It was my Mom’s birthday yesterday. Happy Birthday Mom.
When asked if there was anything she’d particularly like for her Birthday her reply, as always, was ‘There’s nothing I want at my age’.
Music to my ears. This gives me license to do Birthdays how I like to do them.
Non-Consumer Stylie*
*There are purchases made, of course. But I’m not hitting the retail stores in search of stuff.
The Birthday Card – Hand-made (of course)
From an early age my Mom always encouraged me to hand-make cards, so she’ll appreciate this. It also resolves the problem of trying to get a card with ‘Mom’ on it. Apparently, I live in the only region of the UK that uses the word ‘Mom’ rather than ‘Mum or Mam’.
The Main Birthday Gift – An experience
This isn’t a frugal gift by any stretch of the imagination.
But I’ve said it before ‘I don’t mind spending money but I hate wasting money’. Two tickets plus car-parking and pre-show drinks costs in excess of £100. It’s a lifetime memory, a gift that lasts for years.
My Mom’s worth it!
(Here’s the used ticket inside the card – I can be a bit glue-happy at times!)
The Birthday gift from the Grandchildren
Photo’s aren’t clutter to Grandma’s
I grabbed a reasonably priced photo-frame from Home Bargains and personalised it with the year. It struck me the other day, Grandparents have lot’s of school photo’s on display. But who knows when they were taken? Problem solved with a little bit of clay, some paint and a dollop of superglue!
(Next time I’m going to hunt down a pre-loved frame… Katy the Non-Consumer Advocate is so right in this TV interview, charity shops have an abundance of frames!)
The Birthday Cake – Designed with the recipient in mind
Cupcakes this time, my Mom likes white chocolate and strawberries together – Voila!
I’d encourage everyone to give home-made birthday cakes a try. They really are special.
That’s how we do it here.. please feel free to share how you do it !
I now update most days on Facebook, why not head on over and join the conversation?
Time to read more? Why not check out these related posts?
Not Buying It – Birthday Gifts
Simple Christmas Traditions – Simple Gift-Giving
Looks like a wonderful birthday. I’m all for consumable gifts that don’t take up space and contribute to clutter. Sometimes we make a cake, but sometimes we get a Dairy Queen ice cream cake. It’s a once a year treat that we love.
There’s nothing better than clutter-free gifting!
Looks like a wonderful birthday. I’m all for consumable gifts that don’t take up space and contribute to clutter. Sometimes we make a cake, but sometimes we get a Dairy Queen ice cream cake. It’s a once a year treat that we love.
There’s nothing better than clutter-free gifting!
Wow Jo, what a truly beautiful gift. I tend to take my mum out for a meal, going to get my thinking cap on for next year though!! And those cakes….mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Sharron x
I’m sure there’ll be a home-baked cake for your Mum next year? What do you think? 🙂
Defo!!!
Sharron x
Wow Jo, what a truly beautiful gift. I tend to take my mum out for a meal, going to get my thinking cap on for next year though!! And those cakes….mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Sharron x
I’m sure there’ll be a home-baked cake for your Mum next year? What do you think? 🙂
Defo!!!
Sharron x
absolutely lovely!
Thanks Joanna!
absolutely lovely!
Thanks Joanna!
That’s great! In my family we always had to choose presents, and as the years went by the presents got more and more expensive… And the worst thing is, I have tons of presents I have never used but were given to me anyway, that are hard to part with because 1) they are presents, 2) they were so expensive. Sucks, doesn’t it?
Yes Marie it isn’t good. When you receive a gift you don’t want it puts a lot of burden on the receiver. Firstly you have the issue of gratitude. You feel you should be grateful. Then if it’s something you don’t like or won’t use you desperately try to think of a use for it. You try and convince yourself ‘it will come in’, only to find it months later sitting in a cupboard. This takes up physical and also mental space. As you now have a difficult decision to make, Do you get rid of it, give it away sell it? Phew – exhausting! At the same time there is the expense to the giver and also in many cases the thought they put into it. Oh my!
With my Birthday now my family know that I don’t want ‘things’. They give me money which may seem mercenary to some but it works so well for me as it really is a treat, and my family know this. I don’t buy things I want all year round, I tend to wait. Then I get to buy things I truly want and have waited for with my birthday money. Rather than giving the pain to a family member to try and track down the item I buy it myself after.
That’s great! In my family we always had to choose presents, and as the years went by the presents got more and more expensive… And the worst thing is, I have tons of presents I have never used but were given to me anyway, that are hard to part with because 1) they are presents, 2) they were so expensive. Sucks, doesn’t it?
Yes Marie it isn’t good. When you receive a gift you don’t want it puts a lot of burden on the receiver. Firstly you have the issue of gratitude. You feel you should be grateful. Then if it’s something you don’t like or won’t use you desperately try to think of a use for it. You try and convince yourself ‘it will come in’, only to find it months later sitting in a cupboard. This takes up physical and also mental space. As you now have a difficult decision to make, Do you get rid of it, give it away sell it? Phew – exhausting! At the same time there is the expense to the giver and also in many cases the thought they put into it. Oh my!
With my Birthday now my family know that I don’t want ‘things’. They give me money which may seem mercenary to some but it works so well for me as it really is a treat, and my family know this. I don’t buy things I want all year round, I tend to wait. Then I get to buy things I truly want and have waited for with my birthday money. Rather than giving the pain to a family member to try and track down the item I buy it myself after.
Sorry I think I posted twice because my first comment seemed to get lost as the page loaded. Feel free to delete one of them and this one included, didn’t mean to spam your comments page! Thanks for posting ^^
Hi Marie – already sorted! The first time you comment I have to approve and it gets held. It doesn’t happen again! Thanks so much for commenting!
Thank you!! So I was going to ask you, how do you recommend breaking the news to family? I mean in my family presents are always a big (not to say the ultimate) tradition, so I am not sure how to tell them it’s more of a burden than a joy these days… Any ideas?
Sorry I think I posted twice because my first comment seemed to get lost as the page loaded. Feel free to delete one of them and this one included, didn’t mean to spam your comments page! Thanks for posting ^^
Hi Marie – already sorted! The first time you comment I have to approve and it gets held. It doesn’t happen again! Thanks so much for commenting!
Thank you!! So I was going to ask you, how do you recommend breaking the news to family? I mean in my family presents are always a big (not to say the ultimate) tradition, so I am not sure how to tell them it’s more of a burden than a joy these days… Any ideas?
We generally let the birthday person pick the meal, Always homecooked. Usually its a BIG tada! With the family or friends. Then followed by an outing, usually a family friendly outing, skating, waterpark, or bowling. Something tht people of all ages can enjoy. Gifts usually dont come much in 2 play unless it a child. Even then… Not a requirement.
We generally let the birthday person pick the meal, Always homecooked. Usually its a BIG tada! With the family or friends. Then followed by an outing, usually a family friendly outing, skating, waterpark, or bowling. Something tht people of all ages can enjoy. Gifts usually dont come much in 2 play unless it a child. Even then… Not a requirement.