Hey Eli!

I always try to buy myself somethin’ REAL nice. If there’s enough money left I might mail out some cards. (just kidding… sort of)

Hey egreg!

I am just sick about this!
My technique is to wait until the stores are within a few hours of closing on the 24th, and raid them mercilessly.

I need clothes about that time every year, so bonus!

I haven’t been doing much gift giving the past few years due to strained financial circumstances but a lot of times, I give calendars.

It can be fun trying to match the calendar to my perception of the person’s personality. I have to admit the one year where one recipient didn’t quite get the humor of “Outhouses of the World” made it a bit frosty that year but I can usually manage reasonably well to provide a variety and make some folks laugh at the same time.

And it’s useful to boot.

I don’t do gifts either. Don’t like to receive them either. I have everything I need, don’t want anymore stuff.

Thank goodness for Teh Last Minute. If it weren’t for that, nothing would ever get done.

Ok I’ll make it easy for you. Girls? This is a kindness for guys – be specific, their brain cells are heavily shoved over toward the practical side.

Cream colored cashmere sweater and jet black Louboutin high heels. That’s a good outfit surely.

what if he just can’t carry off that look? what if the cream colored cashmere sweater makes him look pasty?

Here’s a trick for the last minuter who can not wrap gifts for shite: take coffee, and I mean good coffee, to the folks in that gift wrap booth in teh mall…
Talk about your Holiday Love!

With my luck, they’d drink only flavored coffees.

There is that. For some time I’ve been attempting to dispose of unnecessary possessions faster than I acquire new ones.

Food can be a good gift, provided you know the person well enough to give them something they will like. They can eat it, pitch it, regift it but hopefully it won’t add to existing clutter.

I suppose he could go with navy

Well said!

At least the heels will make his calves look great…

Last year for the family exchange, which is supposed to be inexpensive, I gave out 9 or 10 containers of home made cookies.

A gift that is always a big hit for me to give, whether it’s for the holidays or birthday or general principles, is to give a picture. Like my neighbor has a beautiful crab apple tree and when it blossomed I snapped a picture from my front porch. Then went to a WalMart and had the pic blown up into an 8×10, bought a frame and I’m done. She loved it and placed it prominently on her wall as you walk into her home. Her husband said it worked as well as $1000. Once took a photo of the house me and my five siblings grew up in, but this time bought really nice frames and gave it to everyone. It’s a gift that lasts a long, long time.

when I was (much) younger and was living in NJ I used to love going into Manhattan on Xmas eve, start downtown and go to Greenwich village and then head up 5th Avenue and hit Macy’s and Sak’s and Lord and Taylor and any place else I felt like going to, then up to Bloomingdales, then a drink or two and back to NJ, Midnight mass, wrap, go to bed.

Now? Fuck it. Gift cards.

Works for me.

Funny, I don’t actually enjoy getting gifts very much either. Except for a small handful of people, I’d be perfectly happy without the whole gift-exchanging spiel entirely.

But if I must do it, I want to do it well.

I have an old Calvin & Hobbes in my office. The whole week was about Calvin having a project for school and day after day he would put it off. The one I have is the day Hobbes gently remind him about it and Calvin tells Hobbes he just can’t sit down and start doing it. He has to be in the right mood; get inspiration. Hobbes asks “What mood is that?” Calvin: “Last minute panic.”

I can count on one hand the gifts I’ve gotten that I actually liked.

That would be it.

If I can add a question here. Because it’s a problem I now have at work. The Secret Santa. I don’t know what to get these people. And it’s supposed to be cheap. Waste of my time, money and effort.

Gift card.

Well, this year for the wee ones in my life, I’m buying Nursery Rhyme CDs and good audio books. It helps them develop their pre-reading auditory skills, and it beats the hell out of them watching too many hours of teevee.

If anyone has children under the age of 5 on their gift list, there are some really fine audio books and nursery rhyme CDs on the market these days.

Go with the food thing. If the recipient doesn’t like it, it’s easy for s/he to give it away.

You know what irritates me, adults in my husbands family who expect you to buy them a gift when they already have much more than they need. Not to mention they get farming subsidies from the government.

Really. I ask for what i want and get what i ask for. And that’s how it worked with everyone in my family. Boring? Not really. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with getting someone something they want. If something jumps off ten shelf and bites me I’ll depart from the script, but originality isn’t something i strive for.

I always get books for children. However, the older they get, the harder it is because I don’t their tastes. Audio books for younguns are a good idea. When my son was young, I found old radio programs (The Shadow, Sherlock Holmes) on tape. They were great when he was 5-10.

