Thinking Ahead to the Holidays: A Question

Good morning, Jane.
Let's see . . . my fam has adopted the practice of gift cards. Less wrapping, less shopping, and you KNOW you're getting them something they won't give to Goodwill.

My favorite Christmas gift was a beautiful diamond ring from my husband. It looked like a crown and was dotted with various shaped diamonds in various sizes. Very classy.

What am I giving this year? Gift cards and homebaked stuff.

Catalogue shopping? Use to do a lot of it. Now, no.
The older I get, the less I want to mess with it. Sad, I know.

I love my family and friends. But, I'd rather make 'em some cookies and pass 'em a card to Chili's! LOL

Thanks, Jane. Neat article.

1. Here are some items from recent mail order catalogs Would any of these appeal to you? Why or why not? Do you know anyone you'd give them to? What catalogue items WOULD appeal to you if you have seen any? :


Talking Photo frames - we are giving one of these to my parents for Christmas this year, with a picture of the kids inside and a message from them! My parents will LOVE it!




5. Do you give teacher gifts? What? This year we are giving my son's teacher a $20 Borders gift card!

we only have the money to buy for the kids this year

yes to teacher gifts, this year (3 teachers) a $10 borders GC

I usually get hubby a tool or something from Home Depo so a gc for there works for me. He also enjoys video games, so if I find one that appeals....

I get my older nephew a magazine subscrition and a movie or book

I send out checks to eveyone else

My kids get what I can afford. this year whatever I can get with Borders GS'c. And hopefully a few toys if I can swing it.

The iPod speakers are the one thing on that list that would appeal to me.

I have no idea what I'm getting anyone this Christmas, yet. At the moment, it all sort of depends on how much extra money I make before the beginning of December. I probably won't do much of my Christmas shopping until then, because I'm not sure I can afford to give a lot of gifts this year!

"keychain that displays 30 digital talking photos" this sounds really good.. where do you get this?

the frame and keychain would be nice

We have ipod speakers and have given those frames as gifts before. We almost always gift the teachers!

Jane,did you ever read the story of two people so much in love and they had no money for Christmas?
He worked every day and came home to his sweet wife of few months.She,at home, tried to make their small home a delight after his daily struggles out in the world.They each secretly wondered what to do for Christmas.He had always treasured his fathers watch but had no chain for it.She had seen beautiful combs in the window for her long hair. To make a long story short,she sold her hair to buy him a chain,and he sold his watch to buy her combs for her hair.
My husband and I have little family;no children.We have been together for 11 years and one Christmas in particular,we were both so sick that on Christmas day,we simply counted our blessings and were able to sit and eat our first solid meal in a week.
Try and decommercialize Christmas.Go to midnight mass or candlelight service.Spend special time with the people in your life.Count your blessings.

Ra
I did not get that keychain. That is why I'm asking. I saw it in a catalogue. I will say it if that is not considered spamming. That is why I intentionally did not list catalogue names. If you want to know, you could send me a private Gather mail and I could answer that way. I am very careful about spamming. IPods and Roomba are trade names but I did not list sources.

This is a very thought-provoking post, Jane, and my thoughts need some incredible provoking!

I know the iPod speakers are very popular with may different age groups. My daughter works for a chiropractor part-time. That's where she first saw them...in his office. He's in his fifites. It was #1 on her birthday list this sumeer. She's 16.

We actually gave a couple of people the digital picture frame last Christmas and can't see that either one has been used at all!

I'd kill for a Roomba! Something that would suck up dog hair and doesn't require my physical output---oy, yes. Definitely!!

We've been there/done that with the Swiss Army knife...several times over for both boys and girls. Great gift, no doubt.

My husband LOVES Shark. Thanks for the great gift idea for him!

Have tried to convince him of a wood stove for years. Gave up several years back.

I am in the process of making a gift-giving list for this year.. We quite often ask our older kids/extra kids (we have several 20-something "kids" who have become a part of our family over the years) if they want to visit us in FL over the winter. If so we frequently buy them an airline ticket as their gift. If we buy now or next month for travel in February or March we usually get a great rate.

I'm making scrapbooks from family recipes from the late 1800's-early 1900's for members of my mom's side of the family. I've started on them and their really quite nice. Aside from my time, this allows me to give 8 gifts for about $100.

