Looking forward to hearing your practical gift ideas or how you work ahead! You can see everything together here: cli.re/Gift-Ideas-2021 - What teachers want for Christmas (written by a Teacher) :: cli.re/teacher-gift - How to opt out of gift exchanges (without looking like a scrooge) :: cli.re/opt-out
My sister and I live in different states, and she sends me a Christmas gift box each year. She always includes her home-made snack mix called "nuts & bolts", and it wouldn't be Christmas for me without that! I love it, but never have time to make it.
several years ago my husband and I had some major unexpected expenses come up in Nov which meant the holiday was going to be hard for us. My grandmother was 84 years old and there was NOTHING she needed, but one thing she had never done in her life was to go to a Red Sox baseball game, and I know she listened to every game on the radio and then when she got TV, watched every game. She loved her red sox! My husband and I drew out this really cute coupon that said on May 12th you are receiving a trip to Boston to the Red Sox, and included a baseball cap and a small redsox key chain. The even more fun thing was that the day we chose to take her there was her b-day. So we took her to dinner as well as the game............ and the Red Sox WON!!!
Our family gathered for pizza and then we rented a "party bus" that fit our entire extended family. The bus took us to all the best Christmas lights in the city. We played Christmas music and stopped for hot chocolate along the way. It was a memorable evening.
I love that. When my children were young, we would go for a drive to see all the Christmas lights. I would make hot cocoa, sandwiches, and cookies and we would sing carols. We had so much fun.
My parents are retired and like consumable gifts like car wash, oil change, and hair salon gift certificates. It's something they definitely will use and enjoy!
That's all the extra I would love! Pedicure, a starbucks coffee, a card to a favorite store. If I'm low on money invite someone for breakfast or out to lunch, make a dinner.
One of my favourite gifts ever. When I was a poverty-stricken university student, as one of my xmas gifts my mother made up a shoebox (literally) full of toiletries. Not even anything fancy, just ordinary toothpaste, deodorant, etc. I was thrilled because i didn't have to spend my scarce money on boring but necessary stuff. When my brother was poverty-stricken at college, my mother suggested i give him a bath towel because she knew he didn't have a decent one, and he was thrilled. Gifts don't have to be fancy, just meaningful to both the giver and the gifted.
My sister bought my a hair towel wrap for after the shower 16 years ago and it’s still in perfect condition and I still use it. I’ve also received two bath sheets as a gift from my mom one year and I love them still!
YES! One of my favorite Christmas gifts as a college student was a big box with toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies, and laundry supplies. I was so thankful, I was able to eat more than ramen and spaghetti for the next couple of months since I did not have to buy that stuff.
My brother and his wife gifted us a weekend of yardwork (plus homemade Thai for dinner) one year. It was amazing - they moved a bunch of bushes(!) and logs, helped us declutter our barn AND made a wonderful dinner. Best gift ever!!
We’ve begun a tradition of asking that our 8 children and their families don’t give us gifts, and instead do a service or make a donation to something they are passionate about then write down the story of their experience. It has made Christmas even more meaningful and created strong bonds. I hope this tradition carries on forever!
My parents are in their 80's and don't need to add to their very cluttered home! Many years ago I started sending them bird seed and suet cakes for special occasions and holidays. They love attracting birds to their yard. I've learned that consumable gifts are awesome! Tammy in N Alabama. 🙋♀️
We get my elderly mother a ‘subscription’ for a bouquet of fresh cut flowers once every month for the entire year. It is very special to her and they don’t last forever which is great. They swap out the vases every time. So no clutter.
@@superjac2646 You can set this up through your local flower shop - we called it a standing order. I have great memories of the sweet lady I made deliveries to each month!!
I’m a piano teacher and one year I got almost $100 in Starbucks gift cards. I rarely treat myself to things like coffee out (it’s so much cheaper to make it at home and ya girl has student loans to pay off!) so this was such a treat. It lasted for MONTHS and I got to think of my students and how lucky I am to have students and families I work with each time I treated myself to a cheeky little Starbucks. We ❤️ gift cards almost as much as we love teaching!!!
