Gift giving

[bokelley]

Do you guys by gifts for adults in your family?

I am over it and the guilt trip that comes with it.

[diggitydot]

We only buy for our immediate fam. I buy for DH, but he's the only adult.

[niener]

Nope. For the adults, the "gift" of this holiday is time spent together and lots of food. DH still has an aunt that sends him money but no one else does anything. We play greed/dirty Santa at our family gathering on my mom's side so we each bring one $20 gift to play, that's it.

[ladymoreta]

DH and I buy for our parents, siblings, and each other.

[spotty_dog]

We give to charity most years, and send a small box with consumables to out-of-state siblings. We had both sets of parents and a brother today so we exchanged with all of them. Pretty low-stress, though.

What kind of guilt trip are they giving?

[Sheherezade]

We do a name draw for all the adult siblings and parents each Thanksgiving for my side of the family. $50 limit on gift. For DH's side, we give to parents, but not his sister. We send gifts for the kids, though. We don't live near any of these people though and gifts are always mailed.


Angie

[civilspouse]

DH and I exchange gifts but other than that it's just kids. My siblings and our spouses used to draw names on Thanksgiving but we decided to stop a few years ago and we also agreed with DHs family only kids but MIL still likes to send us something small. It has made the holiday less stress and easier on the pocketbook.


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[SoonerTexan]

Gifts for each parent and name draw for the siblings

[Curegirl]

Gifts for the kids if it's extended family. They're a lot easier to please!

[L.Jane]

We make a calendar from pictures through out the year for my parents every year. This year the baby made a handprint Menorah for each set of grandparents. My sisters and I exchanged gifts. DH's sisters got something for DS but we didnt get them anything. I got DH a toy because I saw it on here last minute and thought it would be fun, but he didnt get me anything, nor did I want anything. I am over presents too. I love it when I find just the right thing.. Which happened with both my sisters and DH but other than that I am tired of trying to come up with gifts. The yearly calendar for my parents is an easy cheap gift from all the kids that they love. It was so cheap that it was buy one get one free this year so we gave them two so my dad could take one to his office.

[medpedspouse]

I am a gift giver. Love finding just the thing. I do buy for DH, my mom, sister,her dog, fav aunt and any friends spending the holidays with us. Oh and DH's dad and wife. I often have to tell myself to stop because I keep finding things they would like...but I shop year round. If I find something in February, I will buy it and hold it until Christmas...meanwhile finding something else along the way.

For DH's mom, stepdad and sister, BIL/wife/kids, as of 2012, DH is in charge of them and no gifts have been given since then. I figured that if their son/sibling is not willing to put the effort, why should I. Has made life so much easier.

I would hate to shop for people that guilted me into buying them gifts or feel like I have to spend a certain amount. Like LSW, I would rather get a $10 something that was thoughtful instead of $100 something that screamed not me.

[diggitydot]

I am a gift giver. Love finding just the thing. I do buy for DH, my mom, sister,her dog, fav aunt and any friends spending the holidays with us. Oh and DH's dad and wife. I often have to tell myself to stop because I keep finding things they would like...but I shop year round. If I find something in February, I will buy it and hold it until Christmas...meanwhile finding something else along the way.

I think this is incredibly sweet and I'm totally jealous of your organization abilities. I lose shit long before the holidays when I do this.

[medpedspouse]

I think this is incredibly sweet and I'm totally jealous of your organization abilities. I lose shit long before the holidays when I do this.

Bawhaha! I have to admit that I have lost gifts. My organizational skills stop at trying to keep my finds in one place. I have an old armoire that I use as a linen closet...I shove stuff in there and try to hide DH's stuff. Dude knows stuff may be in there but he would never think to reorganize and find stuff - so, they are safe.

[bokelley]

Gift giving

So about two week ago my mom came up and I took her to the Garth Brooks concert. She has always wanted to go and Dh wouldn't go with me. So I thought it was a win win. She took home about 400 worth of presents for my Neice and nephew. I was thinking I was doing a nice thing.
Well then a few nights ago I get this text from my sister who is at my mother's home. Asking what I was getting dad and to make sure I got him something or I would hurt his feelings. Also a list of things her, my brother and her boyfriend wanted.

I was pissed I had just spent over 300 having a painting commissioned for my dad for his birthday in October and I never even got a call saying thank you. The only way I knew it was delivered was the artist called to thank me for my business. Never mind the fact that I just got done with school, my dog died and I am crazy busy. But I should be worried about his feelings. Not once has anyone ever spent a holiday with me while I was alone and Dh at work. Never. My parents never even visited me when we lived in Iowa. Not once. But yet I am too feel guilty.


Then yesterday my mom and dad call. He says to not worry about the gift not being on time and to just send a giftcard. Wtf.

I am over it. They are grown ups. I have asked them to not get me gifts since I was married. It seems silly. These people don't even send me birthday cards yet I should buy them all gifts. I get the kids gift because I like too but not ever grown up that can't hold down a job

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

We exchange with my parents and brother. DHs family has done a variety of things (he's one of 6). Like last year they did a secret Santa - except everybody had 3 people. Because we can't make it simple and just exchange with one person. They also insist on including everyone's SO which is fine if it's someone I know but if it's BIL's GF de jeur (he's 21, in not judging), I don't think she needs to be included. I've hinted 100x that we should just enjoy each other's company. But my super crafty SIL decided that meant we should all MAKE each other gifts last year - right bc DH and I have so much time to be super crafty for everyone...

This year we punted and flew in SIL and I'm just not participating next year. I don't like the stress and I doubt we will be there on Christmas for a long time.