2years ago i suggested to my older sister, since our family has shrunken to 10 adults and 4 children, we should just give notice of donations made in their honor to worthy causes. we're all animal lovers so the usual organizations like petsmart, service dog project, the morris foundation, spca, etc. works for all of the adults. the children are young, the oldest is 8 and the youngest 8 months, so i send money for mom and dad to pick up a particular item or i make doll clothes, or doll quilts, and the occasional child quilt. there's no point in buying and sending toys that they can buy at the same store locally, so in that case i send money. to the unsettled or younger adults i may send money because that is what they need (or want) most. i do very little shopping. one son is a minimalist so he gets money, for travel or necessities. doesn't take long! usually only fabric shopping, then into mrs. claus' work shop to sew sew sew!