Holiday

[Bettyanne]

@Mom2Dogs 

I hear you   loud and clear. 

[CANDLEQUEEN]

We usually give our youngest Daughter and her husband a gift card to a restaurant, they love to go out to eat, but don't do it that often, so they really apprecaite it.

My oldest daughter is divorced, so she likes a nice perfume or a gift card for a massage or facial..

We also buy for our 3 grandchildren, so we don't spend as much on our adult children as we used to.

[Mom2Dogs]

I replied earlier but was thinking about spending.  One of my stepdaughters makes a great income, her sister struggles.  We would like to cut back on Christmas, especially with the 2 older daughters but since one has such a low income, we don't feel comfortable doing that...she looks forward to that cash each December.

 We will be having a new great grandbaby (shortly after Christmas) and will have to increase our overall budget to add the baby next year...and possibly the father of the baby...if he is in the picture.

Not sure how we can now reduce the spending budget.

[stevieb]

@Bettyanne  Were it me, I'd consider one thoughtful and nicer gift of your choosing and a gift card of some type to a store, eatery or other venue you know they'd like. It's sort of a middle ground, not going overboard but not relying solely on the easy way out either.  And please, no donations in their names. Let people make their own choices about charities.

[Trailrun23]

All of our kids are grown and wealthy....they could buy us out easily! A few years ago we had everyone select their favorite charity.  We give a gift to the designated charity and they receive a card from the non-profit telling them a gift was made in their honor. The card does not stte the amount of the gift, so if you are on a budget it is helpful. Everyone enjoys doing this and sometimes we designate a different charity when we gather at Thanksgiving....this year I am sure we will be giving to one of the organizations helping the hurricane victims in NC. Even one of my little grands asked if we would send money to the zoo to help the tigers....so we did and they send her a plush tiger and a thank-you note. We still buy gifts for the grandkids.

[JeanLouiseFinch]

I ask everyone for a wishlist.  If I can get something from it, great.  If I can't, I'll either try to guess at something or settle for a Visa or Amazon gift card.  Then everyone gets a gadget or something unexpected that I saw on QVC or HSN for their home.

[FiddleDeeDee]

@Bettyanne All but one is on their own or away at college so it's a little something for fun and an expense that makes things easier on them (utility, car maintenance, something for their condo, etc). 

[AuntG]

Money, with a request that they tell me what I bought them!

[Wobin]

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@Mom2Dogs wrote:

I replied earlier but was thinking about spending.  One of my stepdaughters makes a great income, her sister struggles.  We would like to cut back on Christmas, especially with the 2 older daughters but since one has such a low income, we don't feel comfortable doing that...she looks forward to that cash each December.

 We will be having a new great grandbaby (shortly after Christmas) and will have to increase our overall budget to add the baby next year...and possibly the father of the baby...if he is in the picture.

Not sure how we can now reduce the spending budget.

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That is a challenge to reduce your gift budget with a new baby coming.  Perhaps consider only giving gifts to children and not adults.  Is there another way you can help the daughter that doesn't earn as much?

[SouthernBee]

@Mom2Dogs : I have a SIL that struggles. She helps us with doctor appointments and other things. I really " listen" when she talks. I keep a list of her preferred groceries and household necessities. We surprise her with grocery delivery from Walmart and Sam' s Club and gas cards. DH gives his sister, cash for her birthday and Christmas.