I wish it mattered if they were naughty or nice!

[Mommee]

We've pared down considerably. We started with DH's family-we now buy for his parents, only. It was ridiculous trying to buy for people we see once a year, at Christmas.

My side has been pared down as of last year. My brother's wife posted on Facebook that she was overwhelmed with her shopping, so I suggested we stop exchanging gifts for the kids (we had stopped adults a few years ago). She was SO relieved. My mom always buys several things for her grandkids, so they have plenty at our get-together. Last year I bought my uncle a little gift so he wouldn't feel left out, but he was so rude about it that he won't be getting another.

So we have: 3 grandparents, 4 parents, and our family. We do usually give small items for teachers (around here they request items for the class like board games, books, or supplies), bus driver, mail lady, and UPS man. The mail lady likely won't get a gift this year-I don't believe in rewarding poor work I'll spend more for my UPS man instead-most of my shopping is done online

 

[PaulaSue]

Maybe one of the perks to being only children?

We do our parents (4 total), each other, 3 DDs. I like to do so the girls and I try to do a little something for the teachers (specials too, art, gym, etc...) and the bus drivers.

Some little birdy took me I am getting a gypsy this year.

 

[dreamin_disney]

our list, well dh's list was huge. I finally got him to cut it down.

My side we started picking names 2 years ago which i love. Dh's side didnt go for it though.

my side has changed so everyone buys for their own family.

my list..
1. dd
2.dh
3.god daughter

Dh's list..
1.DM
2.Gma
3.DS
4.DB #1
7.DB #2 plus 2 kids
11.DB #3 and SIL couples gift plus 3 kids
12.step dad and wife couples gift
13.dad/wife couples gift
16.step sis #1 and 2 kids
20.step sis #2 and 3 kids
22.his god daughter #1 and her dad
23.god daughter #2

i'm sure i'm missing 1-2 people but his list was double but since we share the cost I cut it down . Last year the rule was everything must be paid in cash or cut down the list

Reading all these post got me thinking....X-mas meaning has changed and I hate it being about buying so many gifts. What has bothered me is that growing up getting a lil something was a big deal! Dh family is different and dh has the pressure to buy for everyone and those same people dont have house payments and bills and those are the same people that have more money and never buy for anyone , yet expect something nice.We use to get handed a list of what everyone wanted! Dh siblings and step sibling have more than 2 or more kids and we only have 1. I usually make huge trays of goodies and now that is a gift for everyone there on x-mas instead of getting gifts for dh's several cousins, uncles and their spouses.

The list i post several of those family members we only see 1-2 times a year and they only live 20 min-30 min away but they come around for x-mas
hubby"s side............

7.DB #2 plus 2 kids (i've only seen these kids 2-3 times and they are 4-6yrs old) mom keeps them with her side and Db only comes out at x-mas and his b-day to get his gifts.

11.DB #3 and SIL couples gift plus 3 kids. Love my DBL and the kids but SIL is all about her but We dont mind getting them gifts

12. ex-step dad and wife couples gift. we see them 1 times a year maybe.only seen the wife twice in the last 4 years. But still will send them a gift.

13.dad/wife couples gift. Dh's step mom is pure Drama with everyone

16.step sis #1 and 2 kids . See her only once a year maybe. She picks up her gifts from the family at her Aunties house.
20.step sis #2 and 3 kids. Seen her once in the last 2-3 years. Their gift get sent with Step sis #1. She doesnt live far but choose not to come around to any of the family functions

22.his god daughter #1 and her parents. He see's her 3x's per year to give her Easter, B-day and X-mas gifts other than that they are busy to keep intouch.

23.god daughter #2 He actually hasnt baptised her but the parents never took care of arrangements. She gets gifts for Easter, B-day and X-mas so we do see her a lil more but there really isnt a bond. She is a teen now and the most she ever says is "hi" and "Thank you" when we hand the gift-lol! She's quiet-lol!

