Grandparent gifts (for Christmas or birthdays)

[Judique]

Harry and David pears or a 1/2 of a honey baked ham. With the ham, I usually check in advance if that's OK -- let them know that's what I am going to send, so they can let me know if that works with the large family gathering they are doing. // boring, sad perhaps, but overpriced food is used, doesn't clutter up the place, and some of these things are actually pretty tasty and appreciated.

I have done little table top Christmas trees and little gingerbread houses from catalogs too.

Grandparent here. The Gingerbread houses are a nuisance. I was getting at least one a year for 10 plus years. After the first few they went directly into the trash. And yes, I eventually expressed my opinion because it was a waste. They are like getting knickknacks. I'm not going to eat them and they take up display space.

Gift cards are usually nice. Disney gift cards, or restaurant cards such as Cracker Barrel for travel and as someone else said, gas gift cards. Even hotel cards such as a Marriott or other gift card. Great for travel!

 

[sksjasams]

We get my dad a $50 movie theater gift card every year. I used to rack my brain and try all sorts of different gifts, but this is the one he truly likes and looks forward to every year. He loves to go to the movies. He can go on a Friday for senior prices, only $5. So he can see 10 movies with that gift.

 

[jenf22]

ShutterFly books are a big hit with us. Easy and tons of codes and discounts make this very low cost choices.

I'll second the Shutterfly books. We do one every other Christmas for the grandparents. We do a page for every month of our son's life. We get one for us and for our son as well. We figure it'll be neat for him to have when he's older (he's 9 now).

I'll also second the NOT getting a Visa gift card. They are such a pain. But for those who end up with one as a rebate or gift, I have a tip. A guy at work told me you could use them to load a gift card to your Amazon account. It works great. You just pick the amount and pay with the Visa gift card. Now you have Amazon credit instead.

 

[mjkacmom]

I'll second the Shutterfly books. We do one every other Christmas for the grandparents. We do a page for every month of our son's life. We get one for us and for our son as well. We figure it'll be neat for him to have when he's older (he's 9 now).

I'll also second the NOT getting a Visa gift card. They are such a pain. But for those who end up with one as a rebate or gift, I have a tip. A guy at work told me you could use them to load a gift card to your Amazon account. It works great. You just pick the amount and pay with the Visa gift card. Now you have Amazon credit instead.

That's exactly what I do with visa gift cards. I just buy Amazon with them, and load them onto my Amazon account - so much easier.

 

[DreamIsaWish]

We replace or upgrade appliances for my parents. They don't like to do the comparison shopping so when the TV was on the fritz, we replaced it. Lawnmower dying, we picked it out and delivered it to the house.

Mom tried out Keurig at a Macy's and loved it but wouldn't have bought it for herself. Well, she loves having that. And now the prices have come down that you should easily be able to find a smaller one for under $50.

 

[Dakota731]

We replace or upgrade appliances for my parents. They don't like to do the comparison shopping so when the TV was on the fritz, we replaced it. Lawnmower dying, we picked it out and delivered it to the house.

We do this and all the siblings pitch in to buy one nice gift instead of a bunch of knick knacks that they don't need or want. Also, car wash gift cards or certificates to the movies or bingo. No clothes since tastes are different and try to think what you would like. I'd much rather have a restaurant or grocery gift card than something that sits around and collects dust so why would my parents be any different?

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I'll second the Harry and David. We send it for Christmas, Bdays, Mothers' and Fathers' Day, and they love getting something they can enjoy that won't stick around too long. The fruit from H&D is especially nice, and they don't need much -- you could send a very nice gift for $50 -- and if you wait for "Free Shipping Day", you will save that cost.

Maria

 

[MomToOne]

My mom gets Sees candy because she loves it and there isn't one close to her.

Yup, Sees is a good gift! And easy to grab at the airport these days - when I'm travelling at Christmas, if it gets to the time to leave and I don't have a gift for someone, a box of truffles from the airport store it is! Although then I'm always tempted half way through the flight to open the box and start eating it LOL Even my food-snobby brother complains if I don't bring a box with me for Christmas Eve dinner at his house as a "hostess" gift.

 

[crazylady]

My mom likes puzzles. This year I found one of the town she grew up in. Also, one kid had a fundraiser at school where their artwork was added to diff products. I bought one set of grandparents a serving tray decorated with the art work and one a nightlight.

