The annual gift-giving dilemma...

[Warped9]

It happens every year and it's been happening ever since the contemporary fashion of celebrating Christmas began near two hundred years ago.

What do you get people who seem to already have everything?

In years past, particularly in lean times, or with folks who have very little, giving someone a gift was a lot easier. You can simply give something they most likely wouldn't buy themselves because they can't spare the cash. Or since they have little then whatever they receive will likely be greatly appreciated.

But today (and this has been true for some since modern Christmas began) when many folks want or need something they just go right out and get it. Then come Christmas time you are challenged to think of something appropriate to give them. Now multiply this by the number of people you might have to buy for and you've got a real dilemma at hand.

Now over the years some people choose to forgo exchanging gifts. Older couples or very old friends for example. Not too many coworkers might exchange gifts between themselves. Brothers and sisters that live far apart and/or are focused upon their own families and thus not expecting anything from each other.

I know for myself when I've been asked what I'd like for Christmas over the past couple of decades I've been stumped. What comes immediately to mind are things that cannot be bought in a store because they are either too small, too personal and/or too intangible. Otherwise I have what I need and can't imagine any useless trinkets or "toys" that would just sit there unused.

All my relations have seemingly everything. I can't think of anything for my parents. I would like there to be a little something under the tree, but I'm stumped.

And I can easily imagine that I'm not alone in this, that most people are faced with the same issue.

Kids are easy most of the time. Find the one thing they're most interested in and they're happy. And anything aside from that one thing is just icing on the cake for them.


Assuming you're also faced with this issue how are you dealing with it?

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Make something thoughtful.

 

[Kemaiku]

My friends always buy something peculiar for me, random things. Like today I got a themed book, The Devil's Diary, cute little book with a lot of detailing.

Just find something they're interested in and keep an eye out for something out of the ordinary that they might like.

 

[Warped9]

Make something thoughtful.

True. Yet even that can become a challenge. Last year I had innocently asked my father who his favourite hockey player was in all the years he's been a fan and watching. In all those years Dad said he really liked Jean Belliveau of the Montreal Canadiens. This was about a month or so before Christmas. So I got hold of a good picture of Belliveau in uniform on the ice and had it framed and thats what I gave Dad for Christmas. He's got the picture on the wall.

My current avatar is a drawing I did for my mother over twenty-five years ago and every year she hangs it up for Christmas. It's a large 19x24" drawing that took me five hours to do and I had it framed.

Over the years I've done plenty of things like this for my parents. Yet even the small thoughtful gifts can get challenging over a long enough period of time.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

How 'bout something to do, like tickets to a concert, game or exhibit? Or something to eat, either something homemade if you're a good cook/baker, or a basket of fancy cheeses?

 

[Gryffindorian]

How 'bout something to do, like tickets to a concert, game or exhibit? Or something to eat, either something homemade if you're a good cook/baker, or a basket of fancy cheeses?

Agreed.

As I indicated in my other thread, my biggest challenge around the holidays is not so much what to get for people but how much I can or am willing to spend. I almost always have to borrow from my 401K because I can't use credit cards (not that I'd want to get stuck making payments on huge purchases over time anyway).

What I've been giving friends and family for Christmas are gift cards. A particular work friend I have enjoys going to a local sushi restaurant, so I get her a $30 gift certificate. For my nieces and nephews, I usually hand out $25 gift cards to Target, Forever 21, Amazon, Game Stop, etc. I still pick up small inexpensive items, like a polo shirt for my dad, a collection of books and "wellness" items for my special lady friend, and cookies and candy for co-workers. Movie tickets and restaurant gift cards are great gifts, too.

 

[Amaris]

I just get them (or make them) something that may hold an emotional connection for that person.

 

[Spot's Meow]

The nostalgia factor. You can't go wrong when you play on the heartstrings with a memory from years past. For example, one possible gift that I considered getting my mother was a box of retro candies and treats from the decade in which she grew up. You can find these sorts of things online pretty easily. It's basically a big box of all the candy she loved as a kid. A similar toy, music, movie, product from a time period the person cherishes will make a great gift.

I also discovered a new website this year, Uncommon Goods, where I got lots of gifts for my family members who have everything.

Or you can try to get something related to their hobby, but in a more unique way. For example, my best friend in high school loved bowling. So instead of getting him the typical bowling accessories you might imagine, I went around to local bowling allies and asked them if I could take some of their used pins that they were going to throw out. So my friend got a genuine bowling pin with his name engraved on it.

