Holiday Gift Giving
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It’s here! Time for the third day of the 5 Day Preparing for the Holiday Themed Blog Hop with the Schoolhouse Review Crew…
Today’s focus is on gift giving. This is an aspect of the holidays that sometimes has me more frazzled and wishing we didn’t exchange gifts at all as the ‘me, me, me’ mentality can easily take hold and overshadow the whole reason for the celebration.
Gifts for Immediate Family Members
When the boys were little, the gifts were either from Santa or us. As they got a bit older, though, they started exchanging small gifts. Typically, those gifts have been from the novelty category of stuff with a short life once opened. Although, the Schleich animals that R gave to J are still being used and in good shape. (I knew that would be the case after reviewing Schleich a few years ago on the TOS Crew.)
Now the older boys are requesting gifts that are a bit beyond the $5 limit I had initiated at first. So long as they keep it rather ‘equal’ in amount and have the resources to do so, I am fine with their bumping up to the $20 mark. Typically, I take them shopping individually do procure the gifts so there can be a surprise come Christmas morning.
Gifts for Extended Family Members
For me, this is often the harder aspect of gift giving. Not living close to my nieces and nephew, it can be a challenge to determine what they’d most enjoy receiving. Of course, now that they are older the idea of a gift card to a favorite store is what gets them excited. Normally, I’d feel it was a bit impersonal. However, the idea of paying as much to ship the gifts as it cost to buy them bothers me even more.
Gift cards have become a go to item for the grandparents, too, as they typically have all they want. My parents do enjoy having ‘cash’ to go out to dinner at a favorite restaurant and that’s the path I’ve taken for a few years now.
One year, my sisters and I opted to not purchase gifts for each other. Instead, we donated that money to the individual’s chosen charity. I have to admit that I loved that option for gift giving as I felt those in need benefited and we all felt better about where the money went.
Gifts for Friends
This is one category we rarely encounter. White elephant exchanges in the homeschool support group is about the extent of it for me right now. Otherwise, I really prefer a gift of my time (e.g. let’s go for lunch or grab a cup of coffee and snack and just visit) or something more personal (e.g. a framed photo that they truly appreciate.)
How to you handle gift giving in your house for the holidays?
Great post. I love all the ideas. My kids are 5, 4 and 16 months so they haven’t really brought gifts before although I did let them pick out a gift for their dad last year. I think I will use your idea of $5 a piece to get each other a gift. Great post.
Thanks, Nickida! It wasn’t until the oldest was around 7 that we started doing small gifts for brothers. Back then, we lived near a dollar store and they could pick a few items to give to each brother. It’s a challenge to go ‘cheap’ in Alaska, though.
We typically but for everyone in our immediate family then draw names for our extended family
What fun ideas! I spend the bulk of holiday budget on my immediate family. For extended family, we do a gift swap which really works out great!
I love your idea about donating a gift instead, very nice!
Thanks for sharing 😉
Dawn,
I’d love to do a gift swap. Sometimes I’ve done a family gift (e.g. a movie they’d all love plus popcorn), but it seems like I always feel the pressure for the individual gifts.
It is amazing how much doing the gift swaps do really take off the pressure a lot! And cut costs in a major way!
I usually give gift cards to the teens in my family because I never know what to get them. I normally shop throughout the year for everyone else but unfortunately was not able to do that this year. I may try to make gifts this year. There are a lot of ideas for that on Pinterest!
Tonya,
I love Pinterest for ideas, whether crafty or food related.
Love the handcuffs!! My son would probably handcuff me to something in my sleep to avoid going to school though!
One of the younger brothers gave him that. They have a quick release, so at least if they bind each other up it can be removed without much fuss. (Why boys like to do those kinds of things is beyond me!)
I think buying for our parents is always the hardest. Every year that is a struggle for me. I usually end up buying something with the same general themes, holiday decor for my mom, wine for my dad… etc.
Jen,
I think the challenge is in part because they usually have everything they need and may buy their wants before someone can gift it to them.
In my family growing up; we drew names for gifts. I have 4 brothers and 4 sisters. That’s quite a lot of people to try to buy for, and not enough money to stretch between everyone. So we drew names; we each got a gift for Mom, one for Dad, and one for the sibling who’s name we drew. It definitely made it a lot simpler and we were able to get a better thought of gift for the one sibling than trying to get $10 to stretch between 8 different people.
Amber,
I’ve tried the drawing names route in my family, but most of them don’t want to go that route. I might do it for the boys starting next year with the idea of making or ‘recycling’ items for gifts to each other.
We give a lot of handmade items, as well as food items and gift cards. We really don’t buy much for our kids, only 3-4 small things each. I don’t like focusing so much on the “stuff” during the holidays!
I’ve tried downsizing the gifts, but each year my husband gets the guilt flowing and overspends. Homemade gifts are awesome,too.
Gift cards are a great option, especially for older kids when you just don’t know what to buy!
I totally agree, Brandy! My boys even like cold, hard cash for a gift.