I retired in June and I'm still using my Starbucks cards. Terrific on trips! Tip for giver - use a Sharpie and write your kiddo's name on the card. I would have loved to send the student a selfie when I use the card!
100% agree, gift cards and a handwritten note are the BEST teacher gifts!! Hotel coffee just doesn't cut it, not the same as what I make at home. My family just traveled for fall break, I toted 3 Starbucks gift cards with me from last year's students' Christmas gifts.
I’m a violin & piano teacher. I also have small dogs. Several of my students over the years have given me dog treats as gifts, usually in bone-shaped tins or whatever the special holiday packaging of the year happens to be! Very much appreciated. I open the container in their presence & then let them feed the first ones to the dogs. It’s a big hit with everyone!!
When my kids were in university and didn't have a lot of disposable income we started doing recycled Christmas. We loved it so much that 20 years later we are still doing it. All gifts you give have to be either something you already own or something you make. I had things in house like new sheet sets in the original packaging, grandpa's shirts to make memory pillows, a evening clutch that was great grandma's. The handmade gifts were sometimes funny sometimes practical. All in all it has lead to much better Christmas gift giving and we haven't been to the mall in years.
We like baking some extra Christmas cookies to add to our friends gifts or to give to our neighbours (that would probably also be a nice activity to do with kids). Another thing my uncle and family always have done is make calendars, adding a photo that they have made during the past year to each month's calendar.
When my mother in law was a live. We picked a day between thanksgiving and Christmas. She made lunch for me and I wrapped all her gifts for her. We had great fun and had special time together each year.
Last year I started a new tradition of gifting printed copies of my 5 favorite new recipes from the past year. It's a way to share a bit of my life with family members and friends that I don't get to see all the time. One way to make it more "gift-y" would be to include a specialty ingredient that is needed for one of the recipes.
My Dad passed away in April (he had pancreatic cancer). I'm so grateful that I had made his favorite candy (homemade almond roca) for Christmas every year for a few years before he passed. He didn't need stuff, but he sure enjoyed that special homemade gift. I also gave his two doggies gift packages of dog treats and chew toys. This was meaningful for him because he LOVED his dogs so much!
One year I made gift boxes. Two I remember, in particular. One was a box for entertaining to my mom, who became anxious about having even a small number of guests. The box included everything she'd need, from napkins and paper plates to a cheesecake she could freeze and thaw when she needed it. The other was to a hard-working niece: a day in bed. It included what she would have earned working that day, a book, snacks, etc.
My parents are gone and my in-laws are older (in their mid-80s). They have anything they want/need and are very independent and refuse to ask for help. My husband and I and his brother and wife give them snow removal for Christmas the last few years. We hire someone to plow their driveway and shovel their walkway anytime there's 2 or more inches of snow. Some years cost more than others but it's made them so happy and we don't have to worry but them going out and doing it or us having to go over after work and doing our own driveways etc. It's been wonderful and they have been thrilled with it!!
When my son was about nine my income was very low. I gave my son IOU's for Christmas for movies or future events during the next several months. I wrapped the hand written IOU up in a small box. He was not all that thrilled at first but he understood about the situation. He got excited when a new sci fi movie came out... he would bring me the IOU to cash in and we would go to see any new movie that came out even if it was 6 months later. It is a cherish memory now. That was being a minimalist 40 years ago!
Last year all the grandkids bought my grandmother a digital photo frame that connects with WiFi so the whole family can send pictures to it. She loves it, it’s a way for her to stay connected with the family, a specially those who live further away. She loves getting pictures and videos of the great grandkids. So if you have a older person that’s not tech savvy this is great gift😊
We gave my in-laws a Ceiva frame and subscription over a decade ago, and pay for the annual renewal every year too. It has been one of the best gifts ever. Every family submits pics of the grandkid and great-grandkid activities, special events, trips, school stuff, etc; and its on the frame without them having to do a thing. It was a hard sell to my extended family that this would be a great gift, mostly explaining how it worked, but they fully got on board once they saw how it required no effort on my in-laws part; it was easy to upload photos to share, how much joy it brought them and they felt more connected to our busy families in case we didn't get to see them for awhile.
