Ugh. It’s that time of year, y’all, where everybody has to buy each other stuff and nobody knows what to get. The big day’s only two weeks off, so I guess I better get on it! I would appreciate it if you guys would help me out (do I always do this? I feel like I do :D). I’d be interested to hear what you’re buying, what you’d like to receive, or even just griping about being in the same predicament as me.
I’ve knocked three measly things off my list so far: A gift basket for my friend’s dog (she won’t let me buy her anything), a socket set for my husband (as specified), and this dried fruit tray for my grandma.
A gift idea I’d like some help with: I have to buy for three boys, ages 8, 10, & 12. I don’t know them at all (they’re my husband’s stepgrandkids). Last year I got them Legos. I guess I could do that every year, though I don’t know if they ever used them or not. Do you have a better idea?
Oh yeah, and another gift I’d like help with: all the rest of them. And if you could wrap them for me too, that’d be sweet. Thank you so much!
Nerf guns are popular with the young boys. All kids love Legos. Steer clear of video games. Expensive and everyone has preferances.
I’ll wrap for you:D
Mrs. L.A. just shrugged when I asked her what she wanted for Christmas. (I know she’d like a $1,000 sapphire ring, but…) Since the 60" TV she bought a few years ago is not as good as it used to be, and since I don’t feel like loading it in the Jeep, taking it to get repaired, and then going to bring it home again, I bought ‘us’ a Christmas present. I ordered a 65" Sony smart TV, and it arrived this morning.
I can’t not have something for her Christmas Day though, so I sneaked over to REI and got her a hat and a shirt (in Blue Peri/Cobalt).
I need to get something for my boss. I usually get her wine and chocolate. I’m thinking I might get her a ‘thing’ this year instead.
I demand that people give me lists telling me what they want. And I make it clear that if they give me no list then they did give me a list: one with nothing on it. And if they do that I’ll give them exactly what they’re asking me for.
So of the people I expect to give gifts to, I’ve gotten lists from all of them except one. The outcome of this:
One gift card (to a movie theater)
Two books
A big blanket
Five Lego sets
A toy
A set of board books for a toddler
So, about $400 spent so far. If my out-of-state sister wants anything from me for her or her family, shey’d better freaking hurry if they want the stuff to get there. If they do get their act together that’ll be another $200 probably (lots of kids), so it won’t exactly break my heart if she sticks with the null list.
As for what I’d like to receive, well, I have a list. It’s loaded up with shows, movies, lego sets, books, and a couple of board games - dozens of items across a range of prices (all <$50), so that people can have a wide variety of options to pick from with a semblance of surprise being preserved.
I solved this problem years ago. I buy (and wrap - and everything is wrapped in various styles of Peanuts wrapping paper) my own gifts, put other people’s names on them, and they know to buy themselves a gift “from me.” Whoever said, “Tis better to give than to receive[sup]1[/sup],” never dealt with an exchanges/returns line on December 26 - there’s a reason it’s the busiest retail day of the year. Not the busiest “shopping” day of the year, mind you…
[sup]1[/sup]Turns out, it was Jesus, at least according to St. Paul (Acts 20:35)
Cash: it may not always be the right size, but it’s always the right color.
At least in the U.S.
Mr.Wrekkers old old Aunt used to give my kids cash for every occasion.(she really was over-generous) They LOVED it. When they were very young I put it in an account. As the became teens they insisted on keeping most of it. When they graduated highschool I cashed it out for them. It was a tidy sum. They were thrilled with the amounts THEY had saved.
I’m doing food this year. Today I made a dozen jars of blueberry jam. Tomorrow it’s Banana bread and Friday I’ll make rum balls. I’ve already told everyone so they won’t be surprised.
I bought, and am having framed, a stunning color photo of Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock, for Mr. Rilch. The trick was to get the photo last year, before it was the 50th anniversary and everything Woodstock-related skyrocketed in price.
Lot of other things for other people, but what I feel like mentioning is:
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A shark-tooth necklace for a friend who is retiring to Hawaii.
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A copy of Donald and the Golden Crayon for my mom (not the only thing I’m giving her).
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A bunch of books and a sequined shoulder bag for a friend’s tween daughter. Educational and frivolous!
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A Panera Bread gift card for a friend’s December 21 birthday, and a Peanuts glass for **Christmas **.
