Nakia Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 (edited) I am thread-happy today, I guess. We buy for : our three girls my parents Patrick's father my two nephews my step-grandmother my daughter's horseback riding instructor Patrick and I take each other shopping for something we really want. For him this year, it is a new fishing pole/reel. I want a new camera bag. So I guess that is 12 altogether. Since I am not exchanging gifts with my siblings this year, I bought each of them a portrait of my girls (I am a photographer so I just had to pay for prints). Our Christmas list is short, and I like it that way!! Edited December 13, 2009 by Nakia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Our 4 kids My mom, my stepmother, my sister, my half-sister Each other (2) Total: 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenneinCA Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 The three children, my husband, my parents, and my niece and nephew. We also are doing teacher gifts for the piano teacher x2 and the recorder teacher. (My husband's parents have died or they would be getting gifts too.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 I buy for our 5 boys, my parents, and my dh. Sometimes dh buys for his parents, but I don't really get involved there. So I guess that's 8 total. However, in buying for the boys, I'm buying gifts from us to them, from my parents to them, from dh's parents to them, and from my brother to them. I like it that way, though, because we live away from everyone so they don't really know what the guys like/need/want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristusG Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Of course my husband and our two kids my parents my two sisters my sisters boyfriend DH's dad and stepmom DH's mom DH's sister and her husband our 3 nephews my paternal grandmother my maternal grandparents my aunt/uncles (2 sets) get something small my cousins - 3 of them DH's cousins (only 3 of them, they are good friends with my girls) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 DH and I for each other 3 nieces/nephews music teachers brothers and SIL's parents and step-parents DH's colleagues (small group of them) small homemade gifts for close neighbors DH does not exchange with his sibs and their kids (thank goodness!) because they live a distance and we don't see them at Christmas, or much at all any other time. We do an end-of year gift for Sunday School teachers of the kids, but not at Christmas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prudent Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Our two kids. Usually we also buy for my parents and DH's mother, but we're not this year. Christmas is very easy for us :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritAnnia Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 My parents, usually a small individual gift (2) Dh's parents usually get a joint gift (2) or should that be (1..?) Dh's Grandma gets a token gift, she loooooooves junk and knicknacks so she's easy to buy for! (1) Our 3 teenagers (3) I buy for Dh from my gift budget (as well as those noted above) (1) He buys for me from his own budget, shall I count him here? (1) Total: 10 If I have any professional photo's they get sent out according to how many I have to give. Grandparents are top of the list, then Dh's aunts/uncles, then my siblings, etc. I don't think of those as gifts and we rarely have the kids photographs taken professionally anyway. If we have something to give to extended family we do so at the Christmas gathering. One year I had tried my hand at candle making, another year the kids and I made a lot of different cookies, and a couple of years ago Dh transferred a video'd interview of his Grandfather onto dvd's for all his aunts and cousins. Best gift ever! More often than not we don't give anything. I did send two of my friends a small gift each this year. I didn't count them because I don't usually exchange gifts with friends and don't plan to do so in future, however I just taught myself to knit and needed a couple of victims to pawn my efforts onto. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cera Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 too many... 2 sets of grandparents, 3 sets of parents, 3 siblings, our kids, each other I don't really see the point in exchanging gifts with the siblings and their spouses as it is always gift cards of equal amount (and I have to run around to get them). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Most years our 2 children husband his parents my parents my brother's family (kids only) my sister's family (kids only) husband's aide 4 Angel Tree kids This year by prior agreement our 2 children husband's aide 4 Angel Tree kids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Our list: 4 kids Dh My parents My 5 siblings and their spouses 8 nieces and nephews Aunt/uncle on dad's side (Dad has 3 siblings. I only buy for 1.) Aunt/uncle on mom's side (this is a hostess gift. My mom has 5 siblings and they rotate Christmas each year. I only buy a hostess gift for the person throwing the party.) One Great aunt who is my favorite and I love to remember her. Karate instructor Piano Teacher Then, I make small gifts for WAY too many people at our church (dh is the priest). I usually make fudge or toffee. This includes: Sunday School teachers Altar Guild Acolytes Vestry members Plus about 20 leaders of the church who lead the different organizations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest janainaz Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 We buy for all the kids in the family - not so much older kids (like older than 18). If we can afford it, we'll buy gift cards for them. It just depends on the year. There are so many of us, we just can't. I think it's crazy to rack your brain trying to figure out what to buy for someone and end up buying gift