I decided a few years ago to pare down the gifts for my grandchildren. They get plenty of stuff! Now they get an item of clothing, and a coupon for an individual trip to the donut shop with Grandma. I wrap both item, and put them in a large packing box, available at Walmart for around $2. I do not wrap the box. As it turns out the box is the best part. They play with those boxes the whole Christmas vacation. They color them, they glue things on them, they turn them into cars and rockets and doll houses. They get in them with their blankets and read. By the time the tree comes down, the boxes are ready to recycle. The ten year old has already asked if his Christmas present would be in a big box this year. Of course it will be!! I will give them boxes as long as they want them. After all, a box can always be put to good use in their closet.
Minimalist Teacher here - Seriously, a thoughtful notes in a card is worth a million bucks to us!!! $5 coffee gift cards are also the bomb. Teachers are always exhausted, and they come in extra handy on those cold, dark winter mornings.
I put my 14 year old in charge this year. She made an Amazon linked Google Doc and asked at family parties if the items she thoughtfully picked were the right thing. Everyone was grateful and surprised. I have been purchasing what I can each payday from her list. She wraps as they come. It’s a huge burden for me to figure out what to give and handle it all myself. She’s doing amazing and under budget too! Great math assignment.
The most meaningful gift I have ever received is from my daughter. Years ago, she took a small gift box and taped pieces of paper inside with different attributes about me. I will forever cherish that gift. She has grown up and moved over 3,000 miles away, but is right here in my Heart.
We look forward to my mom's gift the most every year. She gets us a bag of groceries- but it's all the fancy stuff from Trader Joe's that we wouldn't think about treating ourselves to. Like, the rainbow of honey or maple syrup, nice chocolate, etc.
I was talking to my 14 yr old last night on what he wants this year. He looked at me and said "you know I really can't think of anything. I have everything I need." This is after years of FOLLOWING YOU DAWN and practicing minimalism. It just filled my heart. This year has been so hard for so many reasons including lots of parenting doubt, but in that moment I was like I'm doing just fine. Thank you Dawn for continuing to spread such an important message.
For the past 3 years when I asked my youngest granddaughter (she just turned 10 two months ago), what she would like for her birthday or Christmas, she just smiles and says I have everything I need or want! She is such a loving and grateful child! I am so blessed!! She loves to read, so I try to find her a new book, a reading lamp, etc. She is really active, so I let her pick out some new tennis shoes or t-shirts. Her family just moved to a rather small town and bought a large property as well as rescued 4 horses, so I will be giving her money (and a few small gifts), so she can buy what she needs.
I can't remember where I heard this but my family actually followed the suggestion. My daughter went to the store with my husband and they picked put a pretty notebook/journal. I have four children and all four write in it for me for either my birthday, (which is close to Christmas) and Mother's Day. I LOVE reading their memories or their words of appreciation. Better than any gift.
One year I gave my dad, uncle and brother-in-law a “gift certificate” for a “cookie of the month club” for a year. I would choose a different kind of cookie every month and give them each a dozen. My dad said it was the best gift ever.
Once my grandparents got into their 80s I started making meals for them for their birthdays and Christmas - soup, chicken pot pies, shepherd's pie. Food they enjoyed that could be frozen so they just had to thaw it and heat in the microwave or a pot on the stove. They both loved it! And as a bonus, I felt good giving them something made with love.
I did similar one year for my in laws. They both were going through chemo and didn't need anything nor did they want anything with mortality in the back of everyone's minds. I made them a bunch of meals so they didn't need to cook. I had forgotten about this. Thank you for the memory!
I did this with my grandma!!! Anytime I cooked soup, chili, etc I always froze a bowl or two for her. One Christmas she got a huge cooler all wrapped up. She said it was the best gift ever
I’m giving my family a questionnaire this years, like “what’s your favorite snacks, restaurant, department store, movie, etc..” then creating a custom gift basket personal to each of them.
