I will agree with Fruit Bat /\0/\'s remarks.

There is stuff I would like, but nothing I need.

If I needed it, I would have bought it myself before this time of year.

A card from someone with no or very little money means as much to me as a present from elsewhere.

You know that they are thinking about you and that's all that we need.

Mind you anyone that could give me a present to make me 50 years younger would be my friend forever.

I request that my family do not buy me presents but I am absolutely delighted when they ignore me.

I voted for no gifts, I am in the fortunate position of having pretty much everything (in a material sense) that I could want, and If there is something I do need I buy it at the time I need it.

The winter festivities are really a time for children and as mine have grown up and left home, their company is all I desire. I take it now as a time to relax, see family and spend time with those people who I only seem to see at this time of the year.

IMHO its the present buying and sheer excess that has spoiled "that word we can't use yet".

There is stuff I would like, but nothing I need.

If I needed it, I would have bought it myself before this time of year.

I will make it an excuse to visit friends for a chat and a small drink (non alcoholic if driving).

I know people who panic about what presents to get others.

Isn't this a time we should be relaxing not worrying?

johndrew

Two answers:-

No (although I would have edited the post to remove the offending word)

and

No, I'm not.

johndrew. I doubt it as he has already told you in a previous posting when the dreaded day will be. From then on we will be inundated with tales of woe etc. Every post will have the dreaded theme running through it.

For the last couple of months my wife has been putting £8 a day into a jar in the kitchen ,this is what I used to spend on fags. On friday she handed me £400 in cash and told me to go out and buy an early stocking filler, a new ipad4.I think I earned it.Now saving for a new pc.

Tangalooma_2006

"I see Ebenezer Scrooge is alive and kicking"

I personally voted for 'no gifts', and if that qualifies me to be a target for your unpleasant remark, so be it. I voted that way because I already have most of the things I want for a happy life, and I know that my children and other members of my family aren't exactly rolling in spare cash at the moment - for one reason or another. We have therefore told everyone to send us a card,and to visit us if they can, but otherwise not to spend any money on presents this year.

I guess that there are millions of others in much the same situation,and it's perfectly possible to enjoy the festivities without piles of expensive presents.

Yours quite happily,

Ebenezer Scrooge.

Yes, I have also got my "Bah Humbug" T shirt out ready for the non festivities. I acquired it a couple of years ago by buying an extra amount of Bah Humbug beer. I shall be partaking of the occasional beer of course.

FE. I shall be trying to avoid it even after you have given the go ahead.

As with Bing.alau I fully expected a silver mouse padlock on this as it's over a month until the otherwise banned word is freed from its shackles to wreak havoc within the forums. Perhaps this is why only the second word of the phrase (stocking) was used???? :-)

I do want gifts but I don't want any gadgets as I've already got most of them.

I voted for a tablet, but not any old tablet, I fear it'll have to be one of those presents to myself that only cost just over a hundred quid, it was a real bargain y'know, and if you believe that, you'll believe anything...