The family count on my side is as follows:
parents - 2
siblings - 4
spouses of siblings - 3
nieces - 2
nephews - 5
For a grand total of 16. Assuming we could keep the average gift cost to $10, there wouldn't be a problem. $160 and everybody gets a present to unwrap Christmas morning. Alas, what are the odds you'd be able to find that perfect gift for everyone on your list for $10 or less? Answer: Not good. Realistically, the price per person hovers around the $50-$75 mark, with more being spent on mom and dad. Conclusion: the cost of Christmas is becoming a little ridiculous.
So, I recently started a discussion on how to revamp our current buy-everyone-a-gift strategy for next year's holiday. My idea, have the kids draw names and buy for each other. As I see it, this accomplishes two things (at least) - 1. reduces the cost and B) makes Christmas shopping easier for the buyer. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get the correct sizing for six kids and to remember what you've given in the past to avoid duplication?
I was given a myriad of reasons why this idea sucked. What's worse, the family seems split with some members supporting the gift exchange and others vehemently opposed. The conversation has been put on the shelf for a while but it will inevitably come back up. Options presented include having the adults draw names, buying for one sibling's entire family, buying for the sibling you live closest to (this option reduces the shipping and handling costs), cease buying Christmas gifts for the kids since they get a boatload of presents from grandma, grandpa, Santa, and their parents already. No solution offered seemed to please everyone. Has anyone else in blogland dealt with the increasing cost of Christmas? If so, what was the solution and how is it working?
5 comments:
I have three siblings - all who are married - and all have two kids. We buy for all the kids, but draw names for the adults. So, instead of buying for six adults - we have to buy for two. I still get something for mom and dad. And the kids? I try to keep it at 15-20 dollars each. It's easy for the ones under 7, but not so easy for the 16 and 13 year olds. (I think I spend about $40 for each of them.) I start shopping early, especially for the toys - you can get some good stuff on sale. My sister decided once the kids turn 18 they no longer get gifts from everyone, but are included in the grab bag - fine with me - hers are the first to come of age. The year we had Quinn someone suggested we stop buying for the kids and I was a little upset, because I'd spent the last 14 years buying for everyone else's kids and NOW they want to stop?
Every year my brother-in-law complains that we shouldn't buy anything at all and we should just go help out somewhere. Nice thought, but we all like presents - the wrapping, the shopping, it's fun! So every year his gift ends up being a donation to some charity.
I like the charity donation idea. My friend got me a share of a llama last year for Heifer International and I liked it so much I stole the idea and got a flock of geese, some chicks, and bunnies for people I still had on my shopping list.
Another friend hinted this year really liking consumable gifts so I'm looking at ordering her a smoked turkey (it was on Oprah's Favorite Things list a few years ago).
I suggest buying just one gift for each of the siblings and their families. This means getting a gift that everyone can enjoy, which in my mind, usually means something edible. Interesting food items don't have to cost that much.
That is a great idea. Harry & David here I come!
Erm, if you're like us, there's nothing like getting foodstuffs that your doctor would frown at (chocolate, cheese, rum ball cookies, greasy tubular blodges of mysterious [yet spicy] meatstuff). Unless there's some compelling reason to go with the H&D healthy approach, I think Dean & DeLuca, Greenberg Smoked Turkey (gobblegobble.com), Godiva, or other purveyors of carcinogen-laden animal byproducts are the way to go.
You guys are from Portland, so even the smoked fish route (smoke = carcinogens, fish = animal; Hey! BINGO!) is thoughtfully representative.
That's my two cents worth. Now where did I leave my Lipitor?
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