by ~~ Sarina ~~
Member since:
August 12, 2006

Drawing Names for Gift Giving

November 28, 2008 10:16 AM EST
views: 273 | comments: 68

One of my clients said her family was drawing names this year for Christmas gifts.  This is because money is so tight. I am not certain that it is something I could ever do.  Even when money was tight I always managed to buy or make gifts for everyone.  Everyone got more than one gift too.

Our family doesn't buy for everyone. Each family buys for their children and or grandchildren.  I make calendars for each of my siblings and their adult children, my children and my mother.  Along with that I bake something special.

For some reason I guess I just don't get the whole idea of picking names when it comes to family. When it comes to buying gifts at work I can understand drawing names.
Have you ever drawn names for gifts?  Do you set a limit on how much you spend on gifts?


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Comments: 68

Netty B. Nov 28, 2008, 10:28am EST
We used to do this in my family years and years ago, the limit was $10
Kat W. Nov 28, 2008, 10:29am EST
We only exchange gifts with immediate family, my parents, brother, sil and nephew. At our extended family get together we usually only bring small gifts for the younger kids and a hostess gift.
Denise W. Nov 28, 2008, 10:34am EST
I guess it depends on the size of the family. I have a very large family and if we were to buy for everyone that could easly be 50+ people. Long ago we all decided not to buy for each other. We do buy for what is now the head of the family. They are in their late 80s and are great great grandparents. We get together and buy them a bunch of resturant gift cards so they can go out whenever they want. I do send my mom a gift and a relative of my dh (she is a 2nd removed cousin) we send to her because she has no one else and we are about the only gift she gets. He lives in OK we are in CA.
JoAnn C. Nov 28, 2008, 10:34am EST
I've done it at work before but not with family. I don't think I would be opposed to it if it was brought up. One year we set a limit of $10 per household of things you can buy at a dollar store. That was fun.

