How many people are you buying Christmas presents for this year?

[IrishEyes]

Last edited Tue Dec 11, 2018, 11:58 PM - Edit history (2)

I have nine people on my list. They are all family except for one close friend who is like a sister. That is 3 couples, 2 single people and 1 child. I've bought three presents so far. I had a lot of fun shopping for them especially the kid since he is my first nephew.

I usually make presents, buy gifts from a charitable organization or get eco friendly presents.

[Liberty Belle]

1. Nine

All but one are close family members, but no kids - all are grown up.

[Floyd R. Turbo]

2. Only for my daughter and her husband. 🎁🎁

[IrishEyes]

22. That makes it fairly easy.

I hope you have a nice Christmas.

[Floyd R. Turbo]

23. And you!

[mainstreetonce]

3. Nine

Four kids

[dameatball]

4. seven grandchildren get gifts. Three kids get cash.

[IrishEyes]

21. Is it the older kids who get cash while the younger get gifts?

My grandmother always gave me a small box of petit fours every Christmas. I can't have them without thinking of her.

[dameatball]

24. Yes. My adult children get $$. Their children get gifts.

I live in a different state and have no idea what toys they have, so that's always a challenge. The older ones (7-9) would probably appreciate a gift card, but the younger ones (2-4) not so much. Grampa has to get this right though.....

That's a nice remembrance of your grandmother.

[unc70]

5. Two small children

[IrishEyes]

7. I think kids are easier to shop for than adults.

Especially when they are small.

[unc70]

8. Ages 1 and 4 are easy

Young children are easy for a few years, then can be very difficult to buy for.

[Delmette2.0]

6. None

I have an agreement that I will not buy frivolous or unwanted stuff, if I can wait until, sometime in the year i will find an opportunity to buy or significantly help out with a major purchase.

[IrishEyes]

20. That is smart.

[Delmette2.0]

25. Thanks. :)

[fierywoman]

30. Zero. I gave it up about 40 years ago.

But if I feel like giving someone a present on July 13th or March 3rd, I will.

[Delmette2.0]

31. Exactly.

One son was starting a new home with his wife and they needed a lot! The other son, on disability, needed to keep his car running. I could not see spending hundreds of dollars on stuff when I knew practical would come along in a few months.

They all understand and appreciate Mom coming to the rescue when it is needed.

[FSogol]

9. Nine. Although I take plates of homemade cookies, candy, & fudge to friends and neighbors.

The nine are parents, sisters, niece, nephew, kids, and wife.

[IrishEyes]

17. I wish I lived in your neighborhood.

Homemade cookies sound good.

[FSogol]

37. It would be cool to have some DUers in my neighborhood. n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. None. I'm opting out of Christmas this year

and plan to spend it by myself, maybe taking pictures in the woods. There's not much room for old spinsters during family-oriented holidays, so to hell with it.

[IrishEyes]

19. I will be by myself as well for Christmas.

I like it that way. I'm mailing all my presents out this week. Most of my family has mailed me presents already. I will call them each on Christmas but the rest of the day is my own. I hope you have a nice relaxing Christmas.

[Delmette2.0]

32. I am spending the day with a friend who would also be alone.

One son has passed about 17 months ago and the other will spend the day with his in-laws. Of course I'm invited, but i always feel out of place.

[trueblue2007]

11. almost 20 people. my sister had 4 kids. they had kids, and they had kids and they had kids

[IrishEyes]

16. Wow, That makes your sister at least 80 years old and a great great grandmother.

Last edited Tue Dec 11, 2018, 11:55 PM - Edit history (1)

I hope you find something great for everyone.

[trueblue2007]

35. LOLOL..... JUST KIDDING. We are just 60 something. she has 4 adult children. each of them has 2

me hubby have our 5 "rescue" cat children

[PasadenaTrudy]

12. None.

It's just my partner and I, and we don't want or need "presents."

[IrishEyes]

18. I guess all you need is each other's presence.

My parents usually buy two things for the house like a vacuum cleaner and a power drill and give it to each other at Christmas. They buy the gifts together and it doesn't matter who gives who what. They are both going to use the items.

[backtoblue]

13. My teenage son only

Thinking about giving him to his dad ...

[IrishEyes]

15. Well that is a present and you don't have to wrap him.

[backtoblue]

29. True

In all honesty, I have an awesome kiddo.

He's all I'm buying for this year.

