Recycled gifts at Xmas Post Reply

[recycledgift]

This isn't a really big deal, but it is bugging me.

I've got a friend who is rubbish at buying Xmas presents. She claims that she's just "not good at it" but I think it's because she can't be bothered to put more effort into it. Anyway that doesn't matter too much. However what does matter is that she's now decided the best approach is to recycle gifts, so if she gets a gift from friend A she then keep it untouched and give it to friend B.

She isn't shy about telling people she recycles gifts but I've now realised, after chatting about this to friends, that in effect she's playing pass the parcel and just whizzing them around us all. This to me feels even more selfish, in that I can accept she's not good at buying presents but this just feels lazy.

Ideally I'd like to suggest we just forget about buying presents anymore, along the lines of "hey I can see this isn't working well why don't we just have a drink" but I wasn't sure if I would come across as boorish and mean.

Overall she's a great friend, just rubbish at presents.

[NVG]

Am I the only one who is surprised that you’re buying Xmas presents for your friends? My friendship group will buy a small present for a birthday if there’s a get-together to celebrate but we don’t do Xmas gifts. Maybe it’s time for you all to stop it? Or do a secret Santa?

[readysteadycook]

This seems a very sensible thing to do. 

In the same way that many of us recycle kids birthday presents ( which needs to stop as the child ends up with many water bottles and other useless items that break quickly!)
If people must buy a children’s gift, an Amazon voucher is must more appropriate we have found - we can then buy a bigger item with them).

[recycledgift]

I appreciate not everyone's friendship groups buy presents but for some reason we still do.

Not sure for how much longer though.