Ask for edibles.

Nice cheese
Chocolate
Olive oil

Whatever you prefer.

I just ask for a fresh Christmas floral arrangement—something I don’t buy for myself but can enjoy and then dispose of.

I keep a list on my phone of things that I need throughout the year. Nothing glamorous, but when something comes that I need (like kitchen gadgets, bathroom bathmats, new sandals, shampoo, a gift card for new makeup from Ulta, etc.) I add it to my list. Makes it easy when family members insist on getting me something useful that I want and need.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Point her to a charity that you support and tell her you'd be honored if she made a donation.

I also dislike adult gifting.

This. I hate adult gift giving too. It's a waste of money. The gift is being kind to others not material things.

Agreed. My parents and aunt and uncle did not exchange gifts. That was mostly a financial issue though, but that was my childhood experience.

My SIL insists on exchanging gifts. She is a horrible gift giver, and I don't like her that much. I told my husband to tell her that we will not be exchanging gifts this year. I'm using Covid as an excuse, but hope to discontinue with the adult gifting permanently. She works. She can buy herself whatever she wants. Forcing someone to give a gift is not in the spirit of the holiday. My mother-in-law grew up fairly "privileged" in a poor country, so she is very modest. My SIL overcompensates by being materialistic. It's so annoying.

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