https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 31 May 2026 02:49:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-gifts-for-family#post-251112 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 16:01:51 +0000 LuLu Mom 251112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another homemade gift idea I have seen and thought of doing is homemade hot chocolate kits, put homemade hot chocolate in a jar, and dip marshmellows in chocolate and roll with crushed peppermint, makes for a pretty but cheap gift! Also do the dry ingredients of brownies/cookies/ect and make it look pretty in a jar with fabric and cute attached card on how to make them! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-gifts-for-family#post-251101 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 15:54:31 +0000 Jumpingjacks 251101@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How about homemade gifts? for a few years I made homemade truffle chocolates and gave them as gifts to family. Everyone loved them! I just saw a cool idea online to buy old pretty tea cups at an antique store (quite inexpensive) and make your own candles in them. and give as gifts. Giving inexpensive gifts doesn't have to be about money -- i hate giving gifts to people just because it's necessary and will be something they forget or won't use. Homemade stuff can be really thoughtful and unique. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-gifts-for-family#post-251088 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 15:39:55 +0000 chrispygal 251088@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@dookie32: I'm glad you guys didn't give in! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-gifts-for-family#post-250691 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 10:46:06 +0000 dookie32 250691@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@chrispygal: We had to do this last year also. We tried to implement the buying for kids only and my one BIL and SIL just flat out refused to go along with it. It's them that would benefit from it the most since they have 3 kids (1 on the way) and not a lot of money but for some reason they want to buy gifts. Even though it's super awkward for them to buy us stuff when we don't reciprocate, we've refused to give in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-gifts-for-family#post-250625 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 10:07:18 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 250625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: We draw names for the adults in the family, and then get gifts for all of the kids. So, we end up needing to buy 2 adult gifts and 5 kid gifts. Although I like getting gifts for everyone, it just isn't in the budget anymore. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-gifts-for-family#post-250518 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 08:51:57 +0000 LuLu Mom 250518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: We do the same thing on my side, it's more fun to watch the kids open gifts anways. We were just getting each other gift cards, so they would "cancel" each other out anyways. We do give family pictures to the adults, so that is a little something for them to open/look at! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-gifts-for-family#post-250516 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 08:48:10 +0000 Modern Daisy 250516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Last year, I was SUPER cheap at Christmas since we closed on an apartment on Dec 27th and basically drained the majority of our savings for closing costs, moving expenses, tipping our building staff, etc. Between the two of us, we have 4 pollyanna gifts to buy that are both minimum $50, 10 nieces and nephews, 5 siblings and 6 parents. That's 25 gifts - not even including gifts for each other!!</p> <p>We spent the most on the pollyanna gifts since we dind't really have a choice, then we did 'family' presents for our siblings and their kids which ended up being a big gift basket of candy and chocolates and for our parents we went to home goods and bought a bunch of pretty frames and printed out wedding photos to put in them. I felt really bad only giving our parents the framed photos because it felt like we were skimping, but it was either that or take money out of savings since we were stretched so thin. All in all we still spent a lot, but at least we didn't go too crazy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-gifts-for-family#post-250471 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 08:12:36 +0000 rachiecakes 250471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like the idea of an ornament exchange. It's something that's seasonal, you can put it away for the rest of the year but something that will be special when you do take it out. Growing up I loved taking out the ornaments and putting them on the tree, remembering where we got each one, etc. </p> <p>I'm hoping this year anyone that's thinking of gifts for us, just gets a gift for DS. We don't need anything but I want to keep the holidays special for him while he's small. </p> <p>I'm definitely going to scale down what we give for gifts as well. More homemade/heartfelt items and less "stuff". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-gifts-for-family#post-250456 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 07:59:52 +0000 sorrycharlie 250456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My dads side of the fam is huge, so each set of parents pulls as many names (of nieces and nephews) as they have kids. So you have 1 kid, you pull 1 name. Any couples count as one gift together, not two (so myself &amp; husband are one gift). It's so much easier!</p> <p>Both my mom and dads family don't buy for siblings anymore just the kids. I buy for my siblings because they're younger. I'd definitely suggest doing just kids! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-gifts-for-family#post-250434 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 07:32:27 +0000 chrispygal 250434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We buy for about 14 kids and so last year, when we were paying for our wedding, we told everyone that no more gifts for anyone over 18 except for our parents. Our siblings, who don't have a lot of money, made a bit of a stink about it which was a bit surprising. We stuck to our guns and said Christmas is about the kids so that's what we're doing - don't buy us a gift because we're not getting you one. It worked out and now that we have LO, I'm glad we set that standard. There is a new person to spoil. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-gifts-for-family#post-250429 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 07:26:21 +0000 Smurfette 250429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think a family fun day idea would be good. Passes to the zoo, aquarium, movies, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-gifts-for-family#post-250427 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 07:26:04 +0000 Foodnerd81 250427@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In my family we do a secret Santa, we each get one person and spend about $50 on that one gift (of siblings, parents and babies are separate). Then we spoil our two nephews, but as more kids enter the equation I could see making it kids only. I think that's a good compromise, since it gets so hard to shop for adults anyway! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-gifts-for-family#post-250411 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 06:59:00 +0000 heffalump 250411@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think themed gift baskets are always fun.... and a lot of things to fill them can be found at the dollar store! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-gifts-for-family#post-250382 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 04:08:40 +0000 regberadaisy 250382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've been talking about only doing gifts for kids on my side of the family forever. I think this year might be the year we actually implement it. I would just spend all your budget on your nephew.<br /> If anything I would go for personalized, unique items. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-gifts-for-family#post-250368 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 03:20:56 +0000 looch 250368@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do a gift exchange with my husband's family where everyone picks a name and you buy for them. I am trying to get them to shift to couples instead of individuals and all get something for the grandmothers so they don't have to buy, but they're not biting. I like the idea of gifts for kids, but half don't have kids in my family yet, so it is tough.</p> <p>We give experiences instead of gifts, maybe this can give you some ideas...bodyflying sessions, tickets to see an ice show, weekend at a bed and breakfast. Another option is movie basket, where you get some DVDs and gourmet popcorn and flavorings and put it in a basket. I'd love to get that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-gifts-for-family#post-250357 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 02:02:14 +0000 brownie 250357@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: I don't think it's a bad idea to tell them so they can choose what to do. It works for our family (granted, one sister has 4 kids already and want a half dozen more). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-gifts-for-family#post-250353 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 01:55:06 +0000 mediagirl 250353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: that's a really good idea. Do you think I should mention something to them along those lines? We really don't need anything but I will always love seeing our daughter get gifts. That will be our gift, seeing her open gifts from her aunt and uncle. :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-gifts-for-family#post-250351 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 01:46:05 +0000 brownie 250351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a rule in our family, that we only buy things for the kids at holidays (if there are kids if there aren't then we get adults things). It helps to keep the price tag down and the kids really would miss a gift. I know I love to see my baby happy and if he gets a gift it is good for me too. If you did that, you probably could purchase something that is more their taste. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-gifts-for-family#post-250350 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 01:45:52 +0000 SAHM0811 250350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe something along the lines of... one-time tickets to the zoo, museum or aquarium for the whole family. Or... movie tickets (or a few months of Netflix) for the parents and some books/puzzles for the nephew. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-gifts-for-family#post-250346 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 01:37:26 +0000 mediagirl 250346@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For Christmas this year, my brother, sil and one year old nephew will be celebrating Christmas with my husband, my parents and me. We're on a pretty tight budget with daycare starting this year. I would like to plan early for gifts knowing we can't spend a lot. </p> <p>My brother's family is wealthy and don't need a lot. They buy only organic foods/clothes/toys when they can. Our problem with shopping for them is they have expensive tastes. How do you buy gifts for someone like that when you don't have the money to buy the things they enjoy? What type of gifts do you give in a situation like this? Our budget: $100 tops for my brother, sil and nephew total. </p>