Christmas gifts, what do you buy ?

I honestly have not celebrated Christmas since I lost my son in a car accident years ago.

BUT I do give my farrier and the critter chiropractor money in a Christmas card. I give them the equivalent of what they charge to work on both of my horses.

I stopped giving gift cards due to all the warnings in my area about thieves being able to read the cards and cash them once money has been put on them. There was a news segment about that just yesterday 🤐🤐
 
IKE said:
There's just the two of us and it's been many moons since mama and I have swapped gifts.
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It's said to be vulgar to give cash, but my lady always gets a portrait of the late queen. The monarch is on every banknote, Charles hasn't got there yet. As well as a bouquet of flowers, a bottle of her favourite fragrance and a shower gel pack that she particularly likes, the lady gets a wad of the filthy folding stuff so that she can treat herself to something that takes her fancy.
This myth about it being wrong to give cash. Who do you know that's ever taken it back?
 

horseless carriage said:
It's said to be vulgar to give cash, but my lady always gets a portrait of the late queen. The monarch is on every banknote, Charles hasn't got there yet. As well as a bouquet of flowers, a bottle of her favourite fragrance and a shower gel pack that she particularly likes, the lady gets a wad of the filthy folding stuff so that she can treat herself to something that takes her fancy.
This myth about it being wrong to give cash. Who do you know that's ever taken it back?
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my daughter money every Christmas it's what she wants, so that's what I give her, but I miss choosing and wrapping a little something else to give her..so every year I find something... but I do have to be careful , because she has no feelings of guilt in just throwing it away..or refusing it completely as something she doesn't want or need...

I'm not talking about cheap trinkets... One year I found a watch in her waste bin that had been given to her by work colleagues.. another year pretty costume jewellery..

She gave me a beautiful expensive candle from one of the top stores in the UK.. given to her by a friend... another time I was given a Gorgeous cashmere hat and scarf... because she didn't like it...
 
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SIL and I buy clothing for my mom because she likes to dress nicely for her doctor visits but doesn't shop much anymore. BF has hobbies so I may surprise him with supplies for those.I still let BF choose the gifts for his grandsons because neither drives yet but the older boy does date and the younger loves fishing which is good around here so a gift card to the sporting goods store would be useful I think. :giggle:
 
Dd has just told me she doesn't want anything at all.. and our Christmas lunch in the beautiful restaurant I booked will be enough this year. She said ..''keep your money mum, you need it for the high utility bills during winter''...
 
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During December DH & I ship a lot of my homemade cookies to friends and family. Last year it came to 35 boxes of 50-100 cookies each (average of 75) depending on family size. Same list, maybe more, this year.
Postage rates have really climbed over time; this year's shipping costs alone will surpass $600.

We also give boxes of cookies our holiday party attendees, so another 1500-2000 cookies there. (I'll bake roughly 5,000 cookies from now through Christmas.)

We give our kids GKs generous checks. The two older GKs also get some folding money, because DD puts their checks straight into their savings.

Each of our kids receive identical family gifts that have become my annual tradition - some practical, some tasty, all gratefully received.

GKs each get a nice gift to unwrap, too. Their mom offers guidance on those.

Needless to say, I've always loved making a big deal about Christmas, and thoroughly enjoy giving to people I care about. I'll be happy to continue the marathon baking aspect for as long as I'm able.
 
I only give to my grandkids. Cash. 5 grandkids, $500. Done. Easy Peasey.

How did I arrive at the $100 per grandkid figure?

In episode 4 of season 5 of "Leave it to Beaver" Uncle Billy sends Beaver $10 for his birthday. That episode aired on October 21, 1961. Adjusted for inflation $10 in Oct of 1961 is equivalent to $105 today. So I'm trying to come close to the "Uncle Billy" standard.
 
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One set of the Littles wanted those new cameras that print out small photos, the new version of the old Polaroid cameras. Apparently it's the pre-teen craze this year. So I picked up two today, one pink and the other one lavender.

The other set asked their mother if it would be OK to "hint" to me that they'd like another shopping spree like they got for their birthdays this year. So, I'll just print up certificates for a shopping spree and turn them loose in WalMart after Christmas. They get plenty of toys and stuffed animals and clothes from the other side.

I'll pick up some little doo-dads for stocking stuffers for them but that's it.

My sisters and I don't exchange presents any more.....we got little stuff for each other at Thanksgiving (Christmas socks, hot cocoa mix, etc). I send a check to my niece to spend on her and the kids. Packages tend to get stolen at her house, so I'm not sending even Amazon stuff any more. I get some expensive booze for my daughter and her husband. I usually give my granddaughter and her husband money and some little doo-dads.

The Spousal Equivalent and I aren't much on exchanging gifts. Neither one of us needs anything we can't buy ourselves.

I've told everyone that after losing all that weight this year, anybody who dares send me candy, cookies, fudge, etc. is in danger of .....well.....you get the picture.... Christmas yum-yums have always been my downfall.

I would just like a little peace on earth this year, a lot less fighting, and a lot more Kumbayah.
 
Trade said:
I only give to my grandkids. Cash. 5 grandkids, $500. Done. Easy Peasey.

How did I arrive at the $100 per grandkid figure?

In episode 4 of season 5 of "Leave it to Beaver" Uncle Billy sends Beaver $10 for his birthday. That episode aired on October 21, 1961. Adjusted for inflation $10 in Oct of 1961 is equivalent to $105 today. So I'm trying to come close to the "Uncle Billy" standard.
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Dear Grandpa, Trade. You've never met me, but I'm the result of a stray "wild oat" seed of one of your son's and all I'm asking is just to be on your list! (Send $ through pay-pal to Della care of Senior Forums.)
 
My sister-in-law has always had a quip or two when I wear the bow tie with full evening dress. Her husband says that he just couldn't wear a bow tie let alone the full regalia. A Christmas gift from my sister-in-law this year made both me and my wife smile:
bow tie boxers.jpg
There you go: Tuxedo underpants!
 

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