As far as web sites/catalogs, I actually shop through my own web portal, which is part of another business I own. It actually provies direct links to hundreds of major retailers with a few added-in perks. Check it out at www.unfranchise.com/ripleybelieveit

Thanks for getting my creative juices flowing!! Could you maybe do this a couple of times each week leading up to Christmas???

Oh my goodness, please overlook my horrendous spelling errors in my previous post!!

Kimberly - Done :0
What speling errors?
:)

I'd love the iPod speakers, if we're talking about the super-expensive Bose set, but I don't know anyone who makes enough money to get them for me, so I wouldn't ask. I do love my Swiss Army knife.

I'm usually done with my shopping by this time of year, but being unemployed has set me back not only financially but in my time frame as well. I've got a couple of things already picked out, but more to go than usual. I have John, two best friends, my parents and my dad's girlfriend, my grandmother, and a couple of other friends on the list.

My favorite holiday gifts were... my mom gave me the diamond from the engagement ring my dad had given her, set into a necklace. It lives under lock and key at my house, worn only on the most special occasions. John has given me some Elvis jewelry and memorabilia that I treasure just as much, particularly the vintage fan club ring.

I usually look at Uncommon Goods, Red Envelope, Wireless, Signals, Margaritaville, and Anne Taintor. These are funky, oddball, unusual-gift places; if you want to give something you can't find elsewhere, a lot of these shops have exclusives. They're all online, too.

1. NO
2. No much. - Sibs are all grown-ups, I pick an angel off the salvation angel tree and spend my money there. I buy a book for my 2 nieces and 1nephew
3. What was your favorite holiday gift? Gold ankle chain last yesr.
4. What are your favorite sites or catalogs to shop from? None - I like to touch what I buy.
5. Do you give teacher gifts? Kid is grown and gone - used to give bookstore gift card.
6. What are you hoping for this year? A new job, win the lotto...

My husband is a swiss army knife/leatherman fanatic and owns five or six; he probably pulls one or more out five times a day. We keep a leatherman in the car and I have one in my purse; all have been frequently used.

We also have a Roomba and, if you have floors particularly, it can be GREAT. Ours needs a new battery but it was used frequently before it died. My husband is actually angling for a new one - and one for downstairs now that the carpet is gone. He's a stay at home dad, Mr. Fixit.

2. 13 year old gir - song books, she's in choir, anime DVDs and possibly some books. 4 year old - toys. 24 year old husband - a new DVD player and probably some video games

3. Best - my husband gave me a karaoke machine (I love to sing). Worst - my ex-husband (before exing) gave me the CB radio he wanted. Many of the gifts he gave me tended to really be for him.

4. Amazon.com gets money from me every year; I love books and electronics. I also like Lakeside (http://www.lakeside.com/home.asp) since they have cute off-the-wall stuff very inexpensively. I got great toys from my son there last year.

5. Not sure I have a fair answer. I'm a secret pal again this year for a teacher my daughter no longer has. I'm a GREAT secret pal (they all want me :)

6. Baby stuff for the new little one coming in March.

I should add that my husband already got my four year old son a remote controlled helicopter which is the sort of thing my son LOVES - not to run it but to chase.

Music is big in my family. My son (4) plays on my daughter's (13) electronic piano all day long, my daughter and I sing. Everyone loves CDs. We also are very electronic as all, but my four year old has his own computer.

One other note, my husband is getting a laptop this fall (to augment his desktop), but he's doing the 2-1 things with those very inexpensive handcrank laptops designed for kids in third world countries. Aside from getting my husband a utilitarian laptop, his $400 also sends a second laptop to the kids that need it. As we are huge advocates for worldwide education, we consider this money well spent.

Gift cards! I give them to teachers and to my many 20-something nephews and nieces. My fave gifts are books, of course. One year I got a new laptop, but I knew it was coming.

1. Here are some items from recent mail order catalogs Would any of these appeal to you? Why or why not? Do you know anyone you'd give them to? What catalogue items WOULD appeal to you if you have seen any? :

I-POD Speakers - Don't have one

Talking Photo frames(you record a saying from child or grandchild, give to yourself or relatives) - No

keychain that displays 30 digital talking photos - No

Swiss Army Knife - this seemd to be a biggie with my sons, each wanted one at some point - already did this a few years ago

Roomba vacuum cleaner - not even

Set of Shark Week DVDs from the show - No

Woodburning stove and firewood... No

2. What are you planniing to give this year and to what age? Don't have to name specific person just -Male - snowblower or Age 15 - Gift certificate or something like that. I am DESPERATE FOR IDEAS.
15 year old male - stero, dragon T's, Borders card



3. What was your favorite holiday gift? My children made their own photo calendar for me.
What was your worst? A wierd looking doll



4. What are your favorite sites or catalogs to shop from? Overstock
What items did you buy? clothes for the kids

5. Do you give teacher gifts? Yes
What? anything Butterfly, school supplies

6. What are you hoping for this year? new keyboard and mouse

Or do you prefer surprises? Surprises are nice too.