cards. In the end it seems everyone should just enjoy each other and keep their own money! It's crazy. I figured out that we really can't afford to buy our BIL and SIL a $50 gift, but we used to in the past. They would get us a gift card somewhere like Home Depot, but really we'd have been better off just to cancel the gift-buying and pay bills. It's non-sensical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lgm Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 immediate family parents on dh's side: niece/nephews that are full time students or younger a long time close friend school toy drive toys 4 tots fudge or peanut brittle or something small and thoughtful for the musical instrument instructors and an ass't scoutmaster or two food for community Christmas basket food drive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amyable Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 My husband Our 5 kids My mom My dad My MIL My brother's family of 4 BIL's family of 5 SIL's family of 5 SIL's family of 6 The occasional teacher, coach, etc...but none this year I usually exchange something small with a few friends We used to get individual gifts for all those "family of's" up there, but now we just get one family gift, usually some kind of game or entertainment (Wii stuff this year) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emmy Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 our 4 - well, er, I guess 6 kids (we are buying for the babies assuming they will be here) my parents my grandmother my 2 nieces dh and myself will buy for each other Small list. My dh's siblings have dropped out one by one from gift giving. Last year my brother requested that we stop doing adult exchange and this year My dh's parents requested that we not exchange gifts (they don't plan to buy for our children either). So it's not too big a group - which is fine because buying for 4/6 kids is a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 A lot: 8 kids 2 grandkids 2 SIL My brother My MIL My FIL My step children's grandparents and my hubby It's no wonder we need to reduce the amount of gifts given. :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMW Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 This year I have only asked dh to pay for sending packages to relatives and not buy for me... I ordered him a photo book to take with him on trips out of town with pages of me, the children and him out enjoying his hobby... boating and fishing... he has no idea... We bought for our 9 kids at home We bought for our grandson, though very small gift (the boy is saturated with toys and gifts) We bought for nieces and nephews, but small gifts... like holiday pencils, erasers, cute holiday straws, bibs for babies, little toys, etc. I made microwave heating pads for all parents and siblings and grown nieces... and my kids insisted on me making one for each of them, but that was last month when I made all of them! I ordered a poster, professionally printed from Creative Memories with a poem I wrote to honor my dad's life with his photo (he is still with us and in sound mind, I wanted him to see my love before he passes on). I had to mail boxes to family... and I haven't done that in the past, but when my niece died suddenly last year, I decided I would do this, even if it's just small things or homemade gifts... I want my family to know I care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 our 4 - well, er, I guess 6 kids (we are buying for the babies assuming they will be here). How are you doing? I think about you often!! I'm so jealous that you get twins!!! I desperately wanted twins with each of my pregnancies!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutor Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 (edited) dh 4 kids my parents dh's parents my grandparents* my sister, bil, and nephew my aunt & cousin* my aunt & uncle* dh's 2 brothers daycare parents* & two daycare kids so that's 19 gifts, 24 people(couples with an * are a single gift); the majority of the adult family gifts are a calendar for the couple (plus something else small for each of our parents and my sister and bil) and photos of the kids - I take all the pictures for the calendar and the kids' pictures, so I pay to print & ship them plus we bake cookies for the mailman, UPS man, landlord, and various coaches if they are in a sport around Christmas time Edited December 14, 2009 by Tutor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peachskittles Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 My 3 sons at home are at the top of the list...My SO is next...If we have any money, then we will buy for our 3 nephews, my SO's parents and brother and my 2 sisters...Usually it doesn't make it past the people residing in our house though...We've had a few bad years and we are slowly digging our way back out this year...Eventually I'd love to get everyone something but I love Christmas (or is that I love an excuse to spend money?)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfunnybunch Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 Hmmm.... My mom, her husband, dad, MIL, grandfather: 5 Our children: 5 Each other:2 My sister's family (8 kids): 10 My other sister and her boyfriend: 2 Our Japanese student, plus small made-in-Oregon gifts for her family since her father is coming the day after Christmas: 4 So shopping for 28 this year. Plus the small/extra gifts... Teachers: 3 Small gifts for my girlfriends: 4 We make up a small stocking for any extras who trickle to our house on Christmas Day. This year, our dd's boyfriend and our Japanese student's friend: 2 The children make gifts for friends: 6-8 Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaT Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 I'm afraid to start listing because our list is WAY too long. Extended family will not end the gift exchange and dh is the worst. dh and I for each other my 6 