Every family and/or circle of friends has at least one person who hates the holidays. This person starts to get cranky right after Halloween and doesn't stop moaning until after New Years. It's the too-cool-for-family-celebrations teen or the too-good-for-a-mainstream-holiday intellectual. This person hates the lights, the mistletoe, the eggnog and even the presents. But most of all, they hate that sappy holiday cheer.
Bah, humbug, indeed. But don't let "I hate holidays" types get you down, especially when you're tasked with buying them gifts. Click below to see plenty of presents they'll secretly enjoy ... no matter what they say.
Gift Guide for the Holiday Haters
It's easier to endure anything after a cocktail: Margaritaville 36-oz. Frozen Concoction $269.99, Kohl's.
http://www.kohls.com
To drown out all that holiday cheer: HoMedics iPod Wireless Speaker System $149.99, Kohl's.
http://www.kohls.com
So they don't take their aggression out on the family: Desktop Dodgeball $14.95, Patina.
www.patinastores.com
Because it's what bad kids get: Coal: Blackberry Bubble Gum $5, The Wishing Fish.
www.thewishingfish.com
Because in space, no one can hear you scream ... about how much you hate the holidays: Devi "Starscape" Yoga Mat $119.95, Devi Mats.
devimats.com
So they can capture the memories they do love: Diana F+ Camera and Starter Kit $95, Lomography.
www.shop.lomography.com
In case they decide to take a vow of silence like that kid in Little Miss Sunshine: Morse Code Kit $40, Uncommon Goods.
www.uncommongoods.com
To remind them that there are worse things in the world than the holidays: Global Warming Mug $10.95, Amazon.
www.amazon.com
To encourage a magical adventure of their own making: Message and Boat in a Bottle Sets $15, Uncommon Goods.
www.uncommongoods.com
Holiday boredom is the best time to learn a new and interesting skill: Campfire Companion Harmonica DVD Lesson $19.99, Terrific Toys.
www.terrifictoys.com
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Wednesday 19 November
By Joe
Most of this stuff would go directly into the garbage can... useless dust gathering junk..
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Thursday 20 November
By Pauline Kasper
Garbage can, probably not! They'll be selling these gifts on e-bay!
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Wednesday 19 November
By John F. C. Taylor
Is it really that people hate the holidays? Or is it more the retailers jumping the gun and inflicting early Christmas cheer on us when we haven't even gotten through Halloween? I am old enough to remember when one holiday followed another, not leapfrogging over one or two others. The earlier I see displays of Christmas merchandise going up in stores, the less in the mood I get. I love seeing decorated trees and believe in a White Christmas, but seeing Christmas displays before Thanksgiving really kills the spirit behind the holiday. I would love to see just one chain of stores say that they would return to the policy of one holiday at a time and not display Christmas items until after Thanksgiving.
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Thursday 20 November
By jnsdgi
I also remember holidays like that. Even some of my friends and co-workers who do not remember say that they do not like the holidays to run together. Everone loses something when this happens. It puts to much pressure on people to buy more than they should. And it mades most kids to expect too much!
Wednesday 19 November
By evelyna
Did you ever notice all of the "money saving ideas" are not money saving at all but require spending money on useless things to make the stores money.
I looked at the clothing at Kohls. The shirts and dresses are so thin-they would become dust rags after a couple of washings.
The prices are not cheaper because of. $20.00- $30.00-I can find a well made sturdy product-I can enjoy for years to come.
Wake up stores! Just because you got smucked into buying some cheap 3rd world crape-does not mean american people are willing to buy things that fall apart and keep spending.
How come you never see men's shirts as thin as paper?
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Wednesday 19 November
By Needs Better Glasses
Oh, my goodness, I totally mis-read the article's title. I thought it said, "Gifts For People You Hate On the Holidays." How disappointing. I've got quite a list of folks in that category.
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Wednesday 19 November
By Mark
some ok suggestions but 1 you should never do around the holidays is give a pet wait till all the activities have calmed down before you adopt.
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Wednesday 19 November
By suembart
Some of us that hate the holidays would rather you get us NOTHING!
