Christmas presents

[Freed Roger]

Hey-yooooo!

Mrs. Freed gifted my brother and I up for a trip to SF-Lake Tahoe next september for a trail race , brewery-palooza
& maybe some fly fishing (I don't know how/I'll bring the worms.)

[JCShutout]

To prevent unwanted gifts, we all just tell each other things we want. My wife's family all decided to get each other kitchen items, and we gave each other a list of things, and, ya know, its 2014, so we texted around to make sure no one doubled up on purchases and we were all happy. (woot new crock pot!) We list one or two pricier items, and a lot of affordable stuff since we are all at different places in our lives. My wife and I had a $60 budget for each other, and we exchanged lists. I got the dremel I wanted, and a nice shirt I wanted. She got jewelry, a scarf and a skirt she wanted.

My parents make a billion times more $ than we do, so we usually just get them fancy coffee, chocolate, etc. A basket of things they will eventually re gift, eat, or serve at a party. I can't afford to buy some $500 tech thing for them, but I can give them something.

Even if the gifts suck, its just that you were thought of. Unless you are fairly wealthy, buying gifts for people is a pretty big sacrifice. That's money you would otherwise use to treat yourself, that they are spending on you. That's a big deal for a lot of people, even if its just a $10 or $20 item, because that's $10 or $20 spent on a number of people.

My mom did provide the best gift of the year though...

http://www.amazon.com/Arena-Star-Trek-H ... B00DP36WF6

If he has the time doctor. If he has the time...

[Freed Roger]

I've become a bit numbed by the gift-giving-getting experience (aforementioned gift excluded) - the sheer volume and obligation of it all. One side of the family has toned it down, but the other hasn't. Blah.

a good moment this year was a gag gift: my teenage nephew is huge Blackhawks fan, and probably above-avg spoiled - I wrapped up my daughter's Blues jersey and slipped it in his pile of gifts anonymously. The look of disgust on his face was priceless. He assumed well-meaning but clueless grandparents gave it to him.

[jim]

We have a system in our family to keep it to a minimum. All kids exchange with one other kid based on a draw done at Thanksgiving. My oldest got a kick out of it this year, he had my 5 year old great nephew and was set loose in a toy store by his wife with instructions to buy "What 5 year old jim jr. would want". Big honkin' crane set with a remote control. Both giver and receiver enjoyed that.

My wife and I usually end up picking up my parents something small during the summer walking through some art fair, they are at that age where if it's not really unique they probably already have it.

For my wife and I, the agreement is always no gifts but we usually do something small. My wife got me a wallet because she was in the car one day when mine completely fell apart a few weeks ago, and I got her a bottle of perfume because I knew she was out. She buys the kids stuff, I know one traditional gift for the older son is Turbo Tax of all god damned things. I did buy one gift for my son this year - a kick ass M+N Stan Musial 1963 jersey. I bought myself a '46 Schoendienst. We insist that the kids do not buy us anything.

So the gift exchanging/buying is very minimal in our house.