Experiences for Christmas

[msmama]

I had several weddings to go to this year and rather than cash I gave Fandango GC's along with a restaurant GC - so a night out (actually, everybody got more than 1 night out, lol).

I like the Fandango ones because you don't have to know what movie theaters are in that particular area.

 

[Desnik]

Wow, these are all such great ideas for gifts! I think I'm going to do something like this for my dad. He is the toughest person to buy a gift for!

We are going to Disney World for Xmas this year so that's part of our gift to our kids.

 

[mom2t]

Harlem Globetrotter tickets for March for my DS. Center front row on the court floor.

 

[Mom_Rides]

We've given baseball gift certificates to my grandparents and dad in the past. My mom has bought us an annual zoo pass for the last couple of years. My grandma bought me and DD tickets to see Beauty and the Beast on stage last year.

My MIL does not buy gifts. She buys experiences. She's done 2 overnight water park stays (Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari), Cedar Point season passes (2 different seasons), paid for half of our 2010 Disney trip and gave us $ last year to do with what we wanted (so we put it towards our trip to see her/Disney earlier this year).

I truly appreciate the experiences we do receive as gifts.

 

[jcamacam]

Agreed! My kids can't remember the toys they get from year to year but always remember the experiences they've received.

My son still talks about the weekend in NYC that his grandparents gave to him and took him on 5 years ago.

 

[clh2]

DD (19) will be getting a spa GF in the amount for a hot stone massage. I've conveniently scheduled one for her, which she can change if a different time would fit her schedule better. I just wanted her to be able to get an appointment before she goes back to school.

And...there is nothing better than a hot stone massage in January

Also - DD's high school graduation present is a trip to NYC. We opted to go for a few days in between her last final and before Christmas. Definitely an experience!

 

[tasha99]

I'm sending my mom and stepdad to Bally's Sterling Brunch when they go to Vegas.

 

[poohfriend77]

I love "experience" gifts! We get my mom tickets to a college basketball game every year.

Last year, my SIL got my kids the greatest gifts ever: gymnastics class for DD7, and horse riding lessons for DD9. It was great to not get more "stuff," as they already got so much for Christmas, and they both have birthdays a couple weeks later. Of course, we started paying to continue the lessons once the gift ran out... but the girls love it so much, and it was something we were thinking about starting anyway. I think she's paying for an art class for them this year.

DD7 also got a gc for the movie theater for her birthday. It was PERFECT, especially since she had a big class party and got soooo many gifts (I think she ended up with 7 Barbies ). She was so pleased with herself when she "treated" us to the Lorax!