Some of my friends do it with their family.
Michelle W. Nov 28, 2008, 10:37am EST
My husband's family has done that in the past simply because there are so many in the family. They do set a dollar limit for gifts. Many of the siblings don't have kids, but one has several children and a ton of grandchildren, and it would cost a ton to buy for all of them. I personally enjoy making gifts for everyone, but the rest of the family is too uppity to think to do that. They would rather buy something.
anne ( way 2 crazy of a life ) c. Nov 28, 2008, 10:39am EST
I have never done that, but i know times are rough right now for everyone...
Cyndi B. Nov 28, 2008, 10:50am EST
We did the last time we visited my husbands family. They decided to draw names for the adults and everyone still bought for the kids - it worked well that way since adults don't need all that much, and we could focus better on one person and what would really make them happy. We chose names that Christmas for the next Christmas get together. It made it easier since we live far away.
Chrissy O. Nov 28, 2008, 10:56am EST
My Aunt wants to draw names this year but I don't think we are gonna! I draw names with Friends but not famly! I know that My dad's side of the family the adults used to draw names!
Cathy N. Nov 28, 2008, 10:57am EST
We have a huge family and the adults didn't need anything, so we only bought for the kids and then drew names for the adults.
Lee P. Nov 28, 2008, 11:01am EST
No.
Kelly M. Nov 28, 2008, 11:02am EST
We have never done it - but we have 6 boys, so we might when they get older and start having families of their own.
Tonya Downen Nov 28, 2008, 11:03am EST
I think it is a good idea if you have a big family. Times are tough right now and people are watching what they spend.
Priscilla (wishing I was in Costa Rica) ~. Nov 28, 2008, 11:08am EST
Yes, we usually draw names for adults in our family - it just gets way too expensive buying for all of these adults.
Misty Reynolds Nov 28, 2008, 11:09am EST
we have a very large family and this year my whole family agreed that we would just buy for the kids instead of buying for everone but we have done the drawing of name and it did work because it is hard to buy for alot of people when things are tight and that way everyone got a gift and no one felt bad for having to get a cheap gift just to get for someone
~~ Sarina ~~ Nov 28, 2008, 11:36am EST
If it were a requirement to buy a gift for everyone, I think that drawing a name would be a great idea. I prefer to make a small gift for everyone. That is just how I am.
Marsha S. Nov 28, 2008, 11:40am EST
my brother wants to start doing that
Marilyn M. Nov 28, 2008, 11:52am EST
I'm with you, Sarina. I like making gifts for everyone. Or finding special (but inexpensive) gifts that are ideal for each person. Or baking. There was a time when I exchanged gifts with some friends and we bought family gifts. I usually made a gift basket for each family with a movie, popcorn, etc. for a movie night.
Carol V. Nov 28, 2008, 11:56am EST
In Hubby's family, we used to draw names for the adults and for the kids. Now instead of drawing for the adults, we send $$ to Hubby's aunt's mission in South America. She's a nun and has been there for about 8 years. Those with kids still draw names for the kids. This will be the first year that we haven't bought for the kids.
Donald M. Nov 28, 2008, 12:00pm EST
At work I absolutely thing a low price range should be set. Family is about getting together. Christmas presents to most adults dont matter. The little ones are who like to open presents.
William M. Nov 28, 2008, 12:18pm EST
I feel the way you do, Sarina. On very large families I can see drawing names.
~~ Sarina ~~ Nov 28, 2008, 12:23pm EST
I make things that others wouldn't think to make. Homemade candy, donuts and other baked goods. The family calendar is always included.
t w. Nov 28, 2008, 1:02pm EST
we used to but now we just buy for our own kids and we all get something for my mom
Lisa Frost Nov 28, 2008, 1:07pm EST
To make sure the grandkids, and then the great-grandkids got extra presents, we always had the cousins draw names to get a special gift for one of the other kids in the family. You never knew who got your name until Christmas. Of course, when you turned 18 you were out. right now the number of kids has been a little low to do it any more. We only have a few under 18 at any given time.(mine are all over)
Jurpe {awallflower} Nov 28, 2008, 1:16pm EST
Drawing names does not sound fair, we spend time together and get the kids something. Christmas is more than gift. The greatest gift is spending time with family and the reason for the season.
Carol B Nov 28, 2008, 1:26pm EST
I wouldn't do it with my children, grandchildren (if I had them) or parents (if they were alive). But, I would do it with adults like nieces and nephews brothers, sisters, in laws and any other extended family. I would still buy for the young children.
golds g. Nov 28, 2008, 1:55pm EST
not for family
Ang, wandering aimlessly, G. Nov 28, 2008, 2:01pm EST
We have done this in our family because there are so many of us.
HEIDI F. Nov 28, 2008, 2:27pm EST
neither one.
Melanie B. Nov 28, 2008, 3:24pm EST
We have never done this. But have heard of many that do. We use to buy for more family members than we do now. Now we just buy for the immediate family and grandchildren. And of course my husband's mother. My parents are no longer with us.
Christmas is home made with thoghts of those I gift on my mind while making the gift. on lean years the gifts might have cost less to by but they are recieved with the same love from years we were flush
B.B. B. Nov 28, 2008, 5:13pm EST
i would not do this. we only buy presents for each other and for close family
B.B. B. Nov 28, 2008, 5:14pm EST
~paying it forward~
Mary (diet dr pepper junkie) T. Nov 28, 2008, 5:30pm EST
We did this when there got to be so many of us in my husband's family...we drew names for the adults but we bought for all the kids.
Kat W. Nov 28, 2008, 6:10pm EST
Its the time of year to spread the love!
Sandy (back in Ohio...blah!) Nov 28, 2008, 6:29pm EST
When you have a large family and it gets extended. It is hard to buy for everyone. That is when name drawing comes in.

I have 7 brothers and sisters. Who have a ton of kids. Heck one sister along is pregnat with her 7th child and doesn't plan on stopping. I'm the one with the least amount of kids at 3. That doesn't even include in laws at in this equation. Or grandparents. As many of use my siblings have blended families.

