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Your Feelings About Birthday Presents....

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Contributor: js250 js250
My birthday is this weekend and I have really been made aware of that for some reason this year. It made me wonder how others felt about these issues.
--What is your ideal birthday present?
--How do you feel and respond to those asking you what you want for your birthday?
--Do you ever feel your present is an obligation and not a gift on the other person's part?
--Have you ever turned down a gift? Why?
--
05/09/2013
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Contributor: gwenevieve gwenevieve
Quote:
Originally posted by js250
My birthday is this weekend and I have really been made aware of that for some reason this year. It made me wonder how others felt about these issues.
--What is your ideal birthday present?
--How do you feel and respond to those asking you what ... more
I like birthdays and love getting stuff but kinda hate getting presents at the same time. I have anxiety so I have trouble reacting to things and I feel like even if I'm really excited I don't seem that way and it's embarrassing.
05/09/2013
Contributor: eri86 eri86
I like getting gift cards, so I can pick what I get. But I try to have wishlists for people who want to actually buy me something.

But even then, people still get it wrong... mainly my siblings. And somehow I'm the bad guy for not liking the gift itself.
05/10/2013
Contributor: GirlOnGirl GirlOnGirl
I don't really like birthdays but of course I like getting presents! lol I'm not too picky. My family usually gives me cash or asks what I want but I like that what friends get me is usually a surprise.
05/10/2013
Contributor: requiem dreams requiem dreams
I don't like receiving birthday gifts, it causes to much anxiety so i tend to try to avoid the subject
05/10/2013
Contributor: PropertyOfPotter PropertyOfPotter
When people ask me what I would like I usually tell them that I don't need anything. I feel very uncomfortable opening gifts in front of others because I never know how to react; even if I really like the gift.
05/10/2013
Contributor: rosythorn rosythorn
I love them but only if they are meaningful, or wine
05/10/2013
Contributor: snowminx snowminx
I wish people would just give me money -.- or gift cards to things I actually use like NOT ITUNES. Just because I have an ipod doesn't mean I buy a lot of things, my mom knows this, and gets them anyways. I wish I would just get walmart, amazon, things like that.

I've never rejected a gift and I don't think I've ever taken anything back before, even if I didn't care for it, I think it's kinda rude and unless there's some reason why you absolutely can't use it (wrong size or something). They went out to buy you a gift and most likely put some thought into this. If someone returned something I got them that wasn't broken that would be the last present they ever saw from me.
05/10/2013
Contributor: ChubbyNerd ChubbyNerd
I like getting gifts.
05/10/2013
Contributor: js250 js250
I enjoy and appreciate the gifts I have been given. I am very uncomfortable when people ask me what I want for my birthday and feel put on the spot. Especially with family members who know me best. I also feel that if they ask me then it is a present, an obligation, not a gift.

I will never reject a gift, I know the anxiety I feel wondering if the person will like my gifts...
05/10/2013
Contributor: KinkyKatieJames KinkyKatieJames
Quote:
Originally posted by js250
My birthday is this weekend and I have really been made aware of that for some reason this year. It made me wonder how others felt about these issues.
--What is your ideal birthday present?
--How do you feel and respond to those asking you what ... more
My ideal birthday present is something heartfelt. It can be jewelry that I've had my eye on or something as simple as a poem. I don't focus on money; I like things with sentimental value. My favorite was when one of my ex boyfriend's remembered my favorite flowers. He decorated my bedroom with them before I came home from work.

I never know what to say when people ask what I want. I asked for perfume and a PS3 game this year since my dad kept asking.

Yes, I often feel like a present is an obligation to some, which is why I actually don't like when I get a plain card with money in it. I mean, sure, I could use the cash. However, I would have preferred nothing but a card with something nice written inside.

I have send someone their money back after I found out she called me a "spoiled bitch" when I graduated college. I'm far from spoiled and worked hard to get where I am. I won't say who it was, but it was someone very close to me. So, I didn't want her money and sent it back.
05/10/2013
Contributor: surreptitious surreptitious
(Review Program Mentor)
Quote:
Originally posted by js250
My birthday is this weekend and I have really been made aware of that for some reason this year. It made me wonder how others felt about these issues.
--What is your ideal birthday present?
--How do you feel and respond to those asking you what ... more
My ideal birthday present is one that the giver comes up with on their own based on what they know about me and just gives to me without making a big thing about it. I HATE being asked what I want for my birthday (or for any other present-giving reason) and I hate the obligation attached to gift giving on occasions. I love getting presents, but if there's something that I want, I've probably talked about it. I also think that gifts should be given freely year round, not ceremoniously on certain occasions because it's expected. I have never turned down a gift - nor would I, if it was something that I could sell if I didn't want it - however there are some that I have accepted and hung on to out of politeness.
05/10/2013
Contributor: Woman China Woman China
I love cards. Not the silly email type cards, but actual old fashioned cards. I prefer them over presents and such. I find what a person writes in a card to be more sentimental and valuable than a present. Plus, I live on the other side of the world and travel a fair bit, so keeping cards is much easier than trying to decide what to do with a present.

As for returning gifts, I return gifts to my students if they give me one. If the class purchases me a gift, I will accept it. But presents from individual students (things like fruit I will accept) I do return. They are not given in the spirit of teach-student relationship, they are done so the student expects a better grade.
05/10/2013