My family shifted Christmas to January a few years ago since my sister and I could not get both Thanksgiving and Christmas off work and the former was always more important to us as an extended family. Around the time Fake Christmas evolved (and, yes, our family is That White Trash Family with The Lights Still Up), we downsized. Now we draw names and keep it under $30 to avoid a ton of little crappy gifts and to be able to choose one nice thing for someone. It's always something we need, not want. Like the iron and the towel set I got.
I don't do gifts with friends.
I don't do holiday cards. Not for years now.
I can't even remember thank you notes, much less Christmas/holiday cards.
Plus, I hate forcing those things on people and can't stand the thought of how many cards end up in the landfills or as firehazards in Great Aunt Ozmerelda's attic.
My SO and I don't do gifts either.
Rarely for any occasion.
We prefer to purchase something we need for the house together if we need something, and consider that as a gift to each other.
And we do a "nice" dinner for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays.
We get to enjoy each other's company without anyone else and spend quality time together.
Instead of some object I may or may not have wanted/needed/thought I'd use.
Cookies and the like got really expensive last year.
So I was very glad when the office party turned into true White Elephant style.
I've got a bottle of real Fountain of Youth water for the old farts.