I do however tend do do everyone up in candy. Thats easy to do. I buy or make some kids of something to put the candy in. I always go over board when it comes to buying candy. So, this works out well.
Karen M. Nov 28, 2008, 6:40pm EST
We have been doing homemade gifts the last couple of years for the adults...and nicer, store bought things for the kids.
sonia v. Nov 28, 2008, 8:07pm EST
we draw names in our family, we cant afford to get everyone something and neither can they. So it alot of pressure taking off of us
Kim M. Nov 28, 2008, 8:31pm EST
We did it for a while with hubby's siblings (he has 3) so that you could buy one nice gift instead of trying to get small gifts for everyone. It's been cut out altogether now though so we can all focus on the kids in the family. My dad, brothers and I don't exchange at all anymore. No one can afford it.
Marianne R. Nov 28, 2008, 9:27pm EST
We've done this before and I think it's awesome. You can spend a fair amount on one person. It works out so well.
Alta B. Nov 29, 2008, 1:08am EST
My ex inlaws used to do this.
lynn a. Nov 29, 2008, 1:11am EST
At work, yes. For family no.
sherry v. Nov 29, 2008, 1:35am EST
Ive done this with work but not family. However a friend of mine has done name drawing for 10 yrs now and she said it made xmas a lot easier...
Shaunee C. Nov 29, 2008, 1:58am EST
I try to buy a little something for everyone. My grandmother does this and last year my sister ended up without a gift.
Carla B. Nov 29, 2008, 6:44am EST
I have five siblings. We used to draw names, and then only buy for our parents and nieces and the name we got. I think the last year we drew names was Elliott's first Christmas, so of course he got presents from all of my siblings, too. It worked out really well for us. We only have two nieces, and then my son, so it's not overwhelming to buy for all the kids at this point.
I have been in one of these name drawing games years ago, with the inlaws and the limit was 10 bucks.
Beth G. Nov 29, 2008, 9:58am EST
When you have a big family like mine, you sort of have to do that with the adults, otherwise, it would just get too expensive otherwise.
My family draws names. It would kill us all to have to buy for each member. In all including kids we have at least 35 people in our family. so ya we avoid the buying for all of them.
Jill~Sexy Back~ V. Dec 2, 2008, 1:37am EST
My husband's siblings do this. We all draw names and set a limit of $20 for gifts. There are 5 of them, plus 4 in-laws, so it's much easier to buy 1 gift then 9.
Elle L. Dec 2, 2008, 11:09am EST
On my husbad's side we just buy for the kids and grand parents, on my side we used to draw names, but now all of my siblings have kids to so the last few years we just started buying family gifts, like last year I made gift baskets with 2 family movies and popcorn and a popcorn bowl, and a blanket, some "movie" candies like jujubees & junior mints. I got it all at walmart and they were only about $30 per basket which is a lot cheaper in the long run with 6 siblings and 16 nieces and nephews!
Andrea (Ms. Conservative) L. Dec 2, 2008, 12:41pm EST
I hear sleigh bells!!
Barbara B. Dec 3, 2008, 2:50am EST
I always look forward to receiving my Christmas Calendar with
all the birthdays, anniversaries too. Thanks for that Sadie.
M & M. Dec 4, 2008, 1:05pm EST
The only time I have done that, was when I worked in an office. They set a $10. limit.
It was fun, but I would not like to do that with family.
Robert M Dec 5, 2008, 2:16pm EST
We do that with the adults, but I like to buy each of the kids something, or at least give them some money.
♥♥LoViNg♥LiFe♥ ♥♥ Dec 5, 2008, 3:13pm EST
CHRISTmas points for you!
***PAY IT FORWARD***
Carol V. Dec 6, 2008, 11:08am EST
paying it forward
Mary Bee Dec 7, 2008, 7:16am EST
good idea...
Karen L. Dec 7, 2008, 9:07am EST
My husband has a very large extended family and we used to pick names for the adults and just buy gifts for all the little ones. We've just stopped with the adult gifts and buy for the kids.
Elizabeth S. Dec 7, 2008, 3:21pm EST
My first comment seems to have disappeared, so if it shows up later, so be it.
Gifts are supposed to be about the thought rather than the amount of money spent. You can make a lot of kids happy with $1 toys-bubbles, noise makers, stickers, etc. While a $40 gift might be preferred by a recipient, I've never had anyone turn down my plants, flavored butter, cookies or homemade goodies. After all, we have 12 months to plan for it every year.
Donald M. Dec 7, 2008, 7:28pm EST
Have a merry Christmas
pay it forward
Kat W. Dec 7, 2008, 11:28pm EST
I like drawing names.

PIF
~*~Paying It Forward~*~
Renita P. Dec 8, 2008, 9:52pm EST
Luckily I have a fairly small family - 1 sister, her two kids, and parents. Parents and inlaws get photo calendars and I get usually a small gift card for my niece & nephew. My sister and I don't exchange. My husband's family doesn't exchange gifts at all - just the photo calendar for his dad and they give $$ for our kids.
Renita P. Dec 8, 2008, 9:53pm EST
forgot to say that I am Paying it forward for 12/7/08
Sandra Creason Dec 11, 2008, 11:32am EST
In times when money is short, my family does draw names for the adult members of the family and sets a budget range for those gifts. That way, we can focus more on presents for the kids, but everyone still has something to open on Christmas.
Kimberly Ripley Dec 13, 2008, 11:53pm EST
I like to come up with at least a little something for everyone. Sometimes it even adds a little fun to it if we have only so much to spend. It kind of forces us to be even more creative.

Paying it forward!
Kat W. Dec 14, 2008, 6:33pm EST
I like drawing names, it makes things easier.
Netty B. Dec 17, 2008, 12:16am EST
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