Friday Question #172
For the holidays, do you tend to buy one big item for people, or a bunch of little things? If it’s a bunch of little things, do you try to have a “theme” to tie it all together? Which would you rather receive (one big item or a bunch of little things)? What type of “theme” gifts do people get for you?
Recycled picture from last year’s Excited to Give post
Recycled picture from last year’s Helper Cat post
This year, it seems like I am picking up a lot of little gifts for people. And the only theme that the gifts have is “things Kim thinks you would really like.”* I do know people who will try to theme your whole gift – and get other people to go in on the theme too. For example, they give you a set of golf clubs, and have your parents get you a golf bag and tees and balls, and somehow convince your spouse to buy you golf lessons at the fanciest course in town. Then you open the gift and say “Thanks! I can’t wait to use this in four months when there isn’t a foot of snow on the ground.” Anyway, some people really get in to that.
The funny thing about that completely hypothetical situation is that I often buy Steven gifts that he cannot use until the spring. Like last year’s formula car driving Groupon. I’m going to try not to do that this year, but darnit, why does his birthday have to be three days before Christmas?!
Anyway, I digress. I actually think the themed gifts can be done right, if it’s a theme you are interested in! Like diamonds. Or cashmere. Okay, that’s obviously a joke. We all know a I don’t have that fine of taste. My major theme seems to be running/exercise. And sometimes Star Wars.
*Except for one person I already warned that almost all of her stuff seems to be cat-themed. Sigh. Oops!
Themocracy
I usually get a medium gift, and then a couple small ones for most people. I guess I like to be different that way. 🙂
Hmmm…I’ve done both. I usually try to do 1, but it just depends on the person and what they need/want. I wish I were a more creative gift giver – I swear it’s a skill 🙂
I don’t have too many gifts to get. Most of my family has decided to stop exchanging and just try to spend time together, but for the few that still need to do gifts for, it’s usually one thing. I’m terrible at gift-giving and that tends to make it easier!
I don’t generally do a theme, but this year I bought Mike a Kindle Fire and will probably get a cover for it from the baby. 🙂 I think something like that is kind of important, though, so he doesn’t destroy what I paid my hard-earned money for!
It varies for me year to year and person to person. Sometimes I can’t think of one big item and end up with several smaller ones and other times I can only think of bigger items. More times than not I end up with multiple items for each person though. No idea how it’s going to go this year though.
Sometimes it depends on the person. I actually prefer to get “theme” gifts for people I don’t know all that well. When I know someone well I always end up going “Oh, they’d like this! And this! And this!” and they usually have nothing to do with one another.
Good. Sounds like you will be prepared for your gifts from me! 🙂 🙂 🙂
I have a strong urge to shake every single one of those presents…
Sometimes my theme is a bunch of little things : )