We have done this for our kids and their spouses for years! At a family gathering a while back, we handed everybody an index card and told them to write their name, bday, fav color and also fav color to wear, fav salty snack, sweet snack, bottled drink, gum, restaurant, dessert, and food. (I keep all the cards in a little bag). Now my adult daughter gives each one a gift bag of these items for their birthdays. ❤️
I do this w girlfriends on my street but for mini birthday parties. Our husbands sometimes drop the ball on bdays, but we throw very specific bdays at craftnight. She likes lavender, Kevin Bacon, Target and lemon desserts? Ok, lavender candle, Footloose napkins, $10 Target gift card, lemon cupcakes and a bottle of wine that happens to have an artsy lemon on the label! It's hilarious and touching
My daughter has special needs and because of this she has large number of teaches and therapists. We always give a gift card and handwritten card and this year we will also give them a bottle of real vermont maple syrup and a small package of pancake mix. Years ago for my husband’s grandmother, who insisted on no more “stuff”, we went in with his sisters on a flower/plant subscription for 12 months. She LOVED calling us each month to describe what had arrived and give us updates on how the plants were doing. It was such a great feeling to see how happy this simple gift made her.
I am a special education teacher-I had the joy of working with a student for 4 years, by year 3 the mom made the comment that she was running out of Christmas ideas, so she made home made caramels along with a note written by the student...It was by far my favorite gift! I know it gets expensive with you try to consider all the teachers, paraprofesssionals, and therapist!
Something my Grandmother did for years that I loved…. She put together family history stories for all her grandkids. Each year we got a few more pages to add to our binder telling the story of one of our ancestors. Now that she has passed, I’m so grateful to have those to share with my kids.
This may sound rather bizarre, but when my family asks what I want for Christmas the number one thing I say is toilet paper. As a single mom struggling to get by it is the one thing I hate having to spend money on and I really don't need any clothes or clutter. Receiving tp or paper towels, laundry and dish soap makes me happy.
Seems like small stuff, but when any one of these things runs out, their value is enormous. My parents had to pinch pennies, too, and I sure don't know how a package of four rolls of tp for the 6 of us lasted from one shopping trip to the next. I don't hoard these things, but I do make sure we have enough to make it through a major ice or snowstorm or electrical outage, etc. without having to go to the store on treacherous roads. Right now we have some flooding from heavy rains.
I get this 100%…these are items that cost a good deal of money yet are literally flushed or washed down the drain. When on a tight budget, it’s sometimes very hard to decide which you need more, TP or milk?
It’s not bizarre at all! For our family and friends a bale of TP from Costco is the go to gift for housewarmings and now has started to show up on other holidays. It is always a great gift.
My dad has everything he wants. I decided on experiences for him - zip lining, hiking, helicopter rides, pro games, etc.. He’s never been happier than to spend time with me.
Last year my brother bought me and my husband a new type of spaghetti sauce, noodles, a sparkling cider, and a nice candle for Christmas so we could have a date night at home and also get to try something new. It was delicious and probably one of the best gifts I have gotten in a long time.
I’m a teacher, and yes, gift cards are so fun! I especially love the ones to restaurants and Target. I think a lot of us are frugal, so the opportunity to grab something you enjoy for “free” is so nice.
Going to a birthday party for a 5 year old tomorrow. She has a 2 year old brother. They definitely have enough toys and books so I'm making a pizza basket. Has all the stuff in it besides cheese that they need to make pizza. Figured they would enjoy doing that and can "make dinner" one night for the family as included pre made crusts (and a mix if the parents are up to it). They also make pizza sauce in a squeeze bottle that makes it very kid friendly!
My parents give the kids music lessons - they pay for the kids' piano, drum, and guitar lessons. They also give us the gift of going to family camp - they pay for most of the camp fee. Best gifts ever!
