Christmas with Adult Children
10-19-2014, 08:04 AM
#51
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Behind my sewing machine
Posts: 7,202
I purchase what I want for my kids and granddaughter. I like to buy them something they would not be able to buy. Some years I give them cash along with the gifts so that they have a stressfree christmas. My father inlaw would give us all cash the week before Christmas - 50.00 for each member of the family for us to go Christmas shopping. We loved it...helped us and keep us out of Christmas debt. I never did the family gifts besides my parents...well we did a few times, but it was sorta weird...many times we just got gift cards/same amount...pointless...I rather just have visit time without the gift. I do not want or expect high dollar gifts from my kids. I am very happy with a photo, book or whatever. They always find something we love and they do not have to spend a lot...its not the money its the thought.
For my folks I get them gift certs so they can get out of the house and go shopping or out to eat. They are retired so tight budget.
For my folks I get them gift certs so they can get out of the house and go shopping or out to eat. They are retired so tight budget.
10-19-2014, 08:09 AM
#52
Power Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Charleston SC
Posts: 10,743
Our family is so large that we now play Christmas Bingo. Each person buys maybe 5 gifts and wraps them. Then the Bingo winner choses a gift but watch out the person with a previous gift just may lose it to the next winner. It keeps us occupied for hours. The gifts are not big so the cost is not that much..We always buy the children a couple of gifts each.
10-19-2014, 08:11 AM
#53
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Behind my sewing machine
Posts: 7,202
I purchase what I want for my kids and granddaughter. I like to buy them something they would not be able to buy. Some years I give them cash along with the gifts so that they have a stressfree christmas. My father inlaw would give us all cash the week before Christmas - 50.00 for each member of the family for us to go Christmas shopping. We loved it...helped us and keep us out of Christmas debt. I never did the family gifts besides my parents...well we did a few times, but it was sorta weird...many times we just got gift cards/same amount...pointless...I rather just have visit time without the gift. I do not want or expect high dollar gifts from my kids. I am very happy with a photo, book or whatever. They always find something we love and they do not have to spend a lot...its not the money its the thought.
For my folks I get them gift certs so they can get out of the house and go shopping or out to eat. They are retired so tight budget.
For my folks I get them gift certs so they can get out of the house and go shopping or out to eat. They are retired so tight budget.
10-19-2014, 11:52 AM
#54
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Melbourne Australia
Posts: 670
We are in our senior years and have more than everything we need. I tell my friends not to buy gifts otherwise I will have to extend the house, as they have their own families to buy for. Most families have what we call a "Chris Kringle" where you buy a gift for one person for a determined cost. Christmas has become so commercial and a financial nightmare for some families. The money I would spend on friends who also have everything they need we give to our favourite charities. As we are not religious I say we don't really celebrate Christmas I celebrate my birthday which is on the 25th December and not to bring Birthday presents either just bring themselves for a nice lunch with lots of laughs to share. I do however buy gifts for my great neices and nephews who are all young, Christmas is for Kids.
10-19-2014, 12:21 PM
#55
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Lost in my sewing room
Posts: 1,442
Many years back when my oldest brother got married we started the name draw. Now, for those with kids, those families draw names for the kids. We all chip in to buy one thing for each of our folks, and actually last year dad & his wife wanted to stop that as well. I agree the more to buy for the more stress. I would love not to do any gift exchanging and just spend the time together....
10-19-2014, 02:14 PM
#56
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 520
We take all of the families out for Thanksgiving dinner, (no home is big enough for a full meal), then we go to one of our children's homes. None of us needs any thing, but it`s Christmas, so every one writes down 3 items on a list, none over $25.00, and draw names from a hat. Childern let us know when they want to be in with adults, little kids get small gifts under the tree. All adults also give good amounts to one or more of the chairities of their choice.
10-19-2014, 02:23 PM
#57
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Michigan
Posts: 864
We have 6 adult children including the in-laws 6 grandkids. I try really hard to get the adults something I personally love, one year it was good powder for the girls,another year it was my favorite pj's. my DH usually gets the boys a power tool or something. We also give each of the adults a envelope with cash in it on Thanksgiving so if they choose to go shopping on Black Friday they can. I usually shop online at home on black Friday for the grandkids.
when my parents were living my siblings and I would go together and pay for their cable tv for the year.
For my mother in law DH and I pay for her apartment to be cleaned once a month and pay her local paper subscription.
when my parents were living my siblings and I would go together and pay for their cable tv for the year.
For my mother in law DH and I pay for her apartment to be cleaned once a month and pay her local paper subscription.
Last edited by mimiof4; 10-19-2014 at 02:26 PM.
10-19-2014, 02:42 PM
#58
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 5,896
Originally Posted by tenngal
Our family has increased quite a bit - 17 kids, grandkids, wives, husbands, and now 3 great grandchildren. They all make more money than we do. We've always bought all the food and done all the cooking, plus cash gifts or gift cards for adults & teens and presents for the little ones. I am worn out due to a sick husband and would like to STOP - except for the little ones. Can't get anyone else to agree, though. And, we sure don't need any gifts.
Just announce that you're planning to simplify this Christmas and will be making charitable donations, in lieu of gifts for all but the little ones (IF you want to still include them). At the same time, announce that someone else will have to be responsible for Christmas dinner. Then don't let anyone make you change your mind!
10-19-2014, 02:46 PM
#59
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 5,896
Originally Posted by Luv Quilts and Cats
I would like to stop the giving to adults in my family and just enjoy the time together. We have all we need, and don't need any gadgets. And some of the things I would want are too costly for one person to pay. However, every year I get out voted because my brother will not go along with the no gifts/pick a name deal. There is only one grandchild in my family and she is now 25. She is my niece and I would buy for her forever because I love her so much and I get pleasure in giving her gifts. We have as a group toned down the spending which is a good thing. We used to make lists at Thanksgiving of what we would like to make shopping easier. Somehow that has stopped and had made shopping harder. I may suggest the list tradition return. We are a very small family, three generations with a total of 8 people, and 2 cats. Every year lately the pressure to buy gifts is too much and I end up hating the holidays.
10-19-2014, 03:06 PM
#60
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: jacksonville bch
Posts: 2,064
We give money. Between kids, their spouses, their children, their spouses, and then the great grandkids, I don't like the shopping. Of course, to try and find the right thing and the right size, and then paying for postage we could buy even more. We send each family money, and if they want to shop for the kids okay. The great grandkids have found out its fun to rec. money because if they didn't get what they wanted they can wait for the sales. They all love it. As far as siblings we stopped that along time ago. We just wish everybody a Merry Christmas. Whatever works for you is what you should do.