If it bothers you set boundaries. Tell them up front that you don’t want to exchange gifts. If they give you something, don’t feel guilty. Next year they probably won’t make the effort.

I guess I have picky tastes. I’d rather buy my own clothes and nicknacks.

I had big parties for a couple of decadal birthdays. I put ‘no gifts’ on the invitation, but if you feel generous, here are 2 places you could make a donation. Would rather do that for Christmas, but think it wouldn’t be socially acceptable.

Oh, great idea!
I’ve sometimes given frames, but with ‘that special’ photo inside it’s a terrific gift.
Definitely personal…

We’ve also given quite a few of the books that can be made via iPhoto (and other software has the same options); the photos are compiled on your computer, then you export the file to have the book printed out (in my case, in a small town in Oregon). They mail the completed book back to you — or you can have it mailed directly to the person who is to receive it. People have really treasured those as gifts, and they don’t have to be expensive; sometimes the smaller, 5×7 size books are actually more handy for business people to pop into a briefcase, or for ‘grandmas’ to keep in a purse.

(In iPhoto, you click the icon says “BOOK” at the bottom of your iPhoto panel and it will walk you through the process.)

I usually get books for *everybody*. They’re easy to pack, they don’t break, and most importantly, they’re something I know.

Like I said above, calendars work wonders. Depending on the overall office personality, you can find a large selection of generic type things like wonders of the world, or outhouses of the world, dogs or cats, firetrucks, whatever.

Or the daily word for the day type thing.

And they run $10 – $15 per

I’ve told them for several years I would prefer not to exchange gifts among adults. If we all pulled our money we could do something great for a family that has nothing. But these people who are so blessed insist on exchanging gifts. There are 9 children amongst these adults that we do buy gifts for.
I’ve gone so far as to make a donation to charity in their names. It doesn’t deter them.

way better to give than to receive. if i get a good book (and I haven’t in years … hint to any relatives checking this out) I’m really happy. even if I don’t, I’m not into getting stuff. must be a result of having kids and having to play santa – which thank god I don’t have to do for the first time in about 15 years.

OOhhh, I get to promote the gift of Playing For Change/ Peace Through Music one more time. One more thread.
playingforchange.com We just bought all our major extended family gifts on-line. We bought a 2 pack deluxe edition of an incredible music project and the resulting CD. So, for $10 they get this awesome moment to rise above their personal story. Be part of something bigger, simpler,pure music with the message of Peace through Music. Humanity. Grace.
Okay, I guess I should stop lobbying for this project [not affiliated in any way]. I’m going to do that. *g*
Peace

Really? I don’t agree, eCAHN. I don’t see anything socially unacceptable about that at all. Especially at xmas time when alot of people will be into the spirit of giving to those less fortunate when they may not otherwise be.

Involves knowing the other person’s tastes. I had extended conversations with one niece on T-day. I read mainly nonfiction, which she almost never reads. She was also an English teacher. There’s no way I would know book to buy for her, besides that she’s probably read most of the good novels I could think of.

No gifts other than an iTunes gift card.

Xmas is a time for mostly sleeping. Sleep is good.

My recommendation is still don’t buy them anything and don’t feel guilty.

What they are subjecting you to is a form of bullying. You don’t have to take it.

Sincerely,

Rat-Scrooge “g”

Great minds! See my 31.

2010 calendar- count the days until suzanne kosmas gets her sorry, bogus democratic ass kicked out of Congress.

But that’s true of any gift. At least with books I’m confident that I can tell a good one from a crappy one, which is not necessarily the case with other potential gift items.

Cain’t tell, are you fer or agin ‘er?

I am going to take your advice. I can not afford it this year.

If I am going to spend money, that’s what I would prefer. :)

Okay, but if the family gathering turns ugly you didn’t get the idea from me…

Sorry things are extra tight, I hope 2010 is good for you (and everyone).

yeah. I agree with ratfood. just don’t buy anything. they’ll stop buying for you and that’ll be the end of it. we had something like that happen in my family on my dad’s side. it was my mom who suggested the adults stop buying for each other and she caught alot of shit the first year. my aunt was all bent out of shape. after that, the adults all stopped giving to each other and it was just not a big deal. if you don’t want to exchange, don’t. all it takes is one person to get it stopped.

OOps, meant to say DVD and CD.

she’s not officially a blue dog. in fact one of the first things she did was co-sponsor EFCA. i was happy. but health care reform? she said over the summer the public option “wasn’t important” and voted with the blue dogs against the bill. I think she’s toast.

