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<blockquote data-quote="susiestar" data-source="post: 719405" data-attributes="member: 1233"><p>Even though I don't have little ones, we still have a great time buying gifts. Probably 20 years ago, we started setting a limit on the cost of gifts from adult to adult. We were spending ridiculous amounts of money on the holidays (maybe not to the rest of you, but we are frugal people). So we set the amount at $10. I think now we let it go to $20 if you don't talk about it, but we try not to go that high. Gifts must be meaningful. It makes it a real CHALLENGE and that is fun. We don't care if the gifts are brand new or if they are used. They can be something we have made. Gifts to the children don't count, although now that the kids are adults (thank you will be 18 a week before Christmas! Where did the years go?!?!?!!!) that may change. Or not, seeing that my parents will probably have a hissy fit if I try to change that. </p><p></p><p>If you really enjoy buying for children, and don't have any, why not do it anyway? In my community we have a Christmas Store for those who meet certain income limits. There are gifts for kids and for parents (so the kids can give gifts to the parents). They have new and very gently used items available. My mom and I would go to garage sales all year long looking for items. She had a huge closet we would fill and then in August we would clean and sort the items. My mom is a truly gifted seamstress and clothing designer, so she would make repairs and update anything that needed it to be really nice (items that had good quality fabric and with a little work could be the latest fashion) and I often would add a little holiday design in embroidery or cross stitch to little kid clothing that was a bit boring. Then we would take several car loads to the Christmas Store when they opened. We had an absolutely wonderful time buying the items, fixing them up, sorting them, etc... and then it was great to get rid of them and not have to figure out what to do with them or dust them in perpetuity! </p><p></p><p>Why not find a group in your area that does something like our Christmas Store? Or adopt a Head Start class and take in gifts for all the kids? They are low income and would probably LOVE each getting a small gift. You could buy them throughout the year, or even make them. It is a great way to keep the holiday spirit without accumulating more and to keep enjoying buying for little kids if you don't have any in your family at that time. </p><p></p><p>If gifts are expected and are not fun to give, shake it up. I like giving gifts to my family because we all enjoy and appreciate them so much. But if they were not appreciated, they would be far less fun. I only get involved with one gift to my husband's family. I stitch a nativity for stepmother in law each year. I have for over 20 years. She collects them and she LOVES handmade items. It is just a bonus for me that my father in law is driven nuts by her nativity collection! </p><p></p><p>Instead of giving the adults gift cards, pick a charity and give a gift in their name. I have been known to pick a different charity for each person on a gift list if I am not up to shopping in a given year. I try to make it a charity that the person would like or support, and then the gift is meaningful to them. Your family may not especially like the idea rather than a gift, but I bet they would appreciate a gift a lot more the next year. Or they may really like it. Sometimes people surprise you.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="susiestar, post: 719405, member: 1233"] Even though I don't have little ones, we still have a great time buying gifts. Probably 20 years ago, we started setting a limit on the cost of gifts from adult to adult. We were spending ridiculous amounts of money on the holidays (maybe not to the rest of you, but we are frugal people). So we set the amount at $10. I think now we let it go to $20 if you don't talk about it, but we try not to go that high. Gifts must be meaningful. It makes it a real CHALLENGE and that is fun. We don't care if the gifts are brand new or if they are used. They can be something we have made. Gifts to the children don't count, although now that the kids are adults (thank you will be 18 a week before Christmas! Where did the years go?!?!?!!!) that may change. Or not, seeing that my parents will probably have a hissy fit if I try to change that. If you really enjoy buying for children, and don't have any, why not do it anyway? In my community we have a Christmas Store for those who meet certain income limits. There are gifts for kids and for parents (so the kids can give gifts to the parents). They have new and very gently used items available. My mom and I would go to garage sales all year long looking for items. She had a huge closet we would fill and then in August we would clean and sort the items. My mom is a truly gifted seamstress and clothing designer, so she would make repairs and update anything that needed it to be really nice (items that had good quality fabric and with a little work could be the latest fashion) and I often would add a little holiday design in embroidery or cross stitch to little kid clothing that was a bit boring. Then we would take several car loads to the Christmas Store when they opened. We had an absolutely wonderful time buying the items, fixing them up, sorting them, etc... and then it was great to get rid of them and not have to figure out what to do with them or dust them in perpetuity! Why not find a group in your area that does something like our Christmas Store? Or adopt a Head Start class and take in gifts for all the kids? They are low income and would probably LOVE each getting a small gift. You could buy them throughout the year, or even make them. It is a great way to keep the holiday spirit without accumulating more and to keep enjoying buying for little kids if you don't have any in your family at that time. If gifts are expected and are not fun to give, shake it up. I like giving gifts to my family because we all enjoy and appreciate them so much. But if they were not appreciated, they would be far less fun. I only get involved with one gift to my husband's family. I stitch a nativity for stepmother in law each year. I have for over 20 years. She collects them and she LOVES handmade items. It is just a bonus for me that my father in law is driven nuts by her nativity collection! Instead of giving the adults gift cards, pick a charity and give a gift in their name. I have been known to pick a different charity for each person on a gift list if I am not up to shopping in a given year. I try to make it a charity that the person would like or support, and then the gift is meaningful to them. Your family may not especially like the idea rather than a gift, but I bet they would appreciate a gift a lot more the next year. Or they may really like it. Sometimes people surprise you. [/QUOTE]
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