"No more stuff" for christmas ideas

[Darcy03231]

We never really went overboard for Christmas.

Once the youngest stopped believing we decided to do a big family trip somewhere every year. I'd give the kids the budget in September and it was up to them to pick a place they wanted to go. They had to research where to stay, what to do, etc. On Christmas mornings after presents (just three things each) they would all make their presentations and try to convince everyone why their destination was the one that we should all go on. It was a lot of fun and as the years went by the presentations became more and more elaborate. Mom and Dad had the final say and all of the kids had their trips chosen at least once. Some years a child would abandon their own idea in favor of someone else's. We'd then spend the rest of the day going through scrapbooks and videos of previous trips and "re-live" them.

 

[mom2t]

Harlem Globetrotter tickets, science membership this is a favorite at our house because we get in lots of places for a year free, gift card to favorite kid restaurant my DS Little Ceasars, movie tickets, season tićkets to local amusement park, look at local state attractions you have not visited and buy tickets, circus, sporting events a few months later gives you something to look forward to, special attraction on next vacation I took my son on a pontoon boat excursion up a river. He looked forward to it for months and it gave us something different to do. Spa visit for medi or pedi

 

[Poipu]

For grandparents I make a new photo book on Shutterfly or Snapfish (whichever is having a better deal, usually end up paying about $20 shipped for a hardcover photo book) with pictures from the past year. They seem to love it as my MIL is now requesting photo books from all her kids for Christmas.

Similar idea but we do a calendar.

 

[Dawnlight]

We don't celebrate Christmas, but apply the non-material gift rule for some birthdays and holidays.

* museum memberships (Museum of Science, Children's Museum, zoo, aquarium, etc)

* Movie tickets

* tickets to shows like Cirque du Soleil, Cavalia, The Lion King, Broadway shows, circuses, Blue Man Group

* Food baskets of favorite goodies

* Tickets to go-carting, amusement parks, water parks, mini-golf, indoor sky-diving (this was a favorite for 2 of my boys!!) - check Groupon for deals

* Manicures and pedicures

* Lessons for horse-riding, music, dance, and other interests

* Entries for sporting events like Mud runs, cycling events, and such

* itunes gift cards

 

[disneychrista]

We are not exchanging gifts this year. My kids are grown and both work, so they buy whatever they want already. We will just spend the day together.

 

[v.t.]

For the kids we do lift tickets and skiing lessons, theater and sports tickets. Our parents have been getting the kids sports lessons and they take them to the lesson. (my favorite gift ) It gives them some individual time together and they see how much the kids appreciate the gift.

I have given meats and fruits to family. Our FFA does a fundraiser that sells quality products that aren't too high. I have also made homemade dinners that I vacuum seal for those who hate to cook. But the big hit this year was our hometown paper. I ordered a subscription for DH's parents who live out of state. They love seeing the boys' pictures in the paper and discussing all the local happenings. LOL

 

[nunzia]

We do consumables and experiences for the most part..I'm taking all the local kids and grandkids to see the broadway touring production of Newsies. The younger kids still get some gifts and books, but as they get older they fall into the experinces category. Opening stuff is fun, so we find fun ways to wrap stuff, even if it's just movie passes. We do themes alot, like movie passes with snacks, etc., or Cheese dip mix with wine and a bread mix., etc.

 

[3boymthr]

Ideas, some I've done, some I'm planning to do:

Water park, ropes course, zip line, white water rafting, snow tubing, airsoft/paintball range, horseback riding, mini golf (my kids love monster mini golf for a rainy afternoon), bowling alley gc.

Your kids are old enough that they must be getting into either collecting or a hobby, is there anything that they might like for those activities? My middle DS loves working with his hands. Last year my dad and brother took him to the flea market and bought him $100 worth of carpentry tools. We also got him spray paint to finish off his projects. Oldest DS is a collector, in the past we've gotten him hard to find vintage baseball cards (he's working on a series of Ted Williams cards from the 50s) and antique tin soldiers for his collections. Youngest DS wants to be an astrophysicist so we got him a telescope and some books about space.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

A few years ago we got our three daughters (and me) beautiful sterling silver infinity pendants (with our family's birthstones) with chains from Eve's Addiction. They were a big hit.

 

[KKB]

Children are 14-16-19

Adult siblings have never exchanged; cousins gave it up 2 years ago as it just became a gift card exchange. For the extended family gatherings, grandparents buy gifts & the adult children buy them gifts (the parents/grandparents), but mostly we love the fellowship. Both sides play games (bingo, pass the trash), and everyone brings a couple gifts--not white elephant, typically, but a couple under $10.

For the kids 2 years ago I asked them what ONE gift do they want--since their gifts are usually $100-200!

Last year the 2 oldest got iphone (youngest did this year).

This year DD is getting a trip (she wants to go to NYC with dance studio) & DS got his spring break plane ticket (SWA points!!)

In the past we did a family few days at Great Wolf Lodge, then a few days in Vegas (it was cheap & warm--we did family-centered stuff & had a blast). I love to put clues in lots of boxes for things like that.