[In_The_Wind]

14. None

[MaryMagdaline]

26. Zero. Sent cards with checks to 4 nieces and nephews

Will bonus employees out of pocket on top of our company bonuses.

Hate presents. Can't select good presents and frustrated in trying.

[OnDoutside]

28. +1000

[OnDoutside]

27. I detest it....I hate the process. Normally I have standoff agreements with my siblings,

but this year we are hosting Christmas so it looks like we have get presents.

[rainy]

33. I sent my friends and family a letter this year

saying we wanted to get off the consumer train and wound be choosing an awesome chocolatier that in some way gave some of the proceeds to a charitable organization. We found a great one in San Francisco. “The first annual chocolate (giving back) Christmas! It was received well. I’m the letter we asked to not be put on any of their lists as their love and friendship was the most treasured gift😃

[JHan]

41. this is such a great idea.

[redstatebluegirl]

34. Just each other.

Last year both families agreed to stop exchanging gifts, the kids are all grown and we realized we were just exchanging gift cards so we stopped. We give the money we would have spent on our extended family to various charities including giving additional money to the staff gift in my husband's department. You know what that feels better than buying best buy gift cards for people who don't need it.

[Trailrider1951]

36. only 4, plus cash for 5 more:

My son and daughter-in-law will get a gift basket (home-made) containing a couple of bottles of red wine (her favorite) and a small bottle of Scotch (his favorite) plus various home-made goodies like spiced pecans and walnuts, brownies, toffee and the like. I will also include other favorites like a small bottle of hot sauce, jalapeno jelly, water crackers and perhaps some cheese. A small scented candle and a couple of new dish towels to complete the gift. My daughter and son-in-law will get a similar basket, but with various bottles of IPA (their favorite flavor of brew) from local and regional micro brewers instead of the wine and Scotch. Each of my 5 grandchildren (ages 10 to 16) will receive a nice Holiday card selected just for them, with $100 inside. We've been busy at work these last few months and I can afford to be generous. My friends will also receive Holiday cards, with Season's greetings (but no cash). Oops, I better mail them soon! Happy Holidays, everyone!

[IrishEyes]

38. That sounds nice.

A few years ago I was a little broke, I made everyone a movie night box with a couple of DVDs, a couple of packages of fancy hot cocoa, a couple of packages of microwave popcorn, a box of candy like you get at the theater, some comfy socks and some other small things. Everyone liked their presents.

[csziggy]

39. Somewhere around sixteen

2 for a family gift exchange, 10 gift certificates from Books A Million for our great nephews (I'm hoping the one on the way is a great niece but we haven't been told yet), and the rest for close friends - probably gift certificates to local restaurants so they have a reason to treat themselves to a night out.

[Luciferous]

40. 3- my husband and 2 kids. And then our family does a gift exchange thing so I'll buy a present

for that. We stopped giving everyone gifts years ago, now we just have a nice dinner and do the exchange. My son is the only kid left in the family so he will get some gifts from other family but that's about it.

[llmart]

42. three

My "kids" are middle-aged and have very good jobs and make more money than I ever have. This was my first year of retirement and living on a fixed income is challenging. I have one grandchild who is three so I did buy her a couple of small toys. I have no problem buying for her. Christmas is for kids. My son lives out of state and flies in for the holidays, so it's difficult to buy him much of anything since I have to consider how large and heavy something is. I have no idea what he has householdwise since I haven't been to his place in several years. My daughter and her husband throw money around like it's water. Their three-year old has more toys than you can shake a stick at - more than I ever had in my entire childhood. My grown kids will get one thoughtful gift from me - usually books and a local coffee house gift card.

In my opinion, the gift card craze is just weird. No one knows what to get anyone, so instead of sticking the money in a card they buy a gift card as if that is a little more effort than actual cash. I don't get it. I always thought that giving a gift was supposed to entail knowing the person well-enough and caring enough to make mental notes of what they like and can use and then making the effort to go out and get it and wrap it.

[zanana1]

43. I love gift cards.

If I can afford it, I give gift cards. That way, the people who have everything can figure it out. I like receiving them because it's guilt-free shopping.

[llmart]

44. But my point is how is that different from cash?

Plus, guilt-free shopping doesn't make sense to me. Why would you feel guilty about buying a gift for someone?

Every year I read about how much money is left on gift cards that have never been redeemed completely. That seems like a waste of money.

