I wish my families would go to the "just for kids" model, but both my parents and my wife's parents seem to enjoy getting gifts for everyone. What can ya do?

My money's spread tighter than a gnats butt around a 55 gallon oil drum.

I'll buy for everyone, but lately it's become a mass exchange of gift cards.

Some people tend to buy what they need or want throughout the year, so it's hard to shop for them, and they'll either ask for money or stuff that's out of everyone's budget; so they get money or gift cards.

Others are pretty low maintenance and/or only have one big interest, so they end up getting the same thing from 10 different people, or gift cards.

And some people are teenage girls, who don't like anything they can't try on first, so they get gift cards.

I think next year we're having Christmas around an ATM.

Already told the kids it wasn't going to be a big Christmas. My wife and I were talking about it the other night and concluded that there really isn't anything out there that we need or especially want.

it starts out w/just getting stuff for the kids and grandkids. then wth...throw something in for brothers and sisters. then their spouses. parents. old couple down the road. f@ckin mailman. school bus driver(even though we have no kids in school anymore)....
probably the same as every year, but the wife does the shopping. i'm getting both her and the daughter a pair of mens size 9 sandals each. that way maybe they'll quit using mine and i can find them when i need them, or wear theirs.

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That's when you're to the point where you shouldn't even be exchanging gifts, because IMO gift cards aren't "gifts". You're basically giving them money, but telling them where to spend it, not to mention you have to still go out and purchase them. And if it's all just a big money exchange, everyone should just go out and buy something for themselves and save all the trouble.

I agree... I guess people like the idea of giving gift cards because you can at least act like there's a personal touch. "Oh, I knew you would like a gift card from Best Buy!"...yeah, just like the other 300 million people in America. :spock:

i get a lot of gift cards to book stores. i'm glad to get them, instead of getting a book picked out for me.
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Was that a hint?

well, they just said that getting a gift card wasn't very personable.

i'm saying i don't need my daughter-in-law picking out my porn for me.
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I got a "Christmas card" from my newspaper delivery person that included a return envelope. I may start doing that with all of my Christmas cards too, to see if my friends will send me money.

NICE!!! ROFL

just fill that envelope w/a bunch of cupons that come in your newspaper.
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That's an excellent idea. Those things are just like cash at the grocery store. Plus I know that they won't be spent on booze and drugs, which frankly is a little bit of a concern when your paper boy is 50 years old.

Kids and of course Grammy because well, she's just so generous every year to my kid.