It’s okay rat… They are a bunch of wingnuttards anyway. I don’t care if it gets ugly. I appreciate the recommendation.

as far as kids go….. when my daughter was… i dunno… 2nd grade? how old is that? we got her a globe. so mother-in-law got her a talking globe. anyway, she spent a ton of time with that as did her siblings.

Well, if you change your mind you could always donate to ActBlue in their name. :)

7-8 years old. What a great idea!

Bwahahahahha. What a delicious idea.

I’ve been tempted to buy a globe for my 58-year old sister who is, uh, geographically challenged.

We stopped buying gifts a few years ago. Last year we decided to loose the decorations and focus on other projects together. Like getting in fire wood.We did string one strand of lights. It was such a nice family time. Favorite comfort food and just hanging out. No schedule.
I’m so glad we did that because this year the youngbloods are off on their own adventures. You never know when the “Last Time” is but thankfully it’s pretty obvious with young adults.

Any parent would approve of nursery rhyme books, too.

DVD/CDs from my local public radio/tv stations. My ex really liked the John Denver compilation since he used to ride the school bus with him. My grandbaabies love “Playing for Change.” My daughter will enjoy Julie&Julia as she cooks. My son-in-law liked the James Taylor set. I get to donate and they get to enjoy.

Consumables! I like Root brand candles for candle-lovers, local chocolates, salt and pepper for cooks, and soap. My favorite gift: home-grown canned tomatoes from sis-in-law’s garden. Heaven in February!

Thankfully, due to some family drama I no longer have to worry about buying gifts for the stepfamily. They’re really nice people, but I only have those one-word scouting reports to go by, and they seem to know even less about me. (A golf hat? WTF?)

my “philosophy” is that I’d always like to get someone something that they might not spend the money on for themselves but that they really want (that takes them giving information) or something that I think they would want that makes me happy to spend on. Otherwise I’ll cook or paint or knit or something. I will NEVER do a black friday.

I give money, let them pick what they want. I find that everyone actually gets a present that they enjoy.

Used to work for a group of doctors. First year, I chose individual gift for each of them. Insane. People making $250,000 getting upset because they found someone else got something that was $10 more expensive.

Next year, I needed 8 identically the same gifts. I chose an expensive atlas. The only place that had 8 was in New York, little place called Macys. I had it on layaway because I was going to be out of town and would pick it up some time.

I make it policy to be out of town when any celebrations are coming up. I was in Connecticut coming back from Maine and I decided to drop by and pick up the atlas’s. Never ever go to Macys in New York the day after Thanksgiving. I still have acute crowd phobia. The only time in my life that I ever physically manhandled women as I fought my way to the door.

Give money.

That’s pretty close to mine – ideally I want it to be something that they never even knew existed but have to have.

And any Black Friday shopping I do is going to be online only.

Very cool. I think with music and fav foods you can’t go wrong in invoking the Spirit of the celebration of humanity. But the perfect sweater is wonderful,too.
It’s not hard to adjust to the idea of simplicity when you’re in the AARP target range. *g*
All those years I spent wishing for a horse. Knee deep in shit and looking for the pony. LOL
At 43 I got one. The experience of my life.

No Black Fridays. No More Love Expressions Through Capitalism.
Think Georgie Bush; Heir apparent of the Bush Dynasty. Think ” go shopping” as a response to 9/11.
The problem is the endless shopping malls providing endless dead-end jobs for single mothers and young people.
They’re collapsing like a super sci-fi movie destruction scene.
Can we Kill The Bill and regroup on our approach to the Health Care War? Kind of need to make this a priority.
If anyone even considers a bill with an attack on Women’s Rights in it…those nasty,old men are in for a long relationship with the younger folk.
Kill The Bill. just saying…….

I started today by buying two lovely hand made pottery plates from a local potter at his gallery. As a wanna-be artist in lampwork glass, I decided to support local artists by gifting only locally made items. Not that I don’t respect Chinese artists, but I am buying USA, made within 20 miles of my house.
Karen

books & jewelry.
If they don’tlike’em,they can regift or donate somewhere.
Plus get to support artists and authors.

In our family since one of my sisters-in-law had her fourth child, we don’t do gifts for adults anymore, but if someone actually needs something, we give it. If you are absolutely compelled to shop in a store, make it a consignment/thrift shop to keep the money local and reduce mass consumerism. And donate to a local organization either time or money in your giftee’s honor. An example I’ve used before is that one of our older nieces loves horses, so we sponsor a rescue horse (more accurately, help sponsor because we couldn’t foot the entire cost of food, shelter, exercise, and veterinary care) for her.