1. I will take the Roomba anytime. My parents had one of these five years ago, and it was great for those clean ups in between cleaning. It lasted until my mom ran over it with her wheelchair.

Dad - pocket light
Brothers: ???
Sister in law - purse
Niece: doll, and a matching pillow and comforter for the doll
Friend: Salad ball


Husband: This is a tough one
Oldest son: Maybe a bike
Youngest son: Talking Elmo
Nephew: 10 British Pounds

The rest I don't know, some will get books, others will get gift certificates, and little bags of samples.

4. Amazon, I haven't bought any Christmas presents from there, but I have bought several birthday presents.

5. I am still in the dark on this one, I just heard about this phenomenon a few weeks ago. I have ordered to 10 dollar borders cards though, which I think I might get them.

6. Oh, I honestly don't know. I am surrounded by so much love, that I cannot wish for much else. My brothers, sister in law and my niece are coming to visit in November, and this is one of the best gifts to get.

Thank you for posting your article to !!!Today's Top Three Photos and Articles!!!@

http://bestoftoday.gather.com/

Of those gift ideas only the Swiss Army knife might appeal to me--if it's a good Swiss Army knife and not a cheap one. I don't have an iPod so speakers wouldn't do much good.

Basically in my immediate family everyone makes a list and I pick up a few things off it: CDs, DVDs mostly. The more distant relations get a card--if that. I'm cheap like that. Surprises have almost always been bad for me.

I only buy gifts for the kids, and I'll buy none of those as the oldest is 7.

1. I'd like the keychain
2. Homemade gifts
3. The best was the year I got a Cabbage Patch kid. The worst was the year my husband gave me a can opener.
4. Etoys
5. No teacher gifts
6. I want my tattoo redone!

1. none....maybe if I had an Ipod the speakers might interest me, though.

2. Age 21 - male - gift certificate to Home Depot (he's in love with this store)
Age 49 - male - gift certificate to Home Depot (see above)
Age 35 - female - Harry Potter game for Wii (she's dying for this)
I'm not sure about any others, though. I won't think about it until later.

3. hmm...can't remember, actually. My favorite all-time gift was getting my baby book after being told for 16 years that they had lost it, but that was for my birthday, which, unfortunately, isn't a holiday. But it should be. The worst...hmm...socks. xD My grandparents...always so practical, but they give some fun things, too.

4. I'm in love with Amazon...I buy everything and anything...hehe. Books are great, but I also love getting season sets of DVDs for really cheap. And music, of course.

5. I used to when I was younger, but not since maybe 4th grade. I don't even remember what it was, either.

6. A Wii, definitely. I know I'm getting that because my mother and I made the deal that she gets me the Wii and I'll get her the game. ^_^ We do those things for one gift every year. That and I'm hoping to get this really comfy sweater from Walmart that I fell in love with. My friend has one and I always steal hers, so I figure it's time to get my own. :P

I-POD Speakers - Wouldn't be interested.

Talking Photo frames(you record a saying from child or grandchild, give to yourself or relatives) - cheesey.

keychain that displays 30 digital talking photos - This might be interesting, but without the talking. Also, depends on how big the thing is.

Swiss Army Knife - I'd rather have a "multi-tool". It's basically the same thing, only better. I don't know if you're familiar with them, but it looks like a pair of needle-nose pliers with several different "blades" that fold into the handle: a knife blade or two, maybe scissors, maybe a file, flat head and phillips head screw drivers, etc. I got a really nice "Gerber" brand one for Christmas from Walmart a couple of years ago for $25. The better ones will have locking blades. You can find "store-brand" multi-tools for around $5 - $10.

Roomba vacuum cleaner - This would be fun especially if you have cats!

Woodburning stove and firewood... That's a big gift....