I've tried getting dh to cut the step sisters and kids (thats 7 gifts) since we dont see them. Also cutting the gift for his god daughter #1 parents and just get the girl something. That would be 8 gifts.

MIL wont go for the name exchanged. I Really wish there was an adult name exchange and one for the kids.
I'm starting to sound like the grinch lol!
BUT..................

I really miss the old days where X-mas eve/x-mas was about being with family and eating good food-lol! Those were the best times even though we didnt get lots of gifts or expensive big tag items.

 

[mhsjax]

Wow, I guess I am lucky. My family buys for immediate family only. And when I say immediate I mean kids and spouses. My DH and I don't even buy each other anything. We just don't care to. I do chip in for a gift for the teacher and the neighborhood ladies Christmas party. ANyone else just gets cookies. I much prefer to spend my money on food and we have a bunch of people over, friends and family and just have fun being together and putting on a few extra pounds.

My niece always said that we should just forget gifts altogether, except for the little ones and just eat. She thinks the food way out ranks the gifts. I like her style.

 

[cheshireqt]

If I counted right, 17 family gifts and 5 Misc gifts and also DD, DS and DH
My side of the family:
Mother
StepFather
Sister & BIL (about 2 years ago began doing combined gift by mutual agreement)
2 nephews
Brother & SIL (combined gift as well)
2 Grandmothers
I get something from the kids for my StepSis and my StepBro (they also like doing only for the kids, which is great!)

DH's side of family:
MIL (DH buys for MIL and FIL because I have never gotten it right for some reason!)
FIL
BIL
SIL
3 nephews

extras: 1 Teacher gift (DD's teacher); 4 Sunday School teachers

 

[pigletto]

Well.. Fall is in the air and our Disney trip is past so I suppose it's time I start worrying and fretting over Christmas too

For us there is

MIL and FIL
SIL and BIL
My Mom and Dad
2 Teachers
One Bus driver
DD's best friend
DS (6)
DD(13)
And 2 of my siblings (the 8 of us name draw and hubby and I will end up buying two gifts)

Every single year we make a budget, and end up not getting eachother anything so we can squeeze everyone else in. That is not happening this year.. it's silly.

 

[MichelleVW]

Stop feeling obligated to purchase EVERYONE gifts. I'm in a large family - 7 siblings and my parents are divorced and remarried so I have step siblings/nieces & nephews which makes it a super sized family. The standard rule - we play white elephant gift exchanged. If you have extra to purchase the kiddos gifts help yourself, if not don't worry about it. I do try to purchase something for my mom and dad. So they are at the top of the list.

I just don't understand these threads. Most years a purchase ZILCH except for mom, dad & white elephant gift and other years I purchase for everyone or just the kids. I guess my family is realistic. OK I'm stepping off my soapbox.

But my suggestion is have family gifts instead of individual gifts. So instead of purchasing 30+ gifts for sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews I only need to purchase/make 6 family gifts. And this could be a board game (monopoly, sorry, uno, phase 10), jar w/ cookie recipe ingredients, movie night (movie, popcorn, kool aid), big tub of popcorn, family bible, gift card to walmart, family night out (bowling alley, skating, etc.).

Seriously!! I don't understand these threads at all. Is there a law saying that you have to buy presents for everyone you are related too? I think that's just crazy. I stopped buying for "everyone" a few years ago and I have never been happier!

I buy for my girls, my husband (maybe) and my mother. That's it...that's all, no stress, no guilt and it makes for an amazing Christmas season!

 

[ilovepete]

We have HUGE families, but don't buy for them. We buy for...

DS5
DD2
my mom
my dad
my godmother (small)


DH is in charge of FIL, MIL, his grandparents, & SIL, which usually means he does nothing. So I end up giving them something like pictures of the kids or whatever. Nothing expensive.

So we get off pretty easy.

