Is acknowledging gifts an "old-fashioned, outdated" thing?

JaniceM said:
But what about situations I usually have- not knowing if the gifts were received because the recipients don't say so?
(most of my "gifting" is done from a distance).
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If recipients are not acknowledging gifts, I would stop sending them. That will get their attention. I thinks it is rude that they don't tell you.
 

I think some kind of thank you is necessary. I remember how I hated sending thank you notes when I was a child. It seemed a huge chore. But nowadays there are easier ways to communicate. And if the child won't do it, perhaps the parent could?

Personally I'm done with "special occasion" gifts of any kind, both giving and receiving. Except for gifts to small children.

Sometimes I give an anonymous gift. For example, I left a baby gift for an expectant mother at her place of work.

For those who are worried about hard feelings if they stop sending gifts, why not say, "I'm donating to [name of organization] instead." Or volunteering, or taking a trip, or whatever.

I think that nowadays, most people can buy what they want, and/or the thing you give them will be the wrong kind. It's not like my mother's day, when she was happy to receive an orange for Christmas. An orange!
 
Murrmurr said:
call me old-fashioned, but I give gifts for the sake of giving. I only send gifts to family members who live far away, and they don't always contact me after they get them, but I won't stop sending them.
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YOU are an exceptionally good person!! I would not stop sending gifts to children because of the errors of their parents.

The 2 I stopped sending checks/gift cards to, were in their late 20s.
That's old enough to know better.
 

Kika said:
YOU are an exceptionally good person!! I would not stop sending gifts to children because of the errors of their parents.

The 2 I stopped sending checks/gift cards to, were in their late 20s.
That's old enough to know better.
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Yes, the ones I stopped sending to are also in their late 20's. I still send to the little ones.
 
I always give gifts at Christmas and birthdays. I do more all throughout the year. I am quite the bargain shopper. I know when a really good price comes up. I buy a lot of steak, pork chops and loins ,shrimp for their freezer. I am waiting and watching for the best price on lobster tails. ?
 
I personally resent sending gifts and not having them acknowledged or thanked for. Typical now days is getting a text message. Twenty years ago, I was married a long time to a man whose brother and sister never acknowledged the Christmas gifts we sent their kids. In one family, the dad would get on the phone and thank us, never the kids thanking us. In the other family, thank you cards written by their mother and these were school age kids. We each get to decide if this is the hill we want to die on. It is okay to use this year's "inflation" as a reason one needs to be mindful of your budget and stop if this is what feels right. Don't feel guilty for stopping. If they don't bother to contact you in thanks, they likely won't contact you about the lack of the gift. It is also okay to set an age limit. If you don't get a thank you, they may not even like the gifts or care enough about us to acknowledge us. Something to certainly think about. We are not bad people to stop sending money or gifts when it is just a black hole, goes out from us and is never acknowledged or thanked.
 
Thanks for the discussion. I like to thank people whenever possible. It's easy, and it's just nicer for everyone.

My local language partner gave me some beef last week. Of course I thanked him at the time. After I ate it tonight, I sent him a text telling him how much I enjoyed and appreciated it!
 
NorthernLight said:
Thanks for the discussion. I like to thank people whenever possible. It's easy, and it's just nicer for everyone.

My local language partner gave me some beef last week. Of course I thanked him at the time. After I ate it tonight, I sent him a text telling him how much I enjoyed and appreciated it!
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Well, What I took out of this is if they don't appreciate what you give them, stop giving them anything!
(unless you're a saint, like MurrMurr!)
I'm not!
That's going to be hard to do, but I'm leaning that way! it would take two seconds for someone to text
or call and say "thanks!". Wow! This will shake up some traditions!
 
I stopped sending gifts and cards to my nieces and nephews because I never got a thank you or a return card for Christmas.

I still send congratulations cards and a bit of money for weddings and births. Money is scarce with me and they show no appreciation. Hurts my feelings and I'm tired of getting hurt. I did send stuff and money for a long time.
 
I never get a thank you either. I'm supposed to sit through an hour of the host opening gifts in front of everyone. Since two hours is my limit at these events, which without the gift opening is nearly four hours, it's my fault if I never get a thank you. I wish I cared, but I don't. This generation is too busy to go out and buy thank you cards, let alone write something and send it snail mail. Good Lord! :rolleyes:
 
I still do and intend to keep sending handwritten thank you notes to anyone who is thoughtful enough to get me a gift. Even when I get home baked cookies or chili, at some point I send a nice of you to think of me note. And yes, I get the same back from a few nice gals who think the same.
 

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