kids my 2 about to be daughter-in-laws my mother dh's mother my 2 sisters my bil my dh's 2 siblings and their spouses dh's great aunt and uncle 21 nieces and nephews 9 great nieces and nephews 7 coach/dance teacher/guitar teacher gifts That is 58 gifts. No wonder I am a grinch around Christmas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 Hubby Daughter Son Mum Dad Aunt Brother Brother's girlfriend Nan Young cousin Dh's niece Dh's nephew Dc's godmum Small token to my great uncle, great aunt and dh's parents. Photos to my aunt, baked goods to the others. That would be 16 Usually my sister, but she moved to Kenya and is broke. I'm pretty well broke too so we agreed not to exchange presents this year. Usually dc's godfather, but he's not coming for Christmas and has hardly spoken to us all year, so I'll probably just send a card. Hopefully he feels more communicative next year, but he's an Aspie so we never know and I try not to take it personally. I'm glad the days are gone of buying for *all* the cousins, aunts and uncles. As a child, my Christmas list was about 30! That's a lot of "best drawings," iced biscuits and pocket money spent on terribly expensive trinkets :) Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petepie2 Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 For people 'at home' in NC: 1. us and our three kids 2. one couple who is very close to us and for their two kids 3. one special lady at church who is always tending to our children while I participate in the music ministry and my husband runs the soundboard. I also bake treats for 9 different families in our church. For family 'out of state', it depends which family (mine or dh's) we visit.......we usually buy for nieces/nephews that we will be visiting....we alternate each year... For this year: My mother My father and stepmother (1 gift together) My 5 nieces/nephews My sister We also always buy a gift for my MIL, regardless of whether or not we're visiting her at Christmas. So, outside of our immediate family, this year we bought 13 gifts, plus I'm making treats for some church families... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 It used to be 30 people until I stopped the madness as it grew to 40. Some people weren't happy until I finally made them realize, that if I bought for one sibling...there were 12 others (not including their spouces-between dh and I), and while we do still exchange with 2 nieces, If I bought for all of my nieces/nephews...it would be another 15 kids for us. At that time we still had 7 living grandparents, and 5 great nieces/nephews too. Before our most immediate family we had 39 people to consider.....:confused:. Now it is 2 grand mothers 1 grand father 2 nieces our 3 kids dh and I. Grand total of 10 :0) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keptwoman Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 Our kids 3 Parents/Grandparents 5 Nephews and Neices 12 My brother 1 Friends kids (we spend Christmas with them) 2 So total: 23 I make as many as possible. This year I've made 14 gifts. Fortunately once our siblings have kids we only buy for the kids or the number would be really awful and we all agreed many years ago to a small budget for the kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippen Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 3 kids 3 grandparents Toys for Tots Music teacher who is giving dd lessons for free is getting 3 jars of jelly/jam/apple butter that she made Usually I made a nice dinner for our elementary school teachers for them to take home to their families the last day of school before vacation. Since I'm that teacher this year, I think we'll order carry-out pizza tonight. ;) Some years back I did away with exchanging with out of state relatives, as well as a SIL that we were exchanging gift cards with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dayle in Guatemala Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 Our 3 kids. Maybe a white elephant gift or two for a Christmas party, but, that's it. Both our families and ourselves decided about 4 years ago to make it really simple on ourselves and stop giving to everyone. Before that we had decided to make it easier by drawing names for the adults and limiting the amount we could spend on the children. If we lived near family, we might still buy for nieces and nephews, but, we don't. They don't buy for our dc either. DH and I don't buy for each other--usually--because our birthdays are right at Christmas (mine is the 23rd and his is the 30th) and then with Christmas thrown in it just seems like too much. So, we wait until Valentine's Day and do something really special for each other then. It works best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetTN Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 No parents or grandparents to buy for so our list is pretty short. We just buy for our children and grandchildren and bake up goodie baskets for friends we are close to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katemary63 Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 This year: 4 children DS's girlfriend of 3 years DH's parents My mom 3 nieces & 1 nephew (because we spend Xmas eve with them, other neices and nephews don't get gifts) For the last 24 years: Our kids DH's parents My mom My little brother 4 sibling families (8 parents and up to 8 kids!) DH's employees (4) 3 close couples We've cut way back this year. One thing we've always done is once nieces and nephews have kids, we stop buying for them and buy for the kids only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherry in OH Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 our children - 2 nephews and nieces - 4 my grandmother my parents (joint gift) husband's mother SIL* BIL* daycare teachers and aides - 6 Husband and I also exchange gifts, so 20 plus homemade cookies and candy for neighbors and friends. * The adults in husband's family draws names. