Grab bag Ideas

[mommary]

My family and I do a grab bag every year and it seems that it is getting old.
We just pick names out of a hat and have a price limit of $125. We are a large family and it is cheaper for us to do it this way. However, it seems that some people are dropping our for various reasons which is upsetting to those of us who would like to continue it.
So I thought I would turn to the disboarders to see what exciting and fun ideas you all might have to revamp our tired old tradition.
Looking forward to hearing some creative ideas!!!!

 

[aprild]

Maybe try coming down on your price limit. Just my opinion.

 

[EthansMom]

I agree that $125 is pretty high for a grab bag gift. Personally, I would lower the price to $50 and have the family members adopt a family for Christmas also (with each person bringing different things for the adopted family).

 

[mommary]

That would be a consideration but i'm also looking for something fun.
The reason for that amount is that we are a group of siblings that total 20 (with spouses). So it is actually less expensive to have the $125 then to buy for everyone.

 

[GJM]

DH family has always done the grab bag each year with a $100 limit. We would list 3 items on our wish list. It was getting to the point were nobody knew what they wanted and everyone was getting gift certificates.

This year we are not doing the $100 grab bag, but are doing a $20 grab bag. But we are not picking names, just bring a gift for guy or girl. You can then swap gifts if you like what someone else has.

On Christmas Eve we do a grab bag where we pick a name ahead of time and we make a gift for that person spending $10, that person then tries and figures out who made the gift.

We only buy for the kids at Christmas.

 

[mommytotwo]

I agree on lowering the price limit and how about if everyone went along with a theme.
*Comfy and Cozy
*A tasty Christmas.

 

[minkydog]

This year we are not doing the $100 grab bag, but are doing a $20 grab bag. But we are not picking names, just bring a gift for guy or girl. You can then swap gifts if you like what someone else has.

i like your idea. $125 is my entire budget for 4 sibs, spouses and the 3kids. We do something similar to your idea with our sunday school class. EVeryone picks a number. Number 1 picks a gift. Number 2 can either pick Number 1's gift or pick a new gift. If he picks #1's gift, #1 has to pick a new gift. Number 3 gets a turn--he can pick either of the #1 or #2 gifts or pick a new gift. Once a gift has been swapped twice it stays permanently with the thrid reciever and cannot be taken away.

We have done this as a White Elephant party too, where all the gifts are stinkers. I'd ask people to bring a new blanket, hat/socks/ mittens for a local shelter or make it a Red Cross benefit(cash only). Everyone brings a tacky gift(limit $5-10, at most) and it plays out the same way as above. This can really be a hoot! I save stuff all year to use at the White Elephant party--hula skirt, Barbie wand(the pastor got that one), old John Denver greatest hits, Pink flamingos, overalls. My son "won" a 6ft tall Bugs Bunny with a small tear in one seam. I sewed it up and he gave it to his little sis, who adored the gift! There's no acounting for taste

 

[GJM]

Actually this was DH uncle's idea. I don't know if he or someone he knew gave an ugly fluffy purse in the shape of a dog or something, real ugly! Nobody wanted it and kept trading, but inside was a gift certificate for $40!

 

[minkydog]

Actually this was DH uncle's idea. I don't know if he or someone he knew gave an ugly fluffy purse in the shape of a dog or something, real ugly! Nobody wanted it and kept trading, but inside was a gift certificate for $40!

I bet they were all sorry they traded

 

[mommary]

All great ideas!
I agree with lowering the amount and I like the theme idea for a grab bag.
I also like the idea of giving to a family or charity, possibly giving the difference of what we use to spend.
I knew I could count on the disboards people. Lets hear some more.

 

[clh2]

I can see were it is getting old too.

On my side of the family, and on DH's side of the family as well, we stopped exchanging gifts with the siblings. It got to the point many years ago (about the time we all started having kids) were it just wasn't fun anymore. Now we just do the nieces and nephews. Not to mention anything about the expense, DH is one of 8 kids in his family. I only have 2 sisters - but things got too political - due to wide ranges of incomes.

In one of me SIL's families - they also adopt a family and purchase many items, some more gift-like, others more useful in day-to-day living (i.e. irons, laundry baskets, detergent etc.). They have a lot of fun doing this, and find they got more joy helping out someone with less and counting their blessings at the same time.