*Dawn skip the many comments about your hair* we regulars notice anything & everything different and always want to comment favorably to you. So don't think "what looked so wrong before and why does it looks so much better now?" NOTHING!!! We just love & adore you (and the family) so much we want to encourage you in any way and in the same way as you do for us. Watch any of your past 571+ videos and listen to yourself...we are proud to be mirroring your words of encouragement you give us :-D Much Love
Fantastic ideas!!! I’m a newly retired elementary school teacher, btw. I 100%agree with your ideas about teachers and gift cards, LOL! All the teachers that I have known, as well as myself, LOVED gift cards!!! In recent years, I even started getting some from Dollar tree which were super thoughtful because I spent a lot there for my class, as well as home. I got gift cards for manicures. That’s how I discovered how much fun it was to go get a mani-pedi. Some years the parents grouped together and gave a larger gift card to Amazon! I was always very touched by anything that they went to the trouble of doing for me! As you mentioned, none of us expected parents to buy gifts but yes, it was definitely appreciated to know that family appreciated the work you were doing. I will tell you that one of the best gifts was when a little 5 yr old boy in my class wanted to share his snack with me and broke pieces off his strawberry pop tart and stacked it on the corner of my desk while I was checking on the others. Strawberry pop tarts were his favorite snack. 🍓❤️. Thanks for this awesome vid!!!
One year, we were having a really hard time financially. I made cookbooks of favorite family recipes, including tips and history of recipes for my nieces. Binders, computer paper, page protectors (including extra for them to add their own recipes) and they were thrilled! My kids insisted on having their ow copies!
I think offering our time to help someone near and dear to us declutter, clean, and organize would be a wonderful gift. Thank You Dawn for all of your wisdom 💗
YES! For we older ladies who can't do what we once were capable of, this is an ideal gift. A thoroughly scrubbed kitchen would make me smile for days (maybe even weeks)!
@@pastorsuzannetaylor5452 Awwww. I wish I could do that for you! My mother passed 6 years ago, and all she wanted in her latter years was for us to spend time with her and do the little things (like mopping) that she was no longer able to do. Time together is the MOST precious gift we can give. Hope someone visits you soon just to do your mopping. 🤪
For years I had given my brother a calendar and I took the time to write all the family birthdays in it. He always looked forward to what kind of calendar I sent each year.
I had our family's traditional Christmas cookie (my great grandmother's recipe) made into a beautiful print on Etsy and put it in a cheap frame to become a Christmas decoration and gave it to my parents. It was a huge hit. Also, this is our first year pairing down, and it is something my husband really doesn't want to do (gifts are a huge deal to him, specifically the quantity given to our children because of how he grew up). We compromised and decided that this year we would start the process by making all stocking stuffers consumable, and keeping that tradition moving forward. Gotta start somewhere right?
We gave our kids coupons like “free dessert tonight” or “stay up 30 minutes later “. There are lots of free printables online. It extended the “gift” out as they would use them over the next two months. We did it again in Easter baskets because they loved it so much. We also give gifts based on a trip we are going on, or survival stuff (pocket knife, flash light) that are more pricey. Take any need-like new bedding or a new towel and do something special or custom (they all got hooded towels with their favorite characters and I pitched the other towels so I had less laundry).
Last year I was recovering from surgery. My budget was light & I needed something I could send to relatives I would normally see at Christmas, but couldn't because of the pandemic. I also had limited mobility. I watched a video tutorial on macrame snowflake ornaments, and that's what I ended up making and sending to my relatives. Even if you don't put up a tree or have guests, a lightweight handmade macrame piece can be hung on the wall, set out with other seasonal decor in a vignette, used as a coaster. And a small macrame snowflake is easy to pack away after the holidays, unless you want to keep it as decor all year. I missed my aunts and uncles so much, and I know they don't need anything. So I just figured a small handmade item from me would let them know I was thinking of them.
I am now 60 and still proudly display the crochet snowflake my Aunt Denise made for me when I was small. She was awesome that way. Even though I was just a kid, she knew that snowflake would be mine to take into adulthood for a tree of my own one day. I have no doubt your snowflakes will have a place of honor as well. It's a loving gift. ❤
Love this channel. I have a tip. My son LOVED summer camp but it was too expensive for us to pay a whole summer worth so he asked for camp for gifts for Christmas and birthdays from his grandparents. He made wonderful memories growing up and is now a counselor himself! He appreciated this gift more than any toy he could have gotten. It was always presented in a fun card and one little thing to unwrap and he new all year he was going to his favorite place in the summer.
