Christmas Gifts

[MidnightSensi]

I know its a bit early, but we can keep it going and get a decent list going for when its time to start buying.

The holidays are around the corner, and I never know what to get anyone.

What are you guys thinking of buying for people?

Any price range is fine... maybe mark the ballpark price around it. It would be nice to have some ideas on what to get moms, dads, sisters, brothers, grandparents, friends, girlfriends, wives, office-mates, etc.

 

[jostenmeat]

$82

URC RFS200 PowerPak Bundle w/ MasterControl RF20 and PowerBlaster

Programming should take well less than an hour. Very easy to use.

Midnight, maybe you should throw out some recommended price points... I guess at around $20, one might think of software. Of course $200 ballpark can mean a new bluray player...

I think you know where my present interests lie...

 

[jinjuku]

I know its a bit early, but we can keep it going and get a decent list going for when its time to start buying.

The holidays are around the corner, and I never know what to get anyone.

What are you guys thinking of buying for people?

Any price range is fine... maybe mark the ballpark price around it. It would be nice to have some ideas on what to get moms, dads, sisters, brothers, grandparents, friends, girlfriends, wives, office-mates, etc.

Well, I am making my brothers beer. They get what ever style they like. They will each get 16 16oz bottles.

My cost is ~$50 for all of it. They get a killer personalized beer, I get to do something that I like.

One brother will get his Honey Amber Double Bock, the other will get Honey-Chocolate Stout.

 

[Adam]

My family and I don't exchange gifts on Christmas anymore. We're all grown and live apart. My parents are coming for Christmas this year, so I'm trying to get them to give me gift ideas...but they haven't, yet. I used to get my nieces and nephews gifts, but my brothers won't tell me what they want - and I have no idea.

I tend to just get them gifts for their birthdays or when the mood strikes me. I got my parents a MacBook Air and a Time Capsule this past spring. They seem to enjoy them. I got them a Panasonic DVD-R/DVR last summer, which my dad just loves.

 

[jinjuku]

My family and I don't exchange gifts on Christmas anymore. We're all grown and live apart. My parents are coming for Christmas this year, so I'm trying to get them to give me gift ideas...but they haven't, yet. I used to get my nieces and nephews gifts, but my brothers won't tell me what they want - and I have no idea.

I tend to just get them gifts for their birthdays or when the mood strikes me. I got my parents a MacBook Air and a Time Capsule this past spring. They seem to enjoy them. I got them a Panasonic DVD-R/DVR last summer, which my dad just loves.

When it comes to the nieces and nephews the wife and I do the same. We tend to send them neat/fun/cool gifts that we happen upon during are travels. Nice to have a gift just show up out of the blue...

 

[MidnightSensi]

Midnight, maybe you should throw out some recommended price points... I guess at around $20, one might think of software. Of course $200 ballpark can mean a new bluray player...

I wasn't sure where to draw the line on the pricepoints and this thread is as much for everyone else as it is for me, I figure we can just kinda build it and then when it comes time to shop we can knock it out quickly and get people some pretty good thought out stuff. We also might find some pretty good deals the next month, and could post them here, etc.

Cheers for getting it started guys!

 

[itschris]

I talked to my sister about not getting gifts for everyone this year... that we're grown up and don't need to basically exchange a bunch of gift cards... but she's like "NO! I want my presents!" This... from my "big" sis. Anyway, we finally agreed to draw names between Nancy and I, my brother and sister, and Nancy's sister and brother inlaw. I think Christmas should be about the kids and the older folks. I don't need anyone to buy me anything. I usually end up with a gift card. What's the point?

I said just buy four Christina... our 14 year old. For me, it's about just being together. I'd rather take the money and just all go on a trip together. But no one execpt my wife and my mom feel that way. My brother and sister are middle-aged children... it's very frustrating.

I don't go hog wild on gifts at the office. That's a trap I just don't like getting caught up in. You end up having to buy stuff for a bunch of people you really don't want to or you end up hurting someone's feelings. The executive staff usually pitches in a $100 each and we get our boss something god.... and he's pretty generous in return... at least to me. He usually gives me a $1k out of his pocket. We try to get him something well thought out.

For my wife, she's been wanting this ring we saw at Jarrod's. It's a buckle ring from a designer called Li Vian or something like that. It's not cheap, but she's worth it for putting up with me each day.

For our daughter, we're going to redo her room. She's 14 now so her furnture is quite outdated. We're gonna get her a new bedroom set... just something nice from Rooms to Go, nothing crazy. I'll be putting wood floors in her room and will be getting her a flat screen... again... nothing crazy but something like 32" LCD from Sam's ... whatevers the good price is that day.

Other than that, the best part of Xmas for me is that we adopt a couple of families. We like to do it anonymously because I think some people feel awkward when they need help. We have one family with a set of four year old twins that we'll be shopping for and another with 2 teenagers. We try to get stuff for the kids and the adults since it's usually the adults who are always giving up what the want and need for the children so I think it's nice to give them something too. We also try to get each family a gift the entire family can benefit from too. This year, I was thinking just some good deal Sam's club 27 or 32' tv's. We also like to give a gift certificate for Publix so they can have a nice xmas or chaunakah dinner. You never really know how it all turns out, but it sure makes you sleep a little better believing you made a difference. It's the best money we spend all year.

 

[Adam]

Chris, getting gifts for other families is very thoughtful and impressive. Truly, that is an inspiring story. Thank you for sharing that.

 

[speakerman39]

I talked to my sister about not getting gifts for everyone this year... that we're grown up and don't need to basically exchange a bunch of gift cards... but she's like "NO! I want my presents!" This... from my "big" sis. Anyway, we finally agreed to draw names between Nancy and I, my brother and sister, and Nancy's sister and brother inlaw. I think Christmas should be about the kids and the older folks. I don't need anyone to buy me anything. I usually end up with a gift card. What's the point?

