The Melting Pot Gift Card.
It was one of my best dining experiences with my family.
Hits here…in the past…
- Craft Beer of the Month Club. Did it for six months.
- Wallet with a variety of gift cards. We have done this with both or our kids. Big hit.
- This year, purchased a day brewing at the local microbrewery for DH and DS. 8-5 and I think they will love that.
- Wine club membership. You can choose the number of months and number of bottles of wine.
- We did Fruit of the Month one year too and everyone loved the fruit.
- Coffee shop gift card. Cute way to package is to get one of their paper carryout cups...then where they have the type of coffee, make a new little box and write Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah.
- We give cash for one of our kids to use for AirBNB. Not particularly comfortable with a large gift card to them.
I would get the grandbaby a gift. How about the Bitty Baby from the company that makes American Girl Dolls? You can get the basic starter set, and then get outfits for other events. They even have kid and doll sets. Ask me how I know!
Or start a dress up box…big hit also.
The parents will make room for kid gifts!
Kids and babies aside, I’d hire a private chef for one night that the entire family is in town/together. Have them dress up in their finest, set the table, light the candles etc. The entire thing would shopped, catered, cleaned up and served for you; all you’d have to do is pay! Depending on where you live, you could do this for as little as $50pp
You can probably find Private Chefs in your area, but here’s a link to get you started https://www.cozymeal.com/
What’s the hot new show in town? What’s the new art exhibit?
For the grandkids
If you can afford it start a Roth IRA. Not sexy but they will appreciate it later in life.
Can a person get a Roth IRA if they have no income?
Great ideas. I like the link to the personal chefs. Might be able to have DS#2 and wife go up to DS#1’s house and all 4 have a dinner.
@thumper1… We set up accounts for our kids…
Get something they would never do for themselves. I got my wife a cooking class for making crepes. She took my son when he was young. They both loved it. Around here there are Wine /Art classes. You bring a bottle of wine and take an art class. Very laid back, social and fun. Drink more wine and the art gets better… L???.
thanks @MaineLonghorn for posting the craft coffee link. I was offline most of the day and just saw that @jym626 had asked for it.
For older people that don’t want a lot I will sometimes gift paper goods (TP, paper towels, etc) or laundry supplies. I will not do that for my kids, though I did it for my grandmothers when they were alive and now my parents.
According to this, https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/investing/why-your-kid-needs-a-roth-ira/ if I read it correctly, a parent can open a Roth on behalf of a child, but the child has to have had earned income.
I love the bay leaf wreaths and swags from Mc Fadden Farm (dot) com.
I’ve ordered 14 for gifts this year!
I like getting a wreath, swag, or greens for putting around a candle. Then it gets thrown out. I buy Penzeys spices for gifts - the set of grilling spices or just the hot cocoa or cinnamon sugar.
MIL sent us the iconic pears from Harry and David one year. Ate those up.
I have received beautiful flowers from Farmgirl Flowers in the Bay Area. They have a few wreaths on their site. Or maybe set up a bouquet to be delivered for several months or several times a year.
The adults in our family stopped exchanging gifts several years ago and just bought for the little kids. Now the only little kid is my 6-month old grand who will have no idea what is going on. His parents have already said they want to limit the toys. I still give my kids cash inside a card so it seems a little more festive. Only problem is there are no wrapped gifts to put under the tree, so I quit putting up a tree! I live alone and no one is here to enjoy it except for a few hours on Christmas Day anyway.
Three or four years ago, I started to buy prizes and make everyone play bingo to win them. It is very hard to think of things suitable for young, old, male and female. The most popular have been a box of lottery tickets and bottles of wine. I have purchased household goods like a nice, sharp kitchen knife, bath towels, body lotion, etc. and a box of chocolates, tin of popcorn, and other consumables. Then I throw in some gag prizes like windshield washer fluid and LED light bulbs (a big hit!). This year I’m thinking a box of assorted batteries.
I haven’t read the thread so forgive me if I’m repeating but… For grandbaby, I cannot recommend enough Kiwi Crate. You get a small crate every month with a new age appropriate craft, toy, and book.
I got my nephew a year subscription for Christmas last year and he absolutely loves it.
Love the kiwi crate! Thanks!
I have been sending the harry and david pears to a friend for years. Last year he commented that the quality was not the same as it used to be. So, I won’t send them again.
Great thread. I struggle with the gift issue every holiday season - and D1 got married last December so they have all those wedding gifts now too!!
One thing a friend gave both her kids last year (which they loved) was cleaning service for a year. Busy young adults don’t have tons of time to clean and they appreciate coming home to a clean apartment!