My apologies if this thread has already been started. I’m getting nervous about holiday gift ideas for my children and family. My daughter shocked me by wanting flannel shirts! Who knew? There are also some other things she wants, new boots new coat etc. But I’m always three steps behind on what the “in” thing is and I end up scrambling. I still like to have some surprises under the tree. My daughter is in her first year of college and living in a dorm so she doesn’t have the space or need for anything that doesn’t serve a purpose. My son is out of college for a year, lives in his own apartment and is as low maintenance as they come. I’ve asked them both for ideas and they may get back to me…but again, I still like to surprise them with a thing or two.
And always my in-laws who really, truly don’t need anything but we every year we give them something…with a gift voucher of course.
Got the sister in-laws handled, it’s the men I have trouble with. I also love to have some surprises, but now that girls are grad school/out of school I also hate to give things that aren’t needed when they would rather have some money to buy clothes or to save toward a plane ticket or nice furnishings. I do like to trick out a stocking for them with smaller things.
One thing I’ve given this year is thermos bottles - the screw on lid type that keep things hot for 12 hours/cold for 24. Can find them made by several companies, including yeti and corksicle (come in fun colors and I’ve done one with vinyl monogram for my more preppy D). D in grad school enjoys making a pot of tea and puts it in and it’s hot for a long study session.
Also nice for girls (I think) are small crossbody purses that just fit a cell phone and keys. Great for going out or running errands and don’t have to worry about putting phone down somewhere. This is the sort of thing you could have a “wardrobe” of for different looks but might not buy on your own.
If kids hike, run or need to stay warm then a great surprise item for stocking is socks - good wool or high tec running socks are expensive but so nice to have. This isn’t too much of a surprise for mine since traditionally Santa puts underwear and socks in every year - and an orange.
Love to have ideas for guys. For young guys, one friend likes the credit card size bottle openers that slide in wallet - if anyone still carries wallet. But I need ideas for my BILs. Not to get hung up on drinks but Tervis tumblers might be good for son who needs to replace random cups with something nicer.
Sometimes for SIL/BIL I give something for home as a joint gift but not really fun for guys. My in-laws also have everything they could possibly need so I go things that it’s always nice to have but not so special that you can’t get rid of them in a couple of years like placemats. Since it’s something I’d like, one year everyone got really nice white towels. I know I always love to get rid of ratty towels but don’t because they work.
Ask your D to give you some specific website links to the personal items she wants like new boots, coat, flannel shirts. Have her give you more than one choice - so you can choose what works for your budget and she can still have surprise!
Gifts cards for places in her college town would be appreciated. You can give them individually or give them creatively by doing something like buying a cute small purse/wristlet and putting the gift card(s) inside. Or buy a decorative item (like a fake plant or jewelry hanger thingy and hang the gift cards from it).
Also, give your kids sort of a deadline on their idea list. Like Dec. 1 or something. They can add to it later but that gives you a place to start.
Adult coloring books are a hot idea this year and not expensive when paired with some good quality thin markers. My freshman daughter (and my older D!) thing these are kind of fun to have. Barnes and Noble has tons of them!
Are they home for a period of time over the holidays? How about tickets for the family to a local event? A play or a sports game with a stop at a yummy gourmet pizza place before or after???
I gave my kids Pebble watches last year and they were a big hit and this year they boys are getting the new color Pebble Time and D is getting the new Pebble Round. S18 surprised me this year by asking for gift cards/money to purchase new clothes. He doesn’t want me to buy him clothes, he wants to go shopping with his friends and hit the after Christmas sales. He’s also getting some fencing gear. D16 is easy this year because there are some things she needs for her dorm next year (Alarm clock with weather alert alarm, mattress topper, electric tea pot, bath robe, bike lock…) But S20 is the one who really has me stumped any suggestions for a 14 year old boy? Maybe passes to iFly indoor sky diving?
In-laws and extended relatives get gifts of food. I like to order from Dancing Deer and Wolferman’s. In laws always give us a membership to the wine of the month club which is very much appreciated. For my mom who is in assisted living we do flowers.
My wish list includes an Amazon Fire Stick because Amazon no longer supports the Google Box we’ve been using and a new salad shooter (the one we were given as a wedding gift is on it’s last legs and I really like that thing!) I’ll likely get H a gift cert to get his car detailed.
My D-out of college, lives on her own, loved my gift to her last year of a “coffee bar”. I got her a programmable coffee maker that did not use a pot, but dispensed the amount you needed at the time. Then I added some various coffees, flavored syrups, creams, etc. The kinds of things kids go for at Starbucks, only at-home versions. I also got her some comfy fleece to hang out in that was much appreciated.
My S is hard to buy for. He can buy whatever on his own, hates to shop, is a minimalist, and the hobbies he has are expensive. He gets a lot of gift cards. He’s looking to replace his laptop soon, so this year I think I will get him a gift card for his favorite tech store.
Younger D wants “an experience”. Though she’s headed to college next year, we have no idea where she’ll end up and whether it will be a short drive or a long plane ride, so we’re not stocking up on college gear year. She’ll likely take a lot from home either way. We may send her to visit one of her college friends in the spring as her experience.
H is easy this year. He’s a Star Wars fanatic and every store out there has a ton of stuff. He’s hinted at wanting the 3-foot Darth Vader with sound effects, or that new little rolling robot. He’s already got a light saber…
Most of my holiday shopping is for the two groups the OP mentioned - college students and parents in their 70s/80s.
My college kids have pretty much everything they need and are not consumers for the most part. They are also living in small spaces and will most likely be transient in the next 5 years or so. They like gifts that are Experiences - concert tickets, airfare for international trips (both big travelers), ski passes. A little clothing here and there, camping supplies, etc. We’ve also started giving them contributions to Roth IRAs.
For parents, who either have everything they need or are actually paring back on their possessions, we also do experiences with gift cards to the hot new restaurants, to shows, to the local breweries. They enjoy the outings and no clutter.
We don’t go peruse the aisles of Bed Bath and Beyond very often (i.e. we don’t keep up with the latest gadget trends) , so my husband really really liked the frother I bought him for his birthday. I have to admit…it is really fun and adds a nice touch to your home coffee. We have been putting in just a bit of creamer and letting the frother do it’s thing. I love it too! I’ve used it with regular milk and also soy milk. I bought the Capressor frother plus and it was around $59.00.
I usually get my BIL’s a pair of Smartwool socks or a grilling rub from Williams Sonoma. Last year I bought them all Happy Socks. I don’t know if they ever wore them again, but they sent me a group foot pix wearing their socks.
My DS1 is also out on his own and I know he appreciates Nike or LuLu Lemon quarter zips.
@abasket …yes I would say it gives a better froth than any coffee I’ve purchased in a coffee shop! I’ve used it with vanilla soy milk and also standard creamer. I find I use a lot less creamer than I would regularly use. We are not big gadget people either but we are both a little in love with the new frother.
I’m another non-gadget person who has been getting unexpected joy from my milk frother. I have the one that came with my Nespresso machine – the Aeroccino Plus frother by Nespresso. Super easy to use and to clean. And it is a very stylish little machine. I really do love it!
I love my Nespresso machine, too, but boy is the coffee expensive!
We are doing a Family trip to the Caribbean during college break, and we told the kids that’s their big present this year. They all agreed early on they’d rather have that than stuff. We are just getting smll gifts, such as lip gloss, cheap jewelry, clothes, See’s candy, and probably some PJs.
A fancy espresso machine at home is my indulgence or vice. I love being able to press a button and have my lattes made for me. I do have to add the hazelnut syrup.