I said just buy four Christina... our 14 year old. For me, it's about just being together. I'd rather take the money and just all go on a trip together. But no one execpt my wife and my mom feel that way. My brother and sister are middle-aged children... it's very frustrating.

I don't go hog wild on gifts at the office. That's a trap I just don't like getting caught up in. You end up having to buy stuff for a bunch of people you really don't want to or you end up hurting someone's feelings. The executive staff usually pitches in a $100 each and we get our boss something god.... and he's pretty generous in return... at least to me. He usually gives me a $1k out of his pocket. We try to get him something well thought out.

For my wife, she's been wanting this ring we saw at Jarrod's. It's a buckle ring from a designer called Li Vian or something like that. It's not cheap, but she's worth it for putting up with me each day.

For our daughter, we're going to redo her room. She's 14 now so her furnture is quite outdated. We're gonna get her a new bedroom set... just something nice from Rooms to Go, nothing crazy. I'll be putting wood floors in her room and will be getting her a flat screen... again... nothing crazy but something like 32" LCD from Sam's ... whatevers the good price is that day.

Other than that, the best part of Xmas for me is that we adopt a couple of families. We like to do it anonymously because I think some people feel awkward when they need help. We have one family with a set of four year old twins that we'll be shopping for and another with 2 teenagers. We try to get stuff for the kids and the adults since it's usually the adults who are always giving up what the want and need for the children so I think it's nice to give them something too. We also try to get each family a gift the entire family can benefit from too. This year, I was thinking just some good deal Sam's club 27 or 32' tv's. We also like to give a gift certificate for Publix so they can have a nice xmas or chaunakah dinner. You never really know how it all turns out, but it sure makes you sleep a little better believing you made a difference. It's the best money we spend all year.

Chris, I find this post very insightful as well as quite inspiring. That is just awesome that you are giving to those who are in dire need. This shows that you are a man of principle in which manifest itself into your true character! Kudos to you and the wife for doing so.

Cheers,

Phil

 

[jamie2112]

Both my kids are getting COAL.......J/K I am not sure yet I am still getting 20 different things they want every other day. My little guy still thinks Santa is real so we play that up big as this will probably be his last year believing in Santa. My daughter wants a phone but that will just be a nightmare she is 10....my son wants a phone and a paintball gun..( you'll shoot your eye out kid) and stain every piece of clothing you own, how bout ....no. I think I m going to get them a new sub, yeah they need a SVS sub for christmas thats the ticket....

 

[ErinH]

My wife and I were going to set a $250 budget for spending on each other this year (so, $500 total). But, we talked about this earlier and have decided to cut it to $100, then use the extra $300 to buy toys/clothes for a few kids off the salvation army tree.

There's nothing I want, and after first thinking about it, I wasn't able to get past how selfish it would be to not do this. We both have things good, and I'd rather contribute to a kid's happiness than my own.

 

[itschris]

My wife and I were going to set a $250 budget for spending on each other this year (so, $500 total). But, we talked about this earlier and have decided to cut it to $100, then use the extra $300 to buy toys/clothes for a few kids off the salvation army tree.

There's nothing I want, and after first thinking about it, I wasn't able to get past how selfish it would be to not do this. We both have things good, and I'd rather contribute to a kid's happiness than my own.

That's awsome Erin! Isn't it great when you just kinda get over yourself? I wish I would've had a better outlook much sooner in my life. My wife and are part of the both charity committees at our offices it really is amazing when you can in impact someone's life in a positive way. It's not always easy to do. We set a budget of $1500 or so for the two families. I'll be honest, there's a very selfish part of me that sits back and thinks about the things I would like to do with that money. I want a new couch, a new tv for the bedroom, and a 100 other things. I was at SAMs today looking at TVs and saw a couple of 32's for about $500 each and I was thinking if I didn't get those, I could the a new 42" for the bedroom. But you know when you let it go and you think about how much exponentially greater the impact would be on someone less fortunate than you, it's makes everything okay.

My wife an I were talking last night a bit and we agreed that we don't need anything and we don't need to exchange gifts. It's not about the money, or getting something... we just decided to try and make Christmas about something grander.

What you give back doesn't have to be grand. It can be anything and still make an impact because there are those with literally nothing. Even if it's a neighbor who you know is going through a hard time... just doing something nice like bringing them some bagels and coffee from the local shop can turn someone around. Often times in reality, it's the smallest gestures which make the biggest impact.

 

[unreal.freak]

the wife and i will likely buy each other something small (cologne, jewelry, etc) We like to buy a lot but this year we received our presents early (First baby, new house) We consider getting to spend the season with our dearest friends and family, a great gift. We also love to read the Christmas Story from the Bible, as a family. Nice thread!!

Peace,
Tommy

 

[itschris]

. My daughter wants a phone but that will just be a nightmare she is 10....

Our daughter is 14. Let me tell you Jamie... it's only just beginning. Daughters are a way of getting guys back for the misdeeds in which young men had once partaken.

 

[Halon451]

For the wife:



All the adults in both our families decided this year to only get the kids things, which is a brilliant idea IMO (Aside from my wife and I getting a few things for each other). Although my Dad has been planning on getting himself a new plasma TV (with my help of course, ), so I may hook him up with a BD player to replace his old DVD player that he has now.

The various kids in both our lots are going to get hooked up as usual - my nephew has gotten into skateboarding lately, so I plan to get him a real skateboard as opposed to the cheap Wal-Mart one he has now, my niece is into art and painting so I'm getting her a nice art set w/easel and everything, and still undecided on the rest. I'm a late, procrastinating shopper to say the least - to have decided on even as much as I have (above) is a bit of a milestone for me this early in the season.