I have a friend who I don’t see very often, but lives close by and we buy birthday presents (though not Christmas presents) for each other. I want to stop this present-buying, but don’t know how to voice it without sounding rude or ungrateful. I just find the whole present swapping thing awkward and embarrassing, I don’t know why. I have another friend who I asked last Christmas if we could stop exchanging gifts and she was fine about it - she may have been relieved herself - but I thought I handled it really clumsily as I felt so embarrassed. I find it increasingly difficult to know what to buy and so I feel that other people must do too. I love spending time with friends and that’s enough for me, so shall I just say “I’d like your presence, not your presents”. Paraphrasing there - or is that a good way of saying it anyway?
Is there such a thing as delicious ready meals?