad Gazette- but too many of her things that she did just sounds to crazy. Anyways- I usually ask for ideas for a present when I have no idea what to get them.
Usually for my niece and nephews- I will pick up something when it's on sale and set it aside for them for their birthdays and Christmas- that way I save money on buying them presents. I am also guilty of doing this for my other family members as well (the nice thing is that I have all the women in my family bought and paid for for Christmas this year!).
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You're not alone. I can't imagine doing that. I like putting thought into gifts and giving them (weather they are appreciated or not), and i know a person thought about what they gave me (weather I needed it or not) I like that their gift came from the heart....I'm not going to take that away.....from anyone.
.I don't like the Tightwad Gazette, there are much better books on saving money out there (practically anything by Joni McCoy (Miserly Moms).
Tightwads ideas are too far 'out' of my realm of normal thinking.
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Yeah, I can't imagine doing that. It's a little too tight for me!
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I usually try to buy something for someone that they normally wouldn't buy for themselves or something that I remember them saying they liked or wished they had. I am a person who likes surprises though!
I also agree that there are better books out there than the Tightwade Gazette. There were maybe a two or three things out of the entire book that I would actually do.
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I agree that the Tightwad Gazette is way out there. I want to be frugal but enjoy life a little more than those extreme tightwaders that border on my opinion as just plain cheap.
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Originally Posted by Happymom
In the Tightwad Gazette, the author states that you should save money on gifts by asking the recipient if the gift is something they want or not (giving an unwanted gift is a wast of money) I can't imagine doing this and personally think that it would take all the fun out of gift giving and receiving Personally I love suprise gifts even if it is something I can't really use!!! I also love picking out gifts for people. Am I alone in my thinking?
That's like giving someone money for a gift, it's just feelingless.
Answer:
I would think that asking someone that would be just plain rude! If someone buys me a present, I accept it graciously, whether or not I like it. They put the time and effort into thinking of me and that is more than enough. I would hope that when I give a gift, the other person feels the same as I. I know there have been times that DH and I couldn't afford an expensive gift for someone, especially at Christmas, and I've even made gifts that I wasn't sure of how they would be received. If the person likes it, they will let you know. If they really like it, you will notice when they use the gift. My MIL still has a gift displayed that I have her years ago. I used cross stitch circles (don't know the right name for these) to hold felt and a lacey picture and glued ribbon and lace around the edges. What was I going to do, ask if she liked it and take it back if she didn't?
Answer:
I try very hard to get gifts for people that I think they would like- not items I just pick up b/c they are cheap or whatever. So, while I want s/one to know how much thought I put into their gift and love it, I don't really want to ask/be told exactly what to buy them. To me that's similar to swapping money/gift cards- and IMO, if you are just essentially trading money then why bother getting a gift? Just go to lunch instead and enjoy.