Author Topic: Christmas Shopping (Read 4205 times)

Devonai · « **on:** December 02, 2015, 06:38:57 AM »

Every year it gets harder to find gifts for my family. What are some neat sub-$50 gifts that you've given that were well received? All of my family members are adults.

Scout26 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 02, 2015, 07:46:05 AM »

Gift cards

wmenorr67 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 02, 2015, 08:09:16 AM »

Are they into hobbies?

Devonai · « **Reply #3 on:** December 02, 2015, 08:16:38 AM »

My dad was the chaplain of the Maine State Prison for 18 years, now he does mostly volunteer work in NH. He likes music but he usually sends out a list of albums he wants for Christmas. My mom likes birds. My sister has a popular Christian-themed blog and is an aspiring writer; I'll probably have little trouble finding her a book she'll like.

I was hoping for some ideas for neat gizmos or stocking suffers that other members have given with success.

wmenorr67 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 02, 2015, 08:19:38 AM »

I always have success with things that are related to their hobbies and/or other interest.

KD5NRH · « **Reply #5 on:** December 02, 2015, 10:45:25 AM »

Ammo

You could always go for the BATFE special: bottle of bourbon, pack of Lucky Strikes, box of ammo and some Tannerite.

HeroHog · « **Reply #6 on:** December 02, 2015, 11:04:51 AM »

For the tech/internet savvy, Amazon.com gift certificates work for my family and friends.

sanglant · « **Reply #7 on:** December 02, 2015, 11:05:29 AM »

http://smile.amazon.com/SLINGER-Mason-Shot-Glasses-Lids/dp/B00J8WTTH6
http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0026T3T9C

Just a few ideas.

never_retreat · « **Reply #8 on:** December 02, 2015, 12:31:53 PM »

Quote from: Devonai on December 02, 2015, 08:16:38 AM

and is an aspiring writer; I'll probably have little trouble finding her a book she'll like.

How about a ream of paper?

K Frame · « **Reply #9 on:** December 02, 2015, 12:34:42 PM »

I got my Mom a Duluth Trading Shirtjac. She's always cold, no matter how frigging hot it is (thank you, blood thinners), so it's a gift that she can use pretty much year round.

Everyone else? Beats the hell out of me.

KD5NRH · « **Reply #10 on:** December 02, 2015, 02:50:33 PM »

Quote from: sanglant on December 02, 2015, 11:05:29 AM

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0026T3T9C

The natural color beehive variants have the advantage of looking a lot less like a really long flaming green turd.

drooby · « **Reply #11 on:** December 03, 2015, 09:54:59 AM »

Usually something based around their hobbies.

The wife and I love working out, so we usually buy each other fitness related items.
My in-laws have a thing for beekeeping, so we buy them bee things... and so on

Scout26 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 03, 2015, 10:01:12 AM »

Quote from: KD5NRH on December 02, 2015, 02:50:33 PM

The natural color beehive variants have the advantage of looking a lot less like a really long flaming green turd.

But you get 32extra hours of burn time for only $4.70. That's a good deal.

Scout26 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 03, 2015, 10:05:45 AM »

My mom -Target gift card
My sister- Target gift card
My married neice with a two year old son-Target gift card
My 19 year college sophomore neice-Target gift card

Purchased via Scrip and my son gets a percentage of the price donated to his Boy Scout account.

Win-win-win.

lee n. field · « **Reply #14 on:** December 03, 2015, 10:28:26 AM »

Quote from: HeroHog on December 02, 2015, 11:04:51 AM

For the tech/internet savvy, Amazon.com gift certificates work for my family and friends.

That's what I did last year, that's what I'll do this year. I hate Christmas shopping.

41magsnub · « **Reply #15 on:** December 03, 2015, 10:31:18 AM »

All done - big fancy chocolates for Mom, smaller fancy chocolates for the girlfriend, xbox game for her son, gift card for little brother. 7 minutes on Amazon from start to finish.

makattak · « **Reply #16 on:** December 03, 2015, 10:33:37 AM »

Encourage them to set up an Amazon wishlist?

drooby · « **Reply #17 on:** December 03, 2015, 10:58:38 AM »

Quote from: makattak on December 03, 2015, 10:33:37 AM

Encourage them to set up an Amazon wishlist?

we set up a wishlist for our daughter this year and sent it out to grandparents. the only issue was that it didn't remove gifts from the list when someone purchased it.

AJ Dual · « **Reply #18 on:** December 03, 2015, 01:17:07 PM »

Countycomm is good for small carry gadgets, keychain tools, survival/safety stuff, flashlights, especially if you buy them in bulk.

Marnoot · « **Reply #19 on:** December 03, 2015, 03:03:49 PM »

Quote from: AJ Dual on December 03, 2015, 01:17:07 PM

Countycomm is good for small carry gadgets, keychain tools, survival/safety stuff, flashlights, especially if you buy them in bulk.

Yep, bulk is best for Countycomm. Their shipping rates lean unreasonable for small single items.

MechAg94 · « **Reply #20 on:** December 03, 2015, 03:09:16 PM »

Thinkgeek.com has some Star Trek transporter pad coasters.

BlueStarLizzard · « **Reply #21 on:** December 03, 2015, 03:27:02 PM »

Booze.

Yep, we just get them all booze. Sometimes the ladies get some flowers, too. Last year, there were funny hats.

Pick a theme, do a variation. Everyone basically gets the same thing. Funny is good.

Doing really specific shopping should just be for kids and your closest two or three people. Everyone else just gets whatever they get.

RoadKingLarry · « **Reply #22 on:** December 03, 2015, 03:58:09 PM »

Bah, humbug...

I let the wife spoil the hell out of the grandkids, that's her Christmas present. The kids, we hand them a check.

I've been married to this woman for 33 years, we've known each other for damn near 40, she buys me gifts like she just met me yesterday, kids are the same way, so several years ago I started pushing a "Christmas is for kids, buy them stuff" mantra so I wouldn't have to pretend to like seriously WTF presents.

The only real shopping I do is for the wife's heart attack anniversary present. 2006 she had a heart attack on Dec. 15th, had to have a double bypass and spent 10 days in the hospital. I got to take her home on Christmas day that year. So every year on the anniversary of her surgery I give her a modestly priced ($150-$200 range) piece of jewelry with a heart motif. I call it her "thanks for not dying on me" present.

I did get a little wild and crazy this year though. I've got an 18 year old niece that is hard into photography and she has done some really nice stuff with a worn out POS point and shoot camera. Her camera recently went TU and her mother, my wife's sister, has been out of work and while they are getting by OK they have no room for a serious camera. While doing a little shopping around I found a smoking hot black Friday deal at Canon-USA on a refurb Canon T5 with 2 lenses, $233 shipped. The niece is getting a camera for Christmas.

[/humbug]

Boomhauer · « **Reply #23 on:** December 03, 2015, 05:36:53 PM »

I prefer to hand craft for gifts for people I really care about. My girlfriend doesn't know it yet but she's getting a Texas flag on a wooden sign for her birthday and a handcrafted steel rose for Christmas.

BlueStarLizzard · « **Reply #24 on:** December 03, 2015, 11:18:35 PM »

too bad you don't have someone as easy as me to shop for.

Dad is getting me an XDS in .45...

(sorry, I had to brag. He showed me the receipt and it'll come in next week *happy dance*)

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Author Topic: Christmas Shopping (Read 4205 times)