One Stop Shopping for Christmas?!

Thanks, but I'm allergic.

They have shots for it. You're good.

I'm also trypanophobic.

They've been around for quite some time, actually. Since the 70s, at least. They use them in the military (or used to) for vaccinations.

I'm in this position within my family. I've been basically called the "scrooge" of the family. Bah, humbug!

What I keep trying to explain to everyone is that trying to figure out what everyone wants is very stressful to me. Spending a crapton of money that I really need for other things is very stressful to me. Getting stuff, most of which I don't really want or need, a lot of which ends up just cluttering up my house, and acting like I really care about something that I could have gone out and bought my own durn self, is very stressful to me.

All of these things makes Christmas VERY not fun.

But you know what I think is fun? Hanging out with my family, some of whom I don't get to see very often. Sitting around making jokes and visiting. Playing board games or watching a movie. Stuffing ourselves stupid with a feast the likes of which I rarely witness since there are only two of us at my house on a day-to-day basis.

To me, the best thing about Christmas by far is taking a week or so out of your busy schedule and making time for your family and friends. I've told them repeatedly that their presence is much more important to me than their presents, that I really don't care much about the stuff I've gotten over the years. Sooner or later, it all just becomes more crap that is shoved in the back of a closet or thrown away. I'm fortunate enough that when I really want or need just about anything, I have the means to go out and buy it. But love and friendship--those things you can't put a price on. Those things don't get shoved in a closet or thrown away; they stay with me forever.

If that makes me a scrooge, then so be it. I'd rather be a happy and cheerful scrooge than a frazzled mass consumer in debt to my eyeballs any day.

I can't help with any of the rest of it, but for this part, I have a small suggestion. Tell your family that what you'd really like is Fandango, AMC, Regal, or <insert local movie chain> cards, or Ticketmaster cards, so you can go to movies or shows. Or if you like theatre or symphony, ask them to buy you a season pass to the local theatre, symphony, ballet, opera, etc. That way, you don't have stuff cluttering up, and it's stuff you will enjoy.

It's what I've been doing for the last several years for my Dad. Not because he doesn't like stuff - he's actually interesting to buy for, really, but he's at the point where more stuff isn't necessary for him, and he like experiences. I can get him food baskets (always a risk unless you know what the people you're buying for can and will eat), or I can get him tickets to an event, and he loves that. Father's day and his birthday is movie and a dinner, and he thinks it's wonderful. No dusting required.

Alternately, pick a charity and ask them to donate in your name - although that frequently doesn't go over well.

I used Amazon for approximately half my presents this year. Then when my bro asked me what I wanted, I told him to go look at my Amazon wishlist. My list goes from $2 to just over $500. Any time I purchase something, I remove it from the list. The $500 item is just on there to make it easy for me to watch the price LOL.

I wish I could do that....

The only one (part) of my family that would be able to know how to check a wish list like that would be my brother (and his wife)....but...*shrugs*

I don't really get overworked about what to get people...I'm the one that gives gift cards (or money) to people...everyone can use money (or gift cards to places I know they go to often).