Like Ferret Herder said, it depends on the scotch and it depends on the chocolates. I aim for the $40-$50 mark on both.
Upgrading RAM so far is all I have to contribute, and the usual cash for the young’uns.
No frickin’ clue. I’m supposed to get something for my nephew, but I have no idea what. I messaged his GF on facebook to ask what he’d like, but I haven’t heard back. Last year I got his sister earrings from Tiffany, so I set the bar rather high for myself.
Kindles for my grandsons. Cash for my kids as gifts.
I do stockings full of odd stuff for all of them. I love doing their stockings and the kids and grands seem to like them.
My oldest son is getting a Playstation 3 as most of his gift expenditures. He’s reaping benefits from the fact that his brother just turned one so we’re not spending a whole lot on him just so he can have no idea what’s going on. Next year will start to be more even in spending. Older child is also getting a t-shirt with the various test icons from Portal on it and probably a game or two for the PS3 – but that’ll mostly be on him via gift cards and cash from other relatives.
No idea what I’m getting for my wife yet. I usually come up with something kind of late but manage to get her something good each time.
I’ll probably be getting my boyfriend at least one videogame, either Assassins Creed or Saints Row 3. I dunno what anyone else wants yet.
I quit giving and getting gifts a few years ago and I love it.
I do need to buy for my 2-year-old niece and I’ve been told I’m allowed to get the talking plush R2-D2 so that’s totally what I’m giving her!
Well, the first thing to deal with is my brother’s birthday in 3 weeks. He gave me an IOU for “2 tickets to any MLB game of your choice next summer whenever they go on sale” for my birthday, so it has to be something good. I’m thinking probably a GPS for his car so he doesn’t have to keep calling us from California (we’re in Maryland) to ask us to get on Google Maps to find him directions because he’s lost in Santa Monica.
Christmas, I have no idea. He likes camping stuff, but I’m out of my element there unless he gives me a specific item to buy (got him a tent one year), so maybe some more soccer paraphernalia. I have good luck picking out books for my dad, so I’ll probably get him a couple, and a Kindle for my mom.
So I’ve already shared my nuts, scotch and chocolates strategy. Another one I rely on again and again is “flashlights”. Not just flashlights, but all kinds of handy portable lights.
Target always put up end-of-aisle displays during the holidays that are filled with $5 and $10 gadgets in red boxes, I guess to be stocking stuffers or cheap gifts. They have flashlights combined with other tools, sets of three stick-em-anywhere LED lights, mini LED “camping chandeliers”, and LED lights that clip on to the visor of a hat. I’ve gotten this kind of thing for my husband and dad in the past and they’ve totally geeked out over them.
Nothing for adults - family agreement and a smart one.
Children - an agreement noted in a card. In the weeks following Christmas - summer holidays here in Oz - we’ll go on a shopping spree. Lunch together and an allowance. We’ve done this for the last few years, and it’s been bliss. Spreads Christmas and they go shopping together. My present doesn’t get lost in the deluge, nor is it duplicated. The girls tend to head for clothes which they love choosing themselves, or the art shop to buy paper and drawing gear. The boys tend to head for the bookshop or for bike accessories or stuff like that. In all cases the choices aren’t what I would have made.
Parental instructions are taken - basically no short term junk, and phone calls are made to the parents if I have any doubts about the choices. It’s been the best win-win.
We’re keeping it very simple this year, as we have a big trip to the US coming up in a few months. The wife will probably get a some sort of purse, I’ll likely get a nice bottle of Scotch or gin or maybe even a pair of shorts.
Same as I usually do-I make gift baskets for everyone with homemade treats and little trinkets I run across throughout the year. I just finished a big batch of grape butter tonight actually. Grandmother used to make it when my siblings and I were little and they all love to get it. I canned some grape pie filling for the first time this year; I’m eager to see how it gets received. The big hit of last Christmas turned out to be Lego minifigure flashlights. This year I’ve gotten some Lego minifig USB drives. They’re so cute.
I’m kind of stumped on what to get my 12 year-old nephew though. All he appears to do these days is text his friends and ignore adults.