I usually buy them PJs, a book & a sweatshirt and some stocking goodies so there is something Xmas morning--but they all say its about family now. Good kids

 

[Luv Bunnies]

For our teen boys, we stick to gift cards, useful gifts, or experiences. DS19 wanted an electric blanket last year. He also loves trains and I found an excursion train about 2 hours away that he hadn't ridden yet. DS16 wanted his season pass renewed to our local Six Flags park. He also loves sports hoodies, so he got a couple of those. Other than that, we gave them gift cards to Target, Amazon, Subway, movies, etc. They don't usually spend their gift cards immediately. Older DS just used a few Target cards he'd been saving to buy a pair of headphones. Cash is also high on their lists!

 

[Mama Steph]

My oldest daughter gets season tickets to the University gymnastics team each year. She gets 2 tickets since someone has to take her. My son usually get tickets to basketball or hockey games. Middle dd is getting cooking classes this year from her aunt and a new bike (which she needs) from us. 16yo Ds is getting a mom and me trip to WDW as a combination bday and Xmas gift this year.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I usually get my grandmother, now 97, a gift cert to the nail salon my mom takes her too. Lately, she's been reading the classics like Tom Sawyer, Gone With the Wind, etc. She loves anything about the Titanic. (It was 5 yrs before she was born.) I guess those don't count since they're "stuff".

My parents don't need anything so we usually get them restaurant gift cards or tickets to Broadway shows. We did Jersey Boys last year and now I'm looking at Nutcracker or Mary Poppins. (All stuff I'd love to see with them & take our kids to.)
It's just so expensive I have a hard time justifying the cost of 6 tickets when I'm not 100% sure they'd like it. (Well, the kids & dh anyway). Mary Poppins in playing right in Philly so that's so tempting....

In the past we've done Six Flags season passes but that gets annoying real fast. It only leaves us feeling like we should have spent the extra money to go to WDW. Soon we'll be able to just let them go on their own and we won't have to deal with it. ugh....

 

[nycdisneygal]

Yes completely agree. We make good money but hardly spend $100 on the presents for the tree but try to do special things with DD. I think this whole xmas gift thing is out of control.

 

[MinnieForMe]

We love experiences as gifts. Last year, our three kids received a surfing lesson at an indoor surf pool. I purchased it on Groupons and then called our best friend and she purchased the same tickets. The kids got to go with their best friends and it was a great day!

We've also done Flight Lessons (Airplane), SeaWorld tickets, movie passes with popcorn, and tickets to our local amusement park.

I love Groupons, and Living Social.

 

[pjlla]

I've bought Groupons for Christmas for things like a Segway experience, whale watch, indoor surfing, indoor skydiving. We've also given the kids trips for Christmas (Disney, Washington, DC).

For the older adults in the family (like DMIL) we've donated $$ or goods in their honor. One year I gave the kids a budget and had them go to the grocery store and get the most healthy foods that they could for that budget. Then we took them home and I took a picture of the kids with the food and then we packed it up and brought it to the local food pantry. Then at Christmas they wrote a letter to their grandmother and enclosed a picture of them with the food and told her that a donation was made. I had them talk about how she fed and took care of her family and now we were paying it forward and feeding others in honor of her! I think she really appreciated it!

I've also given DMIL gift certificates for things like window washing and a gift certificate for a portrait sitting for her and DFIL (when he was still alive). Sadly, she never used either.

I've also given gift certificates for massages, manicures, spa treatments, and movie ticket.

Sometimes I'll make up a gift basket of a combination of really practical stuff and a few fun things, all on the same theme. Like a baking basket with a roll of parchment paper, a 5 lb. bag of flour, a bag of chocolate chips, a new spatula and a kitchen towel and an apron. Or a family weekend basket with a G-rated family movie or a gift card for a Redbox movie, a few small boxes of candy, a bag of popcorn (real kernels), a small gas card and or a Subway gift card and maybe a pass to a local attraction (zoo, park, etc).

One year I gave DD a new wallet full of gift cards to her favorite places.... none of them were really big (some were only $5) but she really appreciated it all! Aeropostale, American Eagle, Orange Julius (she loves the smoothies), Aunt Annie's pretzels, Old Navy. I may do it for her again this year!

How about a year's subscription to something they would enjoy like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Ancestry.com, Pandora, etc.?? I've also done a few of those before! I know that I would appreciate a few months of Ancestry! I let my subscription expire because I was trying to save some money, but I really miss it!

HTH......................P

 

[rnorwo1]

Thanks for all of the great ideas. I can get my MIL magazine subscriptions, she probably spends $20 every week on magazines at the grocery store. My kids are so far apart in ages and interests, but maybe I can give them each a different experience. We do not have much of anything near us, but several nice things within an hour, hour and a half drive. We vacation a lot bc I am obsessed, I love the idea of having the kids present a plan for their favorite choice!

I also do not consider books and other needed things "unwanted stuff," because they're so valuable. My kids always get PJs and books, we will continue that.

I've loved hearing about how everyone handles it in their own families, and you've given me lots of ideas, thanks! Hope everyone can have a holiday season focused on the important things to them

 

[Excited Fan]

wished we had things to do closer to home things like this.

 

[pjlla]

wished we had things to do closer to home things like this.

None of the Groupons I've bought have been "close" to home. The nearest adventure was an hour away.... but that is what makes it more special and more of an "event"! Make a day of it.... give the Groupon or gift certificate along with a gift card for lunch or something like that! Since I give my to my kids, I often plan it as a Mother/Child day and buy a Groupon for myself as well! ........................P

 

[2littleprincesses]

Just got my ydd tickets to see Dancing with the Stars with me (she loves that show!) and odd tickets to see Pippin with me. They will also be getting phones.