A very meaningful gift my daughter gave to me for my birthday this year was having a tree planted in my name - in Scotland. It's in a reforested project area. I received a certificate for a 1 foot by 1 foot piece of land, (it's framed and hanging on my office wall) so I can honestly say I own land in Scotland. I love trees and totally enjoyed my visit to Scotland many years ago, so it's always been a special place to me. I've also heard you can 'adopt' an animal in a rescue situation somewhere. The money you pay contributes to the animal's care and you get a packet of information and a picture of 'your special animal'.
My meaningful gift idea is plants i have propagated. I’m starting now with some bamboo & vine ones since they are hardy, I find really cute trendy ceramic pots on sale then repot them once they get enough root growth from propagation. I love the idea that the plants I’m giving are part of the original “mother” plant I already had. Sometimes lucky bamboo plants have little charms dangling from a vine, I’ve thought about putting something on that like a charm or crystal, but not sure if that is dorky or cute. 🤔 just an idea that is I think thoughtful & something that will last as well as cost effective. Most mothers/women like plants? Am I right?
I think nice plants are a great gift for everyone. You can personalize with crystals (I like the idea of charms or crystal) maybe in the color of the receivers birthstone, fave color, even a charm that has an inspiring word on it. You can send me one😁 purple.
One gift that women in my life seem to enjoy is a gift certificate to their hair dresser !!! They love being able to get their hair cut or done to pamper themselves and it supports a local business
I always ask for a hair salon gift certificate for Christmas from my parents when they ask. Then I’ll go and get a balayage that’ll look great until next Christmas 😆 They know how much I appreciate it, not only for the actual hair update but because it’s such a treat for me as a student and a mother of two little ones to go get pampered all by myself. Having someone else wash my hair feels SO luxurious, haha!
Preschool teacher here and I can say with 100% certainty I LOVE gift cards, especially when they are for things I can enjoy with my own family over break such as pizza, ice cream, movies, even the coffee ones because they can treat us to hot chocolate after sledding :-)
When we were little, my grandma always gave us goodie bags for Christmas with crayons, coloring books, snacks etc. We always looked forward to those bags. I think the repetition every year is what helped us look forward to them.
When my father was in his nineties we gave him a “memory jar”. His six children and many grandchildren wrote favorite family memories and stories on slips of paper. We folded each one and placed them in the big jar. A box or basket would work well too. Each day my father loved pulling out a special memory from his loved ones. I think it was one of his favorite gifts. Another year my sister converted all our old family movies to DVDs. He loved watching those movies.
I LOVE those measuring spoons! Especially because they have 2 ends so if one is for wet ingredients, you still have the other side for dry. Also, great because the oval side fits into spice bottles!
I recently put together a similar gift basket for my niece for her wedding gift. Included a neutral throw blanket, a favorite marriage related book, candle, mug set, photo frame and gift card :)
Love the gift box idea… Gardener- Seeds, pots, soil, gloves Movie buff-Theater gift card/streaming service enrollment, popcorn, candy, blanket Home DIYer-Home store gift card, favorite beverages or on the move snacks, notebook or calendar to track projects Sunshine boxes with everything yellow or Pink me Up box with everything pink…so many fun things out there!!!
Love this! Here’s a challenge…. Male teachers. I’m good with a gift card but would like something to wrap with it and don’t really know what any of them like. What could you did to spruce up an Amazon gift card? I have a much easier time with female teachers.
I love your gift box ideas! My daughter has a produce market and makes gift boxes using foodstuffs from her store. She’s very creative and I love seeing what she makes. Last year I gave my granddaughter a different gift card on the 25th of each month, gas, fast food, retail. I purchased a year subscription of Ipsy for my other granddaughter. For my elderly Mom, I paid her December utility bills so she had money to buy her gifts.
