I have a very limited gift list. The grands and foster children are getting quilts. For family and friends, gifts are generally homemade. Except for one, all were done by August.
We have given to the local food drive. DH had the great idea to sponsor a "clean and struggling" family to a meal at a local restaurant this year, where the owner will make a fuss over the kids. We are not wealthy by any means, but we had times in the past living on the very edge, so we feel this is important. As a teen, DH put in long hours working for a landlord to keep a roof over the family's head when HIS family could not pay the rent. In our shaky economic times, these gifts are much more important than the table runners and placemats to kin.