I am not into a lot of gift giving anymore, we are in the practical mode lately, and last year, got exactly what I wanted, a whistling glass tea kettle, and a hard covered address/phone book, mine had worn out, and some other little things, oh yes, a kitchen timer, two, now have one in use, take them from room to room when I am cooking and sometimes can't find them.

I shop on line all the time for things I am going to give. All the people I would give one to, already have Ipods, thank heavens, I usually give money to Billy so he can get what he wants,

I give my sons a chance to tell me what they really want, and they usually do., the best present I have is when they all come over Christmas Eve and we have a family get together, just the boys, except the one that lives in Staten Island, too far to travel in the winter, and we get together and have some laughs, and I cook some of their favorite thngs like mac and cheese, sausage and peppers, meatballs, you know put out a buffet spread, sometimes they bring something and my son-in-law always brings pies, so that is my Christmas the last couple of years, I don't care that much for any holidays anymore, but get through them for Billy.

And if anyone asks me, I am going to ask for four Roomba vacuum cleaners, one for each room., so I don't have to see where it is at.

Fun article Jane, I am on Halloween yet,

I'd like a woodburning stove and wood. It would be more efficiant than my fireplace and cheaper than gas.

Also wouldn't mind another Swiss army knife. I have several but can never find one when I need it.

1. Here are some items from recent mail order catalogs Would any of these appeal to you? Why or why not? Do you know anyone you'd give them to? What catalogue items WOULD appeal to you if you have seen any? :

No one I know uses an Ipod anymore, their cell phones do it all:)


Roomba vacuum cleaner - I had on of these and loved it!


2. What are you planniing to give this year and to what age? Don't have to name specific person just -Male - snowblower or Age 15 - Gift certificate or something like that. I am DESPERATE FOR IDEAS.

Sorry, I haven't thought about it yet!

3. What was your favorite holiday gift? What was your worst?

I think that my digital camera was my fav, but that was for more personal reasons. It was the first real gift from my BF, it was unexpected, etc.

The worst was from my X. It was a rug shampooer. Now, if I had ever wanted one, that would have been different.....


4. What are your favorite sites or catalogs to shop from? What items did you buy?

Amazon has great deals and so many options! Also, they can return it easily if they don't like it.


5. Do you give teacher gifts? What? Sorry, I am the only one with teachers and I don't think that my profs expect anything. (I hope!)

6. What are you hoping for this year? Or do you prefer surprises?

Well, My mental telepathy didn't work for my birthday gift, so I still want a laptop! That is a bit over our budget, so it would be a surprise! I like those, it shows that someone put a lot of thought into it.

I LOVE those talking picture frames! Those are great!

I am giving to moms some nice jewelry. DVDs and Books and CDs to dads, in varying interests. I found a ... How to describe... a pig flinger at Borders for $9ish. Near the register - for the niece, and perhaps other immature friends/family... gift certificate for brother in mid 20s, probably same for sis in law... I don't know, I just look around until the right items strike me!

I like the photo frames that you can plug your camera into, or put a CD, Jumpdrive, or SD card and it shows a slide show on the frame.

I am giving my daughter (16) an Ipod Nano (engraved) and one to my youngest (9). I will also buy her some real gemstone body jewelry for her belly pierce. My soon-to-be 18-year old is going to be the toughest ~ probably a few gift cards (he has worked since he was 14 and bought a lot of toys and gadgets, so it is harder). If I come across a concert that goes on sale that he would like, I will buy him really good seats.

I do not give teacher gifts - I homeschool my youngest.

Because I live ina rural area, I do a lot of shopping online. I tend to shop at walmart.com, costco.com, learningcompany.com, and iTunes.

I am hoping for jewelry - maybe a new ring or a new necklace.

I don't really know what I am doing exactly yet...
15 year old boy-probably itunes certificte or gas gift card (since he'll be driving soon)
10 yr old girl-she loves Barbie and animals especially WEBKINZ
10 yr old boy-he loves books, video games, and anything that has a remote control
6 yr old girl-she wants Barbie, books, and MORE WEBKINZ
3yr old boy- anything pretend play-I'll probably make him a cape
My husband-Home Depot or auto parts store certificates
The teachers-gotta do something even if it is small
All the kids and my spouse-the school/scout fundraisers are magazines so everyone gets a subscription for Christmas...
Hope that helps a bit... I want a vacation, but that's not gonna happen...

nOne of those appeal to me. I like giving borders GC to friends & family. I also like homemade items immensly along with my own photos as cards.