It’s that time of year again, when I should start picking up presents for those around me.
Problem is, my parents are just wealthy enough that if they wanted something, they have it.
So… well, I’m thinking an archery set for my dad, he’s expressed an interest in the past.
For my mom, maybe a Japanese cookbook, or a Caribbean one.
Anyone got anything brilliant to share?
I think I may have mentioned this in the previous thread, but:
Silk scarves for my mum;
No idea for my dad (he’s impossible to shop for) but probably a CD or book;
A Wii video game for my brother;
Something nice (probably some doodad around the house, a paperweight or a print or flower vase) for my grandparents and next door neighbours;
A funny book or graphic novel for my best friend;
A CD or a poster for my younger cousin and a funny book or video game for my older cousin;
I can’t think of anyone else right now.
I’m only buying presents for the partner Slip …
A leather travel bag (requested)
“The Devil Wears Prada” (requested)
“Pirates of the Caribbean” (surprise)
Two polo-style shirts (surprise), and
a Platinum Card (for the travel bennies).
My husband’s getting an i-pod.
My son is getting a messenger bag, a “cool” coat (long, black, wool) and the Fullmetal Alchemist movie on DVD. (One of these will be for his birthday in January, but I can’t decide which yet.)
My daughter is getting a little table and chairs set for toddlers, a new doll and some toy that goes “bing”.
My mom is getting a serving dish or two in her new pattern.
My grandma is getting a book and a blanket.
My mother-in-law and several sisters-in-law get a gift basket full of herbal and aromatherapy things I make. Every year they get it, and every year they request it again.
Still no ideas for my father, father-in-law, brother-in-law or uncle.
My sister is getting a laptop, my younger brother a couple star trek themed board games he wants, a couple games for my other brother, a full bedding set for my mom and my SO and I are talking about a trip to hawaii as our present to each other. No idea yet for the rest of the family.
We draw names, so in my family, I only have to get something for my mom. I also have a handful of friends to get something for, and most of them are simply impossible. Part of the problem is that I don’t like to give “stuff” that just takes up space. I like to find presents that are useful. But I’m horrible at that.
Fortunately, my family requires that we exchange Christmas lists, so buying for each other is pretty easy. I just have to figure out what to put on my list…
Well, Mrs. Small is getting a digital camera and a few small gifts - cds and dvds and books…things like that. I also bought her some b-dubs sauce for the ol stocking and some random candy.
My mother is getting a set of lighthouse candle lights, and also a book (I think)…
My father is the stickler - he buys everything he wants (much like the OP’s parents) and my sisters and I had a plan - to throw in 30-50 each and get him a nice flatscreen tv for his new boat. Turns out he left this morning at 5 am to go buy one on sale… :smack:
Nothing brilliant, just a little mundane 
Brendon
I am going to the eye doctor on Monday, but I read this as “I’m thinking of an anarchy set” and I kinda wondered where and how one would purchase such a thing…(and why, come to that!)
My kids are pretty set, its my inlaws and my parents that I’m having trouble with.
LED lights. For everybody on my list. Mostly battery operated candles and tea lights for those with small children, but also color-changing orbs. I just like them.
My brother and sister are getting cold, hard cash.
A stack of 25 one-dollar bills for each of them, rolled tightly and rubber-banded. Scotch-taped in a sandwich baggie. Wrapped in yarn. Duct taped. Then frozen in a block of ice.
My husband is getting a stocking stuffed with goodies (random toys, golf balls, etc.)
My Dad’s getting stuff we picked up on our honeymoon to Williamsburg, VA (since Dad loves Colonial Christmas decorations).
Don’t know what I’m getting for Mom yet.
My sister’s getting a travel purse and travel umbrella to take on her upcoming trip around Europe.
My Father in Law is getting a replica leg lamp from “A Christmas Story”
My Mother in Law is getting a nice candleholder thingy from Pier 1.
My Sister-in-Law is getting “Roly Poly Shot Glasses” from Pier 1. Don’t know what we’re giving her boyfriend yet (although we might just give him a hint to propose on a beach in Hawaii when he goes to visit her there next semester).
I’m giving my older niece some Last Supper mints and a Starbucks card. Younger niece gets Death mints in little coffin tins and a couple of novelty bracelets that say BACON and CARNIVORE. Brilliant or what?
Brother and his wife get the more mundane kitchen things: coasters, and a towel or potholder.
Mom gets a shower massager/aromatherapy thingy and a bottle of her favorite perfume.
Friends get Starbucks or Trader Joe’s gift cards.
My brother’s getting some sci fi books.
My sister is getting gift certificates for some online store she likes, because it’s just so much easier that way.
Mom’s getting a new jewelry box - it’s wood and has a million compartments and hooks for necklaces, and I know she’ll love it.
My boyfriend won’t tell me what he wants so I’m tempted to give him a rock.
I am so screwed about what to buy people. My mum says she wants jewellery but all her stuff is way nicer than anything I could buy her. I might try and make her something but not sure how well that will work.
I am totally out of ideas for my dad, he works too hard and makes too much money.
My brother is easy, I am just getting him some geeky computer bits and pieces.
Friends also all easy apart from the secret santa I am doing with my housemates, I got Paul who is uber-catholic (so usual inappropriate and embarrassing sex toys are out), reads English Lit. and is very picky about books, has completely different taste in music to me, and his only other hobby is football (soccer and gaelic) which I hate.
any ideas?
I think that’s what gift cards are made for.
I’m only buying stuff for immediate family, although I will probably end up doing a secret santa thing with some friends. My parents are impossible to shop for. I usually try to get them some household thing I think they could use that isn’t too expensive. If I try to ask, they’ll probably say something like “do well in school” and my mom will probably tell me to go to church. They go walking a lot, so maybe one of those things that measures how far you’ve gone. I know my younger sister’s tastes in music and movies pretty well, but I don’t know what to get my older sister. Especially since she is sort of angry at me or something right now. Maybe just a gift card? I like the idea of getting people great gifts, but I can never think of anything good. I wish they lived somewhere colder, then I could knit everyone hats.
For my family, I’m not all that sure.
For my brother and sister, i’ll probably order some hard to find T-shirts of stuff they like online.
For my mom and dad, it’s always difficult so i may get them something along the same lines.
It’s hard to shop for my family because we never really know what we want.
The only real gifts i have planned out are for a friend/interest of mine. Her birthday is 6 days before Christmas, so I’m giving her a 3 foot stuffed penguin for Christmas and a “Lenin is my homeboy” t-shirt for her birthday.
Just picked up eight pounds of cashews at work for stocking stuffing(four plain, four covered with chocolate)
Sister gets after dinner mints. Tradition. She will send me a list soon. Her SO gets tools and work gloves. So much easyer to buy for men IMO.
After fourty eight years of being her son I still have no idea what to get for Mom.
I get some of my friends wifes gift cards to Victoria’s Secret. Two birds with one stone.
Our family do Kris Kringles so I’m getting my cousin this:
http://neweranet.com/powerplayer.htm
We used to play on the Super NES all the time when we were kids. We had one of those dodgy 100-games-in-1 cartridges and a lot of those old nostalgic games are there.
Oh behalf of my fiance I’m getting his KK a full set of baking tools (silicone trays, mixing bowls, etc).
I don’t know yet what I’m getting for anyone, except my nephew wants a kilt…
I already bought this blanket for my mom.