Early start to christmas gifts.

[honey987]

I need some help/ideas on what to get for DH's family for Christmas. We will have to mail everything, so we strive for smaller sized gifts. DH is no help and would wait to the last min and spend a ton more than I would. He has 6 siblings who he buys for 4 girls (16-24) and 2 boys (18 & 21). Then he has 2 sets of parents.

We have a budget of under 10 for the kids and 20/parent. I do not know them all that well. I feel like for the last 4 years I have run out of generic gifts to give. In the past I have given scarf/glove set ($7) and an old navy fleece ($8). I would rather not do clothes again and the parents have requested no food and I am at a loss.

Any tips or ideas?

[geneg]

I don't have any suggestions, but I sympathize. I'm always the ones to buy gifts for DH's family. If I leave it to him, things either never get bought or he scrambles and overnights stuff on the 24th. We tend to send photos of the kids to the grandparents (since they live on the opposite coast and we never see them). I think books are always a nice gift...

[Redpoppy]

iTunes gift cards for the kids are my standby.

[honey987]

Oct 16, 2012 14:35:21 GMT -5 geneg said:

I don't have any suggestions, but I sympathize. I'm always the ones to buy gifts for DH's family. If I leave it to him, things either never get bought or he scrambles and overnights stuff on the 24th. We tend to send photos of the kids to the grandparents (since they live on the opposite coast and we never see them). I think books are always a nice gift...

We don't have kids yet, but this will be what we send once we have them. It was nice because right after we got married, we sent family wedding pictures. It's just getting harder and harder as each year comes. We only see them 1-2 times a year and while we talk every once in a while, I don't know them all that well or what they want/have. The girls, I'm pretty sure I can handle, but the guys are tough.

[flygirl22]

Boy, that is hard.

Gift cards for fast food, coffee, etc (I'm thinking college age on this one)

Anyone like books? That might be a good option.

I like those scent bugs from B&BW for under $20.

Apple credit for music.

Are you aware of any hobbies that have? ..still thinking.

[honey987]

Oct 16, 2012 14:42:34 GMT -5 Redpoppy said:

iTunes gift cards for the kids are my standby.

We would rather not do GC's because we could potentially spend less with a present and in the past several of his family members have said they do not live GC's

[honey987]

Oct 16, 2012 14:44:44 GMT -5 flygirl22 said:

Boy, that is hard.

Gift cards for fast food, coffee, etc (I'm thinking college age on this one)

Anyone like books? That might be a good option.

I like those scent bugs from B&BW for under $20.

Apple credit for music.

Are you aware of any hobbies that have? ..still thinking.

I know his Stepmom has a kindle, so I could probably do an amazon GC for her. I'm going to google those scent bugs, those sound cool!

This is going to sound bad, but I don't know the most wonderful things about them. One of the boys was pretty heavy into super bad drugs. He is getting help, but that was his hobby. The other is very lazy and loves video games. They all drink tons of coffee, but Im not sure what kind they like.

[egeiger]

Scratch off lottery tickets.

[honey987]

Oct 16, 2012 14:47:27 GMT -5 egeiger said:

Scratch off lottery tickets.

oh good one!

[chessie]

Normally I would suggest GC's. For nieces/nephews, over 18 no gifts. Could you do combo gifts for the parents, so you could get something nicer? What about tickets to the movies, combo pack or something? Or tickets to a performance they want to see?

Younger kid tickets to the zoo, museum, parks, pool..etc

[Deleted]

Cute or fuzzy socks with a lotto ticket and/or $5 Starbucks GC.

[huey]

Are you crafty at all? Is there something you could make and personalize it?

[nonsenseabound]

what about family gifts instead of individual gifts?

[honey987]

Oct 16, 2012 14:57:57 GMT -5 nonsenseabound said:

what about family gifts instead of individual gifts?

Family gifts are good. I have done gift baskets in the past, but DH wants something more personalized. I have such a hard time, not really knowing them. His dad likes, hunting, fishing, etc. His stepmom likes TV, coffee and doesnt really buy anything nice for herself, but she doesn't like anything scented or jewelry. His mom likes anything girly. His stepdad is a chef at an Italian restaurant.

[mbcdefg]

I would've suggested gift cards for the kids, but forget it if you're sure they won't use them.

If they're in college, put together a little gift basket ... a $5 DVD, popcorn, candy, toiletries, slippers, a fun little game for their dorm room, etc.

Or print out the Cards Against Humanity game onto cardstock, and use the $10 to buy boxes at the craft store and paint them. MH did this for my birthday (he paid a shop to print the cards out), and we played with friends and laughed our asses off: cardsagainsthumanity.com/

If you want to do a joint gift for the parents, maybe you could get them a set of neutral towels. I bought these in early December last year when they were on sale for $30something: www.landsend.com/pp/supima-6-piece-towel-set~225486_-1.html

Can you pick up some kitchen utensils that you know they don't have? Flesh out the gift with some dish towels and pot holders. Maybe even a $5 bottle of spices or a fancy condiment (flavored olive oil, etc.).

I know you said no food - would coffee, cocoa, or tea be appreciated?

You can probably get pajama pants for around $10-20 each at Old Navy. Some stores have those small throw blankets for good prices.

Stores I visit for MM Christmas shopping: Big Lots, Kohl's, Five Below, TJ Maxx/Marshall's, Target, Christmas Tree Shop

[ssmjlm]

For the girls, do some gift set from sephora, maybe one of the bliss spa ones.

For the guys, I can't imagine they wouldn't want an itunes gc honestly. I mean they're college aged.

For the parents, I would do harry and david gift baskets or some other food delivery.

Reading fail, you said no food, then I would just send a nice throw blanket.

[mbcdefg]

Oh, I just got an email that Burt's Bees is currently offering free shipping on orders of $15+. And they have an Outlet section on their website with inexpensive items: www.burtsbees.com/other/burt-s-outlet/

[Deleted]

Maybe nice ornaments for the Moms, cute glove/scarf sets for the girls (these are always insanely on sale around the holidays) - the boys I am having trouble with...

[honey987]

great ideas, thanks everyone!

[craftymrs]

what about magazine subscriptions? You can sometimes find good deals on slickdeals.net