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 The three of us, my parents and grandmother, dh's mom, dad, step-dad and grandmother and my brother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendi Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 There are only three of us (dh, ds, and me). But we also buy for: dh's mom my mom dh's brother dh's sister, brother-in-law, and two nieces my brother, sister-in-law, and four nephews Wendi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riverfront Headmistress Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 My kids (2), our current exchange student, and family gifts for a past exchange student - in addition, we bake bread for others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tree House Academy Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 My 2 kids My mother Dh's mom and step-dad Dh's adult cousin and his wife Dh's teenage cousin and her foster sister Dh and I do not exchange gifts. We buy what we want when we want it and we reserve Christmas for the kids. That is all. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnitaMcC Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 Dh and me (we sometimes exchange a gift but otherwise just gifts from the kids when they are young) our 7 kids (three are niece and nephews who we raised for last 12 years) my mom (lives with us) our very very good friend who is part of our family since before the kids were born. niece's boyfriend (almost fiance) my sister (she lives in a nursing home so I get her things she needs and something that she would like) Dh's parents My dad/stepmom Rest of family, we don't exchange gifts.... I am one of 8 kids (have 13 nieces/nephews), Dh is one of 5 kids (6 nieces/nephews). And all but the ones living with us and my sister... live hundreds of miles away so shipping costs are out of this world. Of nieces and nephews... we give to niece/nephews we raised as our own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty in Pink Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 We buy for: our kids (4) one another (2) Sometimes a few extended family members, if we are staying with anybody over the Christmas holiday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lcelmer Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 "Big" gifts: 4 siblings 1 inlaw 2 neices 2 parents 3 children 1 husband "Small" gifts 4 friends Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragons in the flower bed Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 I buy for: my partner my partner's 24yo and his wife our 12yo, 9yo, 6yo and 4yo my 11yo sister my grandmother a 12yo cousin my best friend and her partner This amounts to anyone I see or speak to at least 3x a week, and anyone I see at Thanksgiving who is under 15. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coleroo Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 :) In a "normal year" I buy for My husband & Son Mom & Dad 2 of my Aunts on mom's side My 2 nephews & niece My husband's brother / SIL My husband's sister / BIL My husband's father & his wife My husband's mother & her husband My husband's birth mom A close friend of my husband's family ("Aunt Bev") The 3 people we drew names for in my husband's dad's family (My husband's family lives over 800 miles away and we only see them a few times a year so the gifting, in our opinion, helps keep our relationships strong and shows them how much we still care about them even when absent) We sometimes draw names for my mom's side (which is huge!). She has 8 other brothers & sisters all of whom have kids and grands - and they ALL live within 50 miles of us. We're very close and see them often...the expectation of everyone giving gifts to everyone in mom's family flew out the window about 20 years ago. haha In the years I was working, I also would give a favorite boss a gift and a few of my co-workers gifts. In more prosperous years :) I'll also throw in gifts for aunts, uncles, & little cousins on mom's side. I think the most we've spent is $700 total for christmas. Normal years are about $300. This year we probably won't do more than $150. (Amounts are for ALL gifts, including my husband and son). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesertDweller Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 our two children my mom & stepdad my grandmother dh's dad & stepmom dh's mom piano teacher co-op teacher dd's best friend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momtolgd Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 DH and I buy for: Our 3 kids, and we usually give money to my 22yo step son Each other DH's parents My parents My brother and sister-in-law My 2 nieces and 1 nephew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammyla Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 dd ds dh mil & fil my parents my 2 sisters and their families sil's family Family dh's office sponsors, this year it was a mom, 7 yob, 9yob, & 3 yog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irene Lynn Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 This year is bigger than usual for us. We buy something very little for my parents and for dh's parents. (somtimes theirs is bigger.) We buy for our 2 children. (Sometimes we get something for my neice, too.) This year we also have our exchange student and another girl from Malaysia, who is spending her college break with us. We also have invited 3 single ladies, who don't have family with which to celebrate. Things are tight for all three of them, so we try to bless them, too. We are spending less on each person, but are spreading it around more. I am really excited about this Christmas. We will have 5 people who don't have their own family, so we will be our own big family without all the historical dysfunction. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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