Something my Mother did while my 3 boys were growing up was every Christmas on a Saturday she'd have them over and they would bake cookies and make ornaments for the tree that year! Those were such great memories for all of us! They are all grown now with kids of their own and I've since been giving them some of those ornaments they'd made all those years ago. They loved it! And...are planning on doing it again this year - their grandmother is 83! ; ) The simplest gifts that come from the heart and some thought really mean the most to people
From a grandparents thoughts…. inviting the grandlove(s) over to make cookies or something with you would be so fun for the child/children and give them a precious lasting memory. You could always take a picture and frame it or even do a canvas like Dawn showed with a note written on the back about how much you love spending time with them so they could have that as a keepsake also.
Before Covid and when my health was not so bad, I would drive 4 hours to visit my daughter's family for Christmas. I would take my two granddaughters back with me for a week and we would cook, watch movies, do art projects, go out to eat, stay up late, etc. It gave their parents a "break" for a week as the girls were out of school, and we made great memories.
Dawn, this was a great and timely message. I am a grandma to a 4 year old and a 2 year old. They have a sea of toys which I helped contribute too. But after spending time with them, I spend more time picking up and putting pieces together (Lego with Lego, puzzle pieces with puzzles, etc). My daughter, their mom is super busy and doesn't have time to sort through the toys, rotate them, or even purge on a regular basis. So this year, I wanted to give the 4 year old a room makeover, or at least something like a reading teepee. Or give them each a stuffed animal beanbag to at least corral the mountain of stuffed toys they each have. I like giving craft gifts to do with them or books to read to them since they are both too little for many experience gifts like museums. On another note, we just moved and it was embarrassing to see how much junk, duplicate items (2 households) and items we just don't need). Even our mover said you have a lot of stuff. Now that we are in our small condo, we are sorting through the clutter and trying to get rid of stuff. I want to but sometimes have a hard time because I do the what if? But I am trying to use the 20/20 rule. If I can replace it, I can part with it. My husband though is not on the same page so he has tons of truly useless items that he refuses to part with. It is an uphill battle! Thanks for always having great content and uplifting information! Love your family.
Just want to suggest that if you help give the kids’ rooms a makeover… you might include taking a photo of every shelf and what goes there. And then attach it some way. That helps kids know where things go and makes clean up more simple for everyone involved. We do that in daycare and kids learn well that way. Good luck!
My childhood friend and I always do a “Favorite Things” gift box for each other. It allows us to share new products, snacks, books we love and we both always look forward to getting our box.
My mother in law gave all of her kids(and families) gift certificates to their local theatre. So when the latest Broadway show comes to town we could use it to take our family out for an amazing show. It was such a great gift!
My mom has always stockpiled Christmas gifts all throughout the year as she seen great sales. That way there was no burden or rush at Christmas time and always had lots of gifts for everyone. As a adult I chose not to buy gifts for my kids and husband. I chose to have memorable experiences. We also drive around and and give out winter clothes and food to homeless people and pray with them. Our kids are well aware of helping those in need and praying for people. We even taught them about people who are afflicted and need healing. We are raising up the next generation of warriors for Christ.
I love receiving consumable gifts that I don't have to worry about finding a place for in my home. A candle and a nice bottle of hand soap make a great gift!
Last year we bought early, stuck to the budget and then had a no spend December. It took the anxiousness away from wanting to impulse buy or keep adding a little. We were able to have breathing room to enjoy the holidays and had more money at the end. I loved it.
I told my parents that I'm going to help them paint their bedroom. I have a week off before Christmas already and hope that I'm going to get finished with the room before the holidays :)
My grandma loved sending out birthday cards, so every year I gave her a roll of stamps, Walgreens gift card and some flowers! Her favorite gifts every year!
We often won’t spend the money on ourselves for things we want but don’t need. For example, if you have a crafter in the family with a cricut, supplies for their cricut would be nice! I’m a nurse and wouldn’t even buy insoles for my shoes but a visa birthday gift card from my family was enough to make me go get them and I’m so thankful!
Funny how we as nurses will serve others and "instruct" our patients to take good care of their feet, but don't provide the same service to ourselves! Hope your feet are happier! (You AND your patients need them!)
I love the Cricut supplies idea...or gift card to craft stores. I have a Cricut, and many many of the items I made are gifts....so sometimes it IS nice to get those supplies!