I don’t like to give cash or pick something off a registry. It just goes against the spirit of the thing somehow. In fact, I really just ought to give those kids some more Legos, but then it seems like I didn’t put any thought into their gift. On the other hand, it’s pretty hard to think about people you don’t even know. :smack:
I thought of the most awesome, AWESOME! gift for my daughter: tickets to see The Book of Mormon. I’m not sure yet if it’s actually doable, though.
I agree. I think some thought should be put into a gift, so as to let the person know you considered who they are and what they like or might like. Same goes for Christmas cards and birthday cards.
Of course, I would consider a very large gift of cash to be very thoughtful for me. 
I thank my wife every year for proposing many years ago that we stop doing this stupid gift exchange thing. It’s stressful and pointless (for us). If there is something that either of us wants, we just buy it. If either of us sees something that the other could use, we just buy it. The only gift that is given at Christmas is the smoked salmon I send my kids every year. After my annual visits out there to see them, I often send something that I think they need, but not at Christmas. One of my kids feels it’s necessary to send us something at Christmas, despite my trying to discourage it. At least it’s usually edible.
My wife and I exchange one gift each Christmas, it’s been that way for a couple years. Last year I got a new guitar, she got pearl earrings and a necklace. Not sure what she got me this year, she is getting a blanket with my mug on one side and a bunch of selfies of us on the other and a fancy rocking outdoor recliner for our new deck. We went together and bought us a really nice telephoto lens for our cameras, it will come in handy on our vacation to Yellowstone next year.
This has been us for years. It’s perfect!
Our folks are always a challenge, but his want Alexa, and my mom doesn’t want stuff, but she likes red wine, so she’s getting a wine subscription - every 3 months she’ll get a couple of bottles. I did a similar thing with beer last year and she loved it.
I already gave my granddaughter her mini-trampoline. She’s not even 2 yet, so Christmas doesn’t mean anything to her. I’ll also dump some cash in her bank account - she’ll get enough stuff from everyone else. My great-nephew will probably get a book and a donation to his college fund. And we do a $10-ish goofy gift exchange.
I fear my sister will give us yet another dollar store ornament, despite us telling her for the last 16 years that we don’t decorate…
I sometimes feel slightly guilty about not getting things for grandchildren, but there are just way too many of them and I don’t live anywhere near them, so don’t have a clue as to what they would want or even what’s appropriate. So I have to be a Grinch. In my defense, my kids will occasionally mention that one of their kids needs something, and I’ll order it from Amazon. Bought a granddaughter a guitar, and a grandson a uke, for instance.
So, how’s the shopping going? Y’all about finished up yet? 
One thing I realized about Christmas shopping was a big help: You can’t give people their heart’s desire, or help them to fix the problems in their lives by giving them a present. (or even the things you perceive to be a problem). All you can do is make them smile and feel that you care. So, with that much lower bar in mind…I still couldn’t figure out what to get some people! :eek: Cash for those guys.
I got my mom and kids something though, and looking forward to seeing them unwrap it is what un-Grinches me a bit.
We did an early Christmas with my side of the family since we’ll be in FL with spousal unit’s folks this year. This year’s dollar store gifts were snow globes. One went to a Secret Santa that my daughter was doing at work, and the other fell out of my granddaughter’s hands and splattered all over the kitchen floor. Problem solved. 
Two of my daughter’s friends are moving from Orlando to Missouri next month, so I knitted them a couple of hats. That was the end of my gifting. Guess that’s it till next year.
I have a granddaughter and 4 other kids (the children of my nephews, there should be a name for them) to buy for. My gf was giving me a hard time for waiting till the last minute and not having a clue what to buy.
I went on Amazon and searched “gift for 6 year old boy” and bought something from the first few suggestions. Then I repeated this for each kid. When my gf looked over what I had in my cart, she was impressed. She thought I’d put a lot of thought into it, and I’m not telling her otherwise.
For a few friends that we buy a small gift for each year, my gf bought bathroom sets; a toilet brush and toilet paper, both having the president’s visage. She’s a true patriot.
That name is grandniece or grandnephew, depending.
I will use those terms on xmas eve.
While we’re at it, a term is needed for the spouse of a niece/nephew. I call my nephews’ wives my niece-in-laws.