 

[ilovepete]

Also, this site is also pretty great. You just pay shipping... it is nice looking stuff...
http://www.silverjewelryclub.com/

 

[TxRabbit]

Christmas gifts aren't like birthday gifts. Not for adults anyway, not IMO. Whereas birthday gifts really are more about what an individual would love to receive, Christmas gifts are more about what a person has to give. It is the sharing of yourself with others as Christ, himself, was given to us at Christmas time, at least for Christians...

One of the best gift giving examples that illustrates this thought is what a lady at my work used to give to people. This is back in Colorado. Anyway, she would go on a hunting trip with her husband every year. During the third season. She didn't necessarily hunt, but she went up in the camper. She would collect pine cones and make fire starters out of them. She would dip the pine cones in colored wax. You could use them to light wood fires.

She gave this out every year. Year after year. Everyone, no matter who you were, received the fire starters for Christmas. They were awesome. Everyone looked forward to getting them.

The idea is that you have a gift, a talent, a something special about yourself. A little know how maybe, and this can be used to give a little something to the people that you care about.

I'm a pretty good cook. Not to brag, but it's a pretty well known fact among DH's 3 sisters and parents that coming over to my house generally involves some pretty good food. Something fun even, as I always experiment with something and have fun with having them over (it's fun to cook for an audience). Anyway, one year I collected recipes that worked really well for making large quantities of food that would help supply plenty of leftovers for lunches. Everyone had finally reached the age of having to go to work so I thought this would be helpful.

I'm also something of a photographer. I have some great pictures that I have taken over the years. DH and I used to go backpacking a lot. I found some black frames on clearance at Target one year. They were $1 or less each. I matched a scripture with a photo I had taken and put these in the frames for gifts. The scriptures were ones that I hoped would inspire each person and the pictures kind of "went" with the scripture.

I understand that what I'm talking about takes some time. Takes some brain storming. It's not easy. But if you can figure out something, then your gift giving goes back to being a more joyful thing than a stress you out kind of thing.

Kids are a slightly different story, but I feel like I've already written a big enough post. Hope it is food for thought.

 

[stich1fan]

Well we have 1 dd and spend about $200 on her. My Dh and I spend $50 on each other. Then we have 8 other relatives that go in a grab bag. the Grab bag amount is $300 and that takes care of family. I love it cause it save some much time on shopping. I have one nephew we buy for and then I get a small gift for each coworker.

I usually buy some type of Christmas items. I normally get them right after Christmas when they are like 75-90% off and pack them up with the decorations. So I am already set for this year. I bought candy cane ornament sets for everyone. original price like $9.99, I got them for $1 can' bet it.

Work normally has a grab bag, but since I still have the gift from last year, we still have not exchanged I am so no doing it again this year.

I tend to finish by October, I hate Christmas shopping in crowds.

 

[cassandrap83]

We have a large family, but once everyone my age started having kids, it just got too much! This is who we buy for:

(2) our kids
(4) our nieces/nephews
(1) we buy my inlaws a joint gift
(1) my mom
(1) my dad
(2) grab bag people (mix of aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings) my side
(2) grab bag people (mix of aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings) dh's side
(1) dh's grandma

We will also chip in $5 per kid for their preschool teachers to get a group gift. We also tip our mailman & ups man. (usually a $25 gift card)

 

[cheshireqt]

I actually enjoy shopping for family members! We are scattered to the four corners of the US and even sometimes overseas with those deployed with Military and Foreign Service. Christmas shopping for loved ones makes me feel connected to them and that we are sharing in the Holiday. We don't spend a ton of $ on each other but do really try to think about what suits the other person. I also like wrapping the presents and fussing over the ribbons. If we have the opportunity to spend Christmas together so much the better! Yes I do work full time, but have never been crunched because I start shopping in October, finish up with my SIL on Black Friday and have the presents ready to go to the post office by Dec 1. I have to do this if I want the overseas presents to get there on time! This Christmas is the FIRST Christmas in my 18 years of marriage that someone from my side of the family is not overseas. That leaves only my kids and DH to shop for in the remaining month! ...and put up a tree, decorate the house, make cookies, host and attend Christmas parties....that is the part that starts to exhaust me.