Giftmas question for 20somethings and 30somethings

[Guest]

Hi, you don't know me and I don't know you so that's why I want your opinion. Thank you so much for clicking on this thread and taking the time to answer.

 

If you could magically tell your 50-80 year old parent without worrying about hurting their feelings, would you genuinely appreciate and enjoy the gift of a hardback paper book, either a particularly meaningful one from your childhood or something that your parent had recently read that reminded them of you and what is special about you as an individual or your relationship with your parent? Would you rather have an Amazon gift card so you could download a book of your own choice to your eye pad? If you didn't have to worry about your parent's feelings, would you actually prefer a check or a $50 bill or a PayPal payment or whatever the bleep you young whippersnappers do instead of slipping checks and dollar bills into greeting cards?

 

TIA and get off my lawn. ;)

Edited December 11, 2016 by Guest

[AK_Mom4]

Amazon gift card, say my kids.  they read mostly on their tablets these days.

 

Unless the meaningful Hardcover is a cookbook, in which case a real book is better.

[alisoncooks]

Well, I love getting books....but I usually have pretty specific ideas about which ones I want.

Amazon gift cards are very useful.  Money is always in style.

 

I'm a 30-something (albeit an older 30-something) but my parents generally give us kiddos a check for Christmas.  (With smaller, inexpensive items to open for fun.)

[JudoMom]

I'm a barely out of my thirties forty something, but the answer has been the same throughout my 20s and 30s. I'd want cash or an Amazon card.

 

I love a good hardcopy book, but I've got specific titles I'd love to get.

[Heatherwith4]

I would say an Amazon gift card, so I can pick out what I want. I go shopping with my mom on Black Friday each year, and I drop her a few hints for things to get me. That way my parents get me one thing to open and they give me money for the rest. :)

[Hyacinth]

Can I get both?

I love the idea of a meaningful gift, and your description of a book that sparked a special memory or had some kind of personal connection between the giver and me is lovely. But I'm also super practical and have an Amazon wish list a mile long.

Greedy, I know.

[heartlikealion]

If you really want to pass along this book that is meaningful, it doesn't need to be done at Christmas. I mean, it can, but I don't know that I'd wrap it up and say it's their Christmas gift.

 

My parents usually give us cash at Christmas. We do a lot of Amazon gift card exchanges among family members year-round so it's kind of a boring, predictable yet still appreciated gift lol.

[regentrude]

If it is a book they think I would enjoy: book would have been great. 

I would have enjoyed the gift card if I were too poor to buy the books I like for myself. I didn't like receiving money gifts after I was a teen and am grateful that my parents always had nice, personal ideas for gifts I really enjoyed.

 

If it is a book that is "meaningful" to them, I'd pass - because that means I would feel obliged to keep this book forever because it was "meaningful" to my parent. I don't do sentimental.

Edited December 11, 2016 by regentrude

[LMD]

I'm 32 and I'd much prefer the book. But, I am the kind of person who will almost always pick the book option in any circumstance... if your 20-30 something isn't much of a reader then I'd keep looking. The best gifts from my parents are nice things they think I'll like but that I would never set money aside for - like a lovely shawl, perfume etc.

[Guest]

Thank you guys soooooo much and I hope I can return the favour if any of you ever get stuck on gift ideas for someone of my own generation. :)

[Xahm]

As a thirty year old, I'd say the book unless I'm short on cash. I buy the things I need when I need them. A gift that someone has thought about feels more meaningful to me.