Christmas Giving

[Sojourner]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' post='1135834' date='Dec 5 2006, 06:15 PM']
I make donations to The Human Fund on behalf of everyone I know.
[/quote]




Ahem.


This year, it will be cards to a select group of people. Which kills me a little. Or a lot.


When I have resources, I love gift-giving more than just about anything else I can do. I get an immense amount of joy out of knowing that I've been able to give someone something that they find useful or will give them pleasure.

[isilzha]

My Dad is in the process of converting, so I bought him a couple books on the church.

[Balthazor]

I always give things that people need or are at least practical enough so they can use them...this means no statuettes. :

But things they can use but are generally to cheap or practical to buy for themselves.

[Jaime]

veal

[DangerBoy]

This year I am making a silver crusafix for my girlfriend.

[Balthazor]

[quote name='Azriel' post='1135885' date='Dec 5 2006, 08:41 PM']
Suggestions good. Lists=greedy and rude.

I'm so glad y'all agree.
[/quote]

Not in my family. We make lists, it is easier that way, because suggestions are just lists that are not written down.
But this is amoung my family, not among friends.

[xTrishaxLynnx]

I don't usually ask for anything for Christmas, unless I need something, then I ask my Dad. And I try not to ask people what they want. I think that way the gift is more personal and there is a lot of thought put into it.

I don't see a problem, however, with giving a general idea of things you might like, or with asking for a general idea of what someone wants, but if I do that, I try to get that item for the person, but do something creative with it so that again, they feel special because you put so much thought into it. I like making people feel special and loved.

Edited December 6, 2006 by xTrishaxLynnx

[Jaime]

This year I am getting a new request from friends

Framed pictures of Balthazor in her Tinkerbell costume.


:

[Azriel]

[quote name='Balthazor' post='1136458' date='Dec 6 2006, 01:23 PM']
Not in my family. We make lists, it is easier that way, because suggestions are just lists that are not written down.
But this is amoung my family, not among friends.
[/quote]

I think in families, especially immediate ones, that lists aren't necessarily a bad thing. I guess I kind of meant like "I want X from X store, in THIS color. I think that can be annoying. If you are saying, I could use a good sweater, or toaster. I think that isn't so bad.

Maybe I'm just jaded.

[xTrishaxLynnx]

To hot stuff:

Edited December 6, 2006 by xTrishaxLynnx

[Piamaria]

I mostly give books, chosen for the person, and some home- made cookies wrapped up for Christmas. For my nieces and nephews I do gift cards. This year I'm doing a bit more because it will probably be the last opportunity I have.

[IcePrincessKRS]

[quote name='Lil Red' post='1135824' date='Dec 5 2006, 08:10 PM']
well, i dunno. it's hard to be really thoughtful and creative with gift giving because: i'm not crafty; i really don't have that much imagination; and i'm poor.

so while i try to get something that fits the personality, sometimes, i just can't.
[/quote]

Yeah, second me on that one... I have the worst imagination when it comes to gift giving!!! Thankfully this year we have a little extra $$$ so most of my gifts have been paid for with debit rather than credit. I did crochet a couple hats, and I'm making a piggy bank for my little sister (but its not turning out very well at all).

[quote name='Azriel' post='1135839' date='Dec 5 2006, 08:20 PM']
I abhor Christmas Lists - getting and giving.

Its not the size or cost - but rather the thought behind it.

[/quote]

I agree... at least I abhor making lists for what I want, its difficult and I never come up with anything.

[quote name='Lil Red' post='1135848' date='Dec 5 2006, 08:27 PM']
suggestions are WAY better than lists. lists seem so greedy and demanding - not very good manners, i think.
[/quote]

Thats why I hate having to make lists, but its sort of a necessary evil in our family.

[quote name='hugheyforlife' post='1135914' date='Dec 5 2006, 08:58 PM']

One of my favorite gifts to give to coworkers/teachers/acquaintances/etc is hot chocolate. Almost everyone loves it and you can make the packages yourself. You buy cone bags from the party store, hot chocolate mix, chocolate chips, mini-marshmellows, and anything else you want to add. You put in enough hot chocolate to one cone bag for two servings and tie it. You slip that bag into another and top it with a layer of chocolate chips, marshmellows, and whatever else it is you've bought. That, coupled with a homemade card and a smile, is a simple, fun, and usually much-appreciated gift.

[/quote]

Thats an awesome idea, would go perfectly in a basket with a couple mugs and bag of coffee or box of tea...

[quote name='Balthazor' post='1136458' date='Dec 6 2006, 01:23 PM']
Not in my family. We make lists, it is easier that way, because suggestions are just lists that are not written down.
But this is amoung my family, not among friends.
[/quote]

I don't make lists for friends, and if I do happen to buy gifts for friends its usually something spontaneous that made me think of them when I saw it.

My FAMILY, since its so huge, does a Secret Santa deal (each adult buys a gift for 1 adult and 1 child) and we all have to make a list of 3 gift suggestions. Like I said, I hate that part. We don't have to buy everything on the list, or even anything on it, its just to give an idea of what they'd like. I usually get one or two things on the list and then a couple not on it (it just depends on what they ask for and how much it costs and how much I know they desperately want it).

With Matt's family we used to do "not-so-secret-Santa's" (half the time we all knew who had who), but since the family has grown so much we do family gifts instead--this year we have his sister and her family. We ordered them Swiss Colony (Matt's idea--I picked out a neat breakfast set that I thought they'd have fun making together and then a sausage and coagulated milk set) and I a DVD of Charlotte's Web for their little boy. I think its something that they will all enjoy together.

[quote name='Azriel' post='1136473' date='Dec 6 2006, 01:39 PM']
I think in families, especially immediate ones, that lists aren't necessarily a bad thing. I guess I kind of meant like "I want X from X store, in THIS color. I think that can be annoying. If you are saying, I could use a good sweater, or toaster. I think that isn't so bad.

Maybe I'm just jaded.
[/quote]

I agree with that 100%. I did ask for one kind of pricey item this year, but I only asked my husband because its his job to buy me jewelry stuff. lol (The chain to the locket he gave me for our first Valentine's Day broke and I asked him, if he wanted to do something really special for me, he could get me a new chain for Christmas.)