No pressies for me.

We live in different continents.

Would be too expensive to post.

I always get a card & presents.

I agree with Harriet, princess. If you are going to make it a choice not to buy them presents, do it without malice.

One thing to consider is that if the economy is affecting your ability to buy things, it is affecting their ability too. Also consider that you have children that they buy for. When you buy them Birthday gifts, do you buy one from each member of your family for them? They are buying for you, your husband, your children etc. and it gets expensive. Just some things to ponder.

I have always felt that once we have kids and our families increase, we should not "expect" gifts for ourselves, it becomes too costly.

xo

Presents aren't the least bit important to me. Acknowledgment is very important. I have had several years when my birthday came and went and not a single person acknowledged it with even a simple, "Happy Birthday." ~~that is like a slap in the face or a kick to the curb especially from people you consider to be close to you~~family, friends, etc.

Still I always at least acknowledge others birthdays~~a small thought gift, card, e-card, phone call~~whatever, because I believe it is the right thing to do and because I find that when I can bring happiness or joy into someone's life, I can't help but experience some of that joy myself no matter how brief it may be.

Happy Birthday in advance. Hugs.

When I can afford them I get presents for an many people as I can. I agree with Tygerlily that acknowledgement is important. Even if I can't buy something (which has been the case often in recent years), I'll make a card or bookmark, or a dried flower posy, something to let them know I am thinking of them and appreciate their presence in my life, even if we don't always agree on other things happnening in our lives at the time.

Giving should be done as an action in and of itself, not in expectation of a reward or reciprocity.

Appreciation and generosity of spirit are things you're never too old for, whether you can afford traditional gifts or not.

~b.

Yeah, they've gotten smaller over the years, but they still get me something small.

Both my parents are deceased but when they were alive I always lived away. I did not expect presents, just an acknowledgement of the date. I have grown children now and I cannot always afford to buy them presents but I buy my grandchildren gifts and always acknowledge important dates.

I still get birthday presents and so do my siblings. My brother will be 46 this month. We get each other cards at the very least too.

Mmm, yeah they do? I give great gifts though

My parents are gone now but I have 2 brothers in the UK.. I didn't get a single card on my b-day this year. I on the other hand am the family time keeper and make sure the other 2 send a card for each other. The life of a girl sandwich!

there are three of us. We get $100 for birthdays and $50 for Christmas like clockwork. But nothing else. Oh! yes my mom has a friend who does fir center pieces and she gets one for each of us wives for christmas too

Mine always did until the day they die. Birthdays don't have a age limit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu_moia-oVI

Since I have become a mom of 4 kids....my birthday seems to take a backseat to them. My parents will get me a card and usually a dollar for each year I turn. Hopefully I make it to 100 years old.lol

my parents are strange when it comes to presents..my mother expects a big card and a present..very materialistic.
when ive been completely broke i have still had to find money to buy her something...or she sulks.
i always get a present or im allowed money for clothes but she has to come with me to buy them, wont give me the cash...and thats nothing to do with the BP either...she doesnt understand mental illness so doesnt even know about it...
makes me feel about 11yrs old lol, and im 31 this christmas.
she usually buys things from flea markets for us...i have no problem with that, but once she sulked because i didnt give her a birthday present until 2 days after her birthday because i was saving the money for it...christian dior perfume,
when i finally gave it to her she didnt even say thanks...just silked because it was late!