 

[georgina]

We are sick of trying to figure this out every bday and holiday. Everyone has enough money that we all just buy what we want in that $50-100 range when we want it. We can all pay our own utilities etc.
So when we get together at Thanksgiving we are going to tell them all we no longer want to exchange gifts as adults, just the kiddos. I can't wait! No more stressing about this and giving/receiving gifts no one really wants/needs.

Definitely the way to go to destress the holidays! The only people I buy for are my 3 kids. For the parents we get together with them and have a nice meal, they appreciate the visit the most. I am only in my 50's, but absolutely do not want any more things around the house, and really don't need anything. I try to convince my kids not to buy me things either. DH and I buy our own gifts if there is something we really want!

 

[brennicksmom]

We do this and all the siblings pitch in to buy one nice gift instead of a bunch of knick knacks that they don't need or want. Also, car wash gift cards or certificates to the movies or bingo. No clothes since tastes are different and try to think what you would like. I'd much rather have a restaurant or grocery gift card than something that sits around and collects dust so why would my parents be any different?

I wish that my siblings and I could go in on a big gift for my parents. But neither of my sisters get along and I am constantly trying to go back and forth between them. If one mentions a gift the other is against it, and vice versa. One wants to spend a ton of money, the other doesn't want to spend anything worth anything. One won't pay and leave the other two of us in a bad place.

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

For this Christmas I'm buying them a digital photoframe that has its own email address, so as I take pix, I can send them right to the frame, and they can stay updated on whats going on in our lives .

Where did you find this? I know some of our family members would really love this and a lot of our Army friends who have spouses deployed. We've done the digital frames, but he gets at most about 300 pictures for deployment. I know a ton of the soldiers would love to have frames that could update; I'd need to research if it's practical.

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

My mom likes puzzles. This year I found one of the town she grew up in. Also, one kid had a fundraiser at school where their artwork was added to diff products. I bought one set of grandparents a serving tray decorated with the art work and one a nightlight.

Shutterfly will make puzzles now with your own artwork or picture! Depending on kids ages, your mom may love that. I believe they only offer 200 piece size, but I think she might still like that.

 

[tcufrog]

How about a gift certificate for them to have a portrait done? I gave this to my in-laws many, many years ago for Christmas. They never went and did it and then DFIL passed away and we were all lamenting not having a good picture of him in his later years. They might have fun dressing up a bit for a "couples portrait" and it would be a nice keepsake.

A few years ago a local photographer ran a Mother's Day special on family photos done at the local botanical gardens. I scheduled grandparent/grandchild sessions for both grandmas. They both loved it.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Jelly's from a specialty store
Cheese and cracker basket that you put together yourself

 

[Lvsdisney]

Last year we got my parents a Roku streaming stick (my mom kept streaming through her tablet and now can watch things on the big screen). We got my in-laws movie and restaurant GCs for a date night. In the past we've done done, PJs, Alcohol, Omaha Steaks. I agree it can be daunting buying for them since they pretty much have everything they need/want. And I stick to a $50 per couple as well. Good luck!

 

[Ma-to2]

Right now shutterfly has a free calendar - my dad loves these because I put in all the important dates so its easier for him to remember. The code is LUCKYU and is good through Sunday for the 8x11 or an additional $6 for the 12x12. Phonebooks are always a big hit, my dad doesn't like us spending money on him so we always go for things that have the grandsons in them. Good Luck!

 

[ggreenfrog]

My parents both like perfumes very much, so I usually buy and then bring with myself, as we live in different places.

 

[froggibabey]

We've always done a photo calendar for my Grandpa, and for my grandmother, she LOVES getting her nails done, since it's too hard for her to do them, but it's too expensive for her to go often, so it's a nice treat.


What about something like a subscription box? DegustaBox, Love With Food, etc etc? I'm addicted to them, and my grandma LOVES to get mail. So mail every month for 3 months would thrill her

 

[Mom_Rides]

Wondering what your ideas are to give as a gift under $50 total for both grandparents.

I was thinking of a photo mug but we've done that already. They don't hang up pictures so that's out.
They don't really have any hobbies or do anything other than go out to eat. I'm talking about grandparents who are in their early 70's but maybe the age doesn't matter for your ideas.

My grandmother is in her 80s but still very spry. Some of her favorite girts that she has received from us are restaurant gift cards, movie passes, and a photo calendar. But the one thing that she mentions frequently are the flashlights that we gave to her. They are emergency flashlights and plug into the wall. They act as a nightlight when plugged in but if the electricity goes out, they become brighter. We got her one for her bedroom, the kitchen and her utility room. She says she really likes having the flashlight handy throughout the house and has had to use them during power outages.