Practical vs. Frivolous Holiday Presents

Would You Rather Get Practical or Frivolous Presents?

December 24, 2009

My friend's boyfriend doesn't believe in giving practical presents, so she gets the cutest, most useless things ever. While I'm all for giving — and receiving — things we wouldn't buy ourselves, I hate clutter and useless objects. So unless I was crazy in love with this frivolous thing, I think I'd prefer practical. What about you?

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36 Comments

kittykat83 3 years 20 weeks

I like both. I think it also depends on if there are a lot of things I really need or could use, or if I feel like I've already taken care of most of the practical things in my life. Like I asked for tires from my mom, but I'm also happy to get something I would never buy for myself from friends or boyfriend.

Yogaforlife 3 years 20 weeks

I like a mixture of both, although I prefer more practical gifts than frivolous. The only frivolous gifts I don't like are home decor items - like book ends with giant worms reading books on them. I prefer to buy my own home decor items.

Talldiva45 3 years 20 weeks

Practical bc. I want something that I will use during the year. But one frivolous gift is fine - and fun every once in a while :)

tlsgirl 3 years 20 weeks

A little mix of both, but with more frivolous thrown in since I so rarely treat myself.

Autumns_Elegy 3 years 20 weeks

I like practical, my mum bought me a zester this year, I like the zester. :)

cordata 3 years 20 weeks

I like both as well. I don't want someone to buy me toilet paper or dish soap, although that is certainly practical, but I don't want marabou covered slippers either. My favorite is getting someone I want and have mentioned before but probably would not buy for myself.

MissSushi 3 years 20 weeks

A mixture of both, siding on practical.. I tend to make sure I have everything I need as I have a strict budget, so sometimes its nice to just have fun. It's easier with close family as they are around enough to know what I need and don't need. Birthdays and Christmas are times I like to have fun with my husband with gifts because we don't have much room for many extras. I like entertainment things as gifts - video and board games, movies, books of the types I like. I don't consider those frivolous, but many would. I happen to absolutely freaking DESPISE cheesy christmas ornaments and knickknacks as gifts.. Totally and completely pointless and usually such poor quality they fall apart.

MissSushi 3 years 20 weeks

starofsorrow 3 years 20 weeks

I'm pretty much a combination as well. I like my gifts to be practical, but it's also nice to get a frivolous gift now and then. This year, most of my gifts were practical, along with cute little things throw in like candy and a portable DVD player (I actually was planning on getting one EVENTUALLY....so yay! No need to buy one now.)

fashionplate525 3 years 20 weeks

If I had to choose, I would pick practical but I think a combination of the two is best!

oni1 3 years 20 weeks

practical. i once asked for some clr cleanser for my graduation. they looked at me like i was nuts lol.

KadBunny 3 years 20 weeks

Haha I'm the most frivolous person ever, so naturally I adore silly gifts. :P Of course I love practical gifts too, 'cause unless they're absolutely essential to my survival I probably would never by myself "smart" items. fredflare is my vice.

moonlissa 3 years 20 weeks

Akasha, my kindle is in no way frivolous. If I continued to buy books they would have taken over my apartment! Now I can continue to add to my TBR list, and not have to find a space on already overcrowded bookshelves!

moonlissa 3 years 20 weeks

I like both, and my mother waits for me to tell her what I want. I couldn't think of anything frivolous I wanted, and then my car battery left me stranded. I won't be opening a gift from her, but at least I won't need to call roadside service again!

Akasha 3 years 20 weeks

I guess that depends on what you consider practical and what you consider frivolous. Last year I got my relatives to pitch in together to get me the KitchenAid mixer, on the one hand it's practical, but on the other hand since I don't use it as much as I would have in my last apartment it's frivolous. One year my mother got me new tires for my car, practical, and boring, but at least I stopped sliding on the ice. Not a fun gift to open though. For my birthday this year I got a Kindle which is both practical and frivolous. I vote both.

Akasha 3 years 20 weeks

LittleMzFit 3 years 20 weeks

Agree w/ CDelaney...both! Since I'm so practical from day to day...it would be nice to have something just a little bit on the fun side, but still useful.

totygoliguez 3 years 20 weeks

I love frivolous gifts. They are usually things that I wouldn't buy for my self but that I really want. If I need something I would buy it.

kurniakasih 3 years 20 weeks

Practical

kurniakasih 3 years 20 weeks

Practical

cdelaney 3 years 21 weeks

i like both. :)

cdelaney 3 years 21 weeks

i like both. :)

Frenched 3 years 21 weeks

I like a mixture of both. During the whole year, I keep building a Wish List at Amazon of stuff that I want and/or need and tell family to check it whenever they need help thinking of a present for me. It makes it easier for them and I really end up getting the stuff I want and need! I appreciate it when people send me their Wish Lists, too. So yeah, final answer: I like to receive both practical and frivolous presents ^.^

Frenched 3 years 21 weeks

I like a mixture of both. During the whole year, I keep building a Wish List at Amazon of stuff that I want and/or need and tell family to check it whenever they need help thinking of a present for me.It makes it easier for them and I really end up getting the stuff I want and need! I appreciate it when people send me their Wish Lists, too.So yeah, final answer: I like to receive both practical and frivolous presents ^.^

Bettye Wayne 3 years 21 weeks

I voted practical, but I like an even mixture of both, really. Every year, I write a lengthy and detailed wish list and distribute it to my entire family, as in: Coffee-Maker, Kenmore Brand, Model No.11-1111-11111 Gift Cards to specific stores Clothes or shoes w/ gift reciepts, Size X Always good: soaps, perfumes, lotions, jewelry, No cheap body spray Or whatever else you think I'd like! etc, etc This may seem greedy to some people, but I really appreciate it when a family member has a good specific Christmas list. Sometimes I just come up with a great gift of my own and ignore the whole list. That makes shopping SO much easier; most of my family does it that way. If someone gives me something I don't like or can't use, I get the gift receipt and then write them a nice thank-you note telling what I did exchange it for. It is so ridiculous how we think that we have to get the perfect gift the first time. And I see nothing wrong with asking for exactly what you want. Every year all my Grandpapa asks for is restaurant gift cards- how boring! I got him an Abacus and some toy trains (he used to be an accountant for B&O). I've decided that until he starts writing a better list, he's getting the most frivolous things I can find. If you want practical stuff, you need to ask for it.

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36 Comments

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