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Wednesday 19 November
By Kate
Mark reread the captions it said make a donation to an animal shelter not buy a dog.
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Thursday 20 November
By lauragilbert08
Kate & Mark are both right -- we changed the suggestion when we realized it was smarter to donate to a shelter than to give someone a puppy they might not be prepared to take care of. Thanks for the feedback.
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Wednesday 26 November
By sgustaf200
You can get additional savings by using online coupons for many retailers. www.CouponCorner.com
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Wednesday 26 November
By Harry
We have lost the real meaning of Christmas......It is now the greedy world we live in.........money.........money...........money........greed........greed ........greed.
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Thursday 27 November
By This is Ridiculous
$269 for a blender? c'mon AOL and "Lemondrop"...With the economy how it is and the way people are struggling, you think you could come up with a more reasonable set of gift ideas? You can get some amazing electronics that are worth the money for that price (if you can afford it), but you'd suggest spending it on a blender?
Ridiculous.
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Thursday 27 November
By Janell
I had to laugh and wholeheartedly agree with you. I had a $20 blender I used OCCASIONALLY.... I gave it away to someone who was starting out in life with a new apartment... that was 2 yrs ago, still don't miss it. Over $200 is a CAR PAYMENT for goodness sake.
Thursday 27 November
By shasha
Sure thing. I really need some more little dust catchers, some candles I can't burn (we have cats and dogs), People don't need stupid presents, especially in this economy. I'd rather someone buy some food and donate it to a food bank in my name, or bring me some homemade cookies (danish butter cookies will do as well) than have some more worthless pieces of Chinese made junk that I feel I have to adorn my home with.
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Thursday 27 November
By Janell
John Taylor... I SO agree with what you said. CHRISTMAS is SHOVED down our throats before all the Halloween candy is gone. I feel bad for retailers trying to make the $$$$ but GEEZE, as a consumer... it turns me off SO MUCH to have to face tinsel and candy canes before the candy corn is off the shelf.
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Thursday 27 November
By Janell
Sasha... I volunteer in a homeless shelter in a small town. They have a capacity of 80 people, and already are turning people away.... they have a policy LOOK FOR WORK, LOOK TO BETTER YOURSELF AND GET A PLACE TO LIVE... it isn't a soup kitchen with handouts and drunks and drug addicts (although chronic homeless people need help too). I promise you... people in these places SO appreciate the donations of clothes and food and some compassion. THANK YOU for spreading the word about donating (your $$$$ donations can buy toilet paper, electrical service and mops and brooms). I know the shelter I volunteer in is CLEAN and it is because the "clients" have pride in where they are. I help manage donations, but I pick up mops and brooms and make coloring books for the kids, and we just had an "I AM THANKFUL FOR" tree for the clients to fill in. I had several approach me and THANK ME and other volunteers for making that little poster they could WRITE their THANKS on and post publicly. Not every homeless person is someone who needs to be judged. We have families, children, single men.... and I get thanked every day for showing up and helping connect people with their needs. TRUST ME, after being there a few months, I GET MORE than I have given. I have considered that time as my SELFISH time.... because the clients make sure that although they have little, they appreciate ANY AND ALL help they get. Again, Sasha... Thanks for bringing the donation thing up. It really DOES matter and it REALLY IS appreciated by people who need a hand up more than a HAND OUT.
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Friday 28 November
By PsychoJack
I don't hate the holidays, but I hate the guilt they try to throw at you if you can't afford to spend much. It's buy, buy, buy. I never understood the people who will go into debt just to buy their spoiled brat kids stuff they will play with for only a short time then throw it away. ah but what the heck Bah Humbug anyhow.
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Friday 28 November
By PsychoJack
One idea for the holiday haters is to donate to Salvation Army, GoodWill or other charity that needs help during the holidays. Make a donation to your local food bank, or give coats, blankets etc to homeless shelters. I know here Sleep Country or Matress World (forget which one) takes donations of coats etc. for foster kids many who don't have much. It doesn't always have to involve buying something. If you live in an area with bad weather offer to shovel sidewalk, go to store or run errands for them.
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