LOL!
Truth is, I already had enough jewelry (back before disaster struck).
I asked for the table saw. For my birthday, he bought me a power drill and sander, files, and plaining tools. Love them!
When things were horribly tight, I was used to getting a new vacuum cleaner or bedding for Christmas.
A few years ago my extended families budget was tight - we decided to not exchange gifts (except to the young kids)
It Stuck!
Now, Christmas gifts are only for the kids in the family - even my DH and I don't exchange gifts anymore, It's Great!
No racing around trying to find presents that may or may not be used, spending oodles of money on stuff.
Christmas is now a day or two of shopping for kids and the rest... baking and cooking, decorating....like it should be.
I call it being a non-practicing Jehovah Witness :>).
When things are horribly tight, I can't imagine letting anyone in the family spend money on Christmas presents, especially luxuries like a new vacuum or bedding. "Tight" must mean something different to you than to me. To me, "tight" means "thank God my son got that deer so we have something to eat."