For someone who liked bird watching I hand-painted a bird house with special designs/sayings for them. I bought my mom an online subscription to a game website. I got my dad a nightlight version of the leg lamp from A Christmas Story. I crocheted scarves for my sisters. I made name placards out of stock paper and ribbons to hang on the nursery wall of my cousins' room when they were babies. This year, for my brother-in-law who requested several Steinbeck books, I went to local used book stores and found more unique offerings such as a book of letters Steinbeck wrote to his family/friends. Or if someone doesn't really have a specific hobby, or they have everything you could imagine for their hobbies, create a new hobby for them. I put together a kit of cupcake designing stuff for my sister, who now bakes cute cupcakes. For my other sister who is especially hard to shop for, I bought her a didgeridoo. Why? Well, why not? Even if she doesn't play it often it makes for a great conversation piece. And she actually does play it. I got my other sister tons of socks in unique designs.

So basically, I take something they are interested in and twist it around a bit to get something unique that is related to it.

And gift baskets are always good. For a couple in my neighborhood I assembled a "date night" basket with movie tickets, small restaurant gift card, "coupon" for babysitting their children, bottle of wine, romantic scented candle, and a small box of chocolates.

 

[ArcherFanForever]

It's tough to come up with a gift for a person that can buy whatever they want for themselves. I try to come up with something they could always use more of.... maybe a gift basket of their favorite gormet coffee, a movie night gift basket, some movie and dinner tickets. Gift cards are easy, but so inpersonal. Maybe a magazine subscription?

 

[Bisz]

Booze.

There is a tonne of different kinds of booze out there, if the people you are shopping for drink alcohol then get them something they haven't had but might enjoy. The LCBO is the single largest buyer of alcohol in North America, find a big one and go shopping, there is a tonne of variety.

 

[Kestra]

I don't think it's that difficult to come up with something small and thoughtful if you know the person well. If there really isn't anything, I'd just go with a well-written card.

 

[C. Cole-Chakotay]

I send my family that lives far from me money. I know it's appreciated and they can use it as they see fit.

 

[Miss Chicken]

My other was very hard to by for. In the end I decided to give her various sort of photo gifts. One year I took photos of her flower garden and then used the photos to make a calendar which I titled Betty's Garden. Another year I got her a snow globe with her cat's photo in it. Last year I made her fridge magnets with pictures of her grandchildren in them.

 

[horatio83]

If you are out of ideas buy something the person does not desire yet. The trick is to make him or her desire it. Obviously this is a risky game but perhaps better than buying a standard present like a tie, booze or one of these photo-calendar thingies which are so popular nowdays.

 

[Warped9]

I wish I could grant my father a wish he'd love: for his hockey team to be doing better than they are.

 

[Holdfast]

What do you get people who seem to already have everything?

Free alcohol always goes down well. Or if they happen not to drink (poor unfortunate souls), free tasty food (chocs, cheese, etc.) is the obvious alternative. Not exactly a thoughtful gift, I suppose, if that matters, but I can tell you that no-one will unhappy to receive it!

 

[Warped9]

What do you get people who seem to already have everything?

Free alcohol always goes down well. Or if they happen not to drink (poor unfortunate souls), free tasty food (chocs, cheese, etc.) is the obvious alternative. Not exactly a thoughtful gift, I suppose, if that matters, but I can tell you that no-one will unhappy to receive it!

This reminds me of something my mother said, about baking or making a dish of some treat or other for someone. I love the idea, but I'm not much of a cook.

I wouldn't dare think about giving alcohol to my father since he stopped drinking twenty-five years ago.

 

[Holdfast]

What do you get people who seem to already have everything?

Free alcohol always goes down well. Or if they happen not to drink (poor unfortunate souls), free tasty food (chocs, cheese, etc.) is the obvious alternative. Not exactly a thoughtful gift, I suppose, if that matters, but I can tell you that no-one will unhappy to receive it!

This reminds me of something my mother said, about baking or making a dish of some treat or other for someone. I love the idea, but I'm not much of a cook.

Well, there are plenty of delicious unique food treats that you can buy, though I do see the appeal of a home-cooked treat. Personally, I really like foodie pressies and not just chocs either; unusual pickles/preserves, unique cheeses/meats, whatever. Most people like them too, I think.

I wouldn't dare think about giving alcohol to my father since he stopped drinking twenty-five years ago.

Yeah, OK, I think that's probably a good idea.

 

[Peach Wookiee]

This year... I paid attention to something and got my dad something awesome. I can't wait for him to open it on Christmas Eve!!! ^^

 

[SmoothieX]

I get my wife a few old standbys - running gear, fitness equipment, etc. Then I just go random and get a few things she never would think of, but is right up her alley.

For instance I bought her a bunch of camping cookware and utensils. we have odds and ends from various mess kits, but we hate bringing decent kicthen gear camping. So I found her stuff that compacts down into nothing that I know we will enjoy using in the spring.

Last year, she bought me cleats for my hiking boots, so I won't slip on ice when I hike in the winter. I never thought of it, but it was a great idea.

Basically - we just go to REI and spend several hundred dollars on each other. I did all of my shopping for her there and at Petsmart.