[zanana1]

45. In my experience, cash was always used in the general house budget.

A card means that it is meant for me to go out and buy something I want, or need. Though I do get your point about unredeemed gift card money.

[IrishEyes]

47. No one in my family sends gift cards.

Everyone seems to be blessed with a good gift shopping gene. I'm always amazed at how creative the gifts are that my brothers send me. Not big and expensive just well thought out and just what I need without knowing it.

[mnhtnbb]

46. None.

My oldest son doesn't celebrate Christmas and doesn't want presents. He and his partner took care of my dog for a month after my hip replacement surgery, so I sent them some Harry & David "thank you" gifts, but they aren't Christmas presents.

My youngest son will barely speak to me since I separated from my husband a year ago. He does celebrate Christmas, but I didn't even get a thank you for sending him a framed poster (of a show he did) that cost me $90 to ship to him at his request while cleaning out the house we sold.

A friend is coming to spend Christmas. We will go to see a performance of The Nutcracker ballet, maybe a candlelight service Christmas eve, eat out, enjoy Christmas with each other, but no gifts.

I am doing Christmas cards/letters to people this year. Last year was the first time in over 30+ years I didn't send out cards. Just couldn't bring myself to do it after the separation in November.

I have decided to start carrying a $5. with me when I walk my dog three times/day. I live in downtown Raleigh and occasionally get asked by people if I can help buy them a coffee or sandwich. Homeless don't sit on the street with signs here, but are walking about. First person who asks me between now and Christmas each time I'm out will get the $5.

[IrishEyes]

48. That sounds like a great idea.

Giving to the homeless is good. I hope you, your family and doggie have a good holiday.

[llmart]

49. So sorry about the relationship with your one son.

I've spoken of this with you before. I, too, left a long term marriage, but fortunately for me my daughter and my son didn't blame me for one second for leaving. That first year that I left Christmas was pretty awful for me and still after eight years the holidays are fraught with various emotions. I keep my holidays pretty simple and like you, I usually attend a concert with a friend or treat myself to something nice. I think it is so caring of you to give money to someone who needs it. As I posted above, my grown children are very comfortable and I make a donation in their names to the Humane Society. Ironically, both of them make a donation also. Last year my son gave me a gift of $100 to any charity of my choice. I'm so happy that they learned the lessons I taught them of giving to charity. They've done it ever since they graduated from college.

Each year will get a little better for you.

[smirkymonkey]

50. I only buy gifts for the people I am actually going to see.

This year I am visiting my brother in Vermont, his wife and their two kids. My parents will be their too. I will only buy for my parents my brother and his family.

Usually I go to my sister's house in Maine because they are closer. But I won't get them anything and they won't have to get me anything this year.

I would rather not deal with it at all, but once I start getting things, I usually over-do it. I overcompensate. I don't have a lot of disposable income so everything is on credit and then I pay it off with my tax return when I get it. It's kind of frustrating. I wish I didn't have this need to please so much.

[LisaM]

51. 20?

8 are kids. Some, not all are bought. I hate shopping online but man, shopping in stores is a challenge right now, not much good stuff and many shuttering storefronts...

[chillfactor]

52. none

I live on social security and I have no money for gifts.

[Doreen]

55. Yeah, until this year I have always purchased one of those boxes of cards every other year and just

rotate the pictures so they are not to recognizable from year to year. It is hard to be on SOC-SEC.

[woodsprite]

53. 14 family, 4 at work, 1 friend (secret Santa)

But we make goodies for 38 people at work and donate to a charity in their name. This time we’re donating to Presbyterian Disaster Relief. Due to the timing of vacations this year, they’re not going to get their goodies until we return to work in January

[Doreen]

54. About 4 or 5 households.

I say it that way because I am making fudge, brownies, and butter cookies to give to each of those households. I will leave them there and they can fight among each other with who gets what. I am going to be at my brothers in Portland Oregon so I might do a pie for dessert also.

[yellowdogintexas]

56. 14

Because we will be with them this year, our daughter's in-laws are on our list
Daughter and son in law of course
Family gifts to my inlaws and the three adult nieces and nephews. ( they are getting the $10 silicone popcorn poppers which you use in the microwave. Best $10 gift ever Order from Amazon. One for each household. Highly recommended)
Ordering the poppers today; Everything else is ordered and has arrived either here or in Arizona. Oh I forgot my sisters' grandkids, I have already sent books to the little ones and need to order some for the older 3