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[C.Ann]

 

[minniecarousel]

hmmm....I think you're just going to have to give them a list of books & movies and let them shop where they want. As far as a more "extravagant" gift, do you need a new robe? luxurious sheets? It doesn't sound like you'll be able to convince him not to spend much $$ on you. He looks at it this way: his folks (maybe just his Mom) expect something nice from him and he doesn't want to leave you out.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Make out your Christmas "wish list" and put down the titles of the things you want and put "used is preferred-Green is the new Black!" next to each appropriate item that can be found used.

And then make a list of scrap-bookie things you might like that are not recycled.

Then, when they give you some used items, really fawn over how much you appreciate the gift and that they saved the world just a little bit by recycling and that it was exactly what you wanted.

 

[clh2]

I love the "Green-theme" from the PP. That is a really cool idea

Another option - can they make a donation in your name to a local charity, ie. foodbank, or something like Heifer International? That way, they could determine the amount to give on your behalf, but with most charitable donations, they wouldn't need to tell you that amount.

 

[C.Ann]

All excellent ideas! I'll run them by them and see how they respond..

 

[DVCLiz]

If I were you , I would come up with a nice list and let them decide whether they wanted to buy used or new things for you. My mom was like this to an extent - never wanting me to spend money on her. She forgot that one of the joys of the season was in giving a gift to a loved one, even if you were on a budget. She sucked a lot of the joy of gift giving out of the season for me.

Here are some ideas:

A book basket, filled with 4 or 5 of your favorite titles (you can suggest used copies but it would also be nice if you gave them one or two that were new in hardback so they could mix it up for you) with a snack bag of some sort so you could enjoy a treat while reading.

A movie basket with an assortment of your favorite DVDs and some microwave popcorn. Again, ask for a few used ones and one or two new ones.

Tickets to some sort of play or movie for the whole family, so you can "count" them as a gift to you but you can take your family or just you and your granddaughter to a nice event.

I would not buy my mother cheap stationery from Big Lots under any circumstances. A nice box of high quality stationery is a nice gift and it meets your daughter's need to give you something nice. Say thank you and enjoy using it. A writing basket with a couple of pens and some stamps as well as a nice box of stationery isn't a trerribly expensive gift.

Think of sometihng you could collect and ask for one or two of them. I have started a wooden nutcracker collection - it's a perfect gift for people like my daughter's boyfriend to give me - not too expensive (they are 12 - 15 bucks at Target) and you can never have too many. At some point I can start giving them to my daughters - you could do the same for your granddaughter. I know that one of the nicest memories my children have of their grandmother is of her angel collection - now they each have several boxes of her angel figurines packed away for the day when they have their own homes to decorate for Christmas. Christmas ornaments, nice dishes, some sort of knick - knack - something you would enjoy now and later could pass on to a family member.

Ask for some nice lotions, soaps, etc - something that you would use up. You could even ask for a new supply of something you use frequently - if you really want to be frugal think of things you use up at the lake and ask for a "Summer Box" of cleaning supplies, etc. Practical but also a nice gesture as a gift if you REALLY can't think of anything else.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Do you have an updated family photo in a nice frame? If they do something with a digital camera, it won't cost much.

ETA: I really need to go to bed - I missed the original question. I would just tell them you prefer "gently used". You raised DD to be smart with her money, and now you want to see it in action.....LOL. Most of the used stuff on Amazon is in really good shape.