As a teacher, I can definitely say yes to gift cards! And if you know the teacher well, a bottle of wine for special dinners over the holidays is also appreciated. The other thing teachers like are school supplies and art supplies. Hot glue guns and glue sticks, expo markers, sharpie markers, etc. The best thing to get though are those cards or letters that let you know that the kids and their families appreciate you. Those ones I keep and when I’m having a rough day, I pull those out to lift me up.
Yes to gift cards! As a single person, I love receiving gift cards especially to stores where I am saving up for a big purchase. Living by yourself is expensive so I am so happy when someone gives me a gift card to help me put towards a nice furniture piece or something.
I gave my parents (who live far from me) a Skylight last Christmas so they could get photos of the whole family on an ongoing basis. I loved it so much that I asked for one for Mother's Day! Can i just say that I LOVE this video??? And reading the ideas in the comments has also been fantastic ❤️
Many years ago when my daughter's still lived at home and my husband and I were still working my mom gave us a wonderful gift. She could tell I was pretty much burnt out. She made us a weeks worth of dinners or 7 meals to thaw and heat whenever we wanted. There was twice baked potatoes, homemade spaghetti sauce, a seasoned chuck roast in a disposable foil pan, beef stew, and so much more. It allowed us to catch our breath and unfrazzle our life.
My parents are retired and don't need anything - they assure us! However, since my mom isn't able to do as much as she used to due to health issues, I find that making/baking homemade goodies and special breads is one thing (or rather several things!) that they love. I make a few different traditional family recipes, homemade candies, and a specialty Christmas bread. They are always well received, and there's never leftovers! It's a way to show love and honor to the two people who influenced my life (and my eternity) the most! Cookie doughs can be frozen ahead of time, but I mostly make things a few days ahead. I plan one day (sometimes two) and just knock 'em all out, putting them into air-tight containers and refrigerating them to keep them fresh. I've also made the breads a week ahead, and given them then so they can eat them up to the holiday - and them bring other treats for the day. (Yes, I have been called "Suzy Homemaker!" I'm OK with that!) The other thing we give them is TIME - time spent with us just visiting and letting them know they are not alone. We often end up playing dominoes and laughing so much!
One of my favorite traditions was getting my two nieces a tea set and a picnic blanket for each of them. My sister made friends with their friends mother, so they and their little school friends were always together. I wanted to be sure to include my nieces friends, who were also very special to me. I presented each tea set and blanket with a basket of cookies, cakes and hot cocoa, enough for all of us to enjoy a "picnic" around the tree. I didn't buy toy tea sets, but rather real grown up china that I had purchased used through thrift stores. This was an affordable idea for the single mom that I was. Each year only required the picnic basket of goodies, and our tradition was born. Out would come the teas sets and blankets, and we'd all sit and have our picnic of goodies and cocoa when I arrived.
My son is grown now, but I can't help remembering one of the best gifts he got from a good life long friend of my husband's family. He was a senior and would go over and help her whenever she would need it. She gave him a gift card to the local movie theater. He thought this was great since it has gotten so expensive to take a date to the show. :)
I gave my Aunt a Calender with all of our family members n each month and she loved it! One year I found a teapot at a flea market that my Mother in love had but was broken many years before. She cried when she opened it up because she had loved that tea pot and missed it so much! ❤️
When our kids were young, and before our world went nuts, we purchased amusement park annual passes for the immediate family. The kids grew to expect it knowing it would lead to MANY family outings over the coming year.
My kiddos are old enough to do this now. On the last day the water park was open he said while we were leaving, I sure hope I get a pass for Christmas again because I love coming here we have so much fun. Made my heart happy, because we were all together and we made so many memories!
Our in-laws gifted annual passes to my family for a few years and it was a wonderful gift that we enjoyed all summer. When my son was young I printed out 12 "coupons" to go to different places around town (children's museums, other activities he liked) along with a modest amount of spending money for the inevitable little souvenir item he would want, and each month for the next year he could pick one place to go. Probably things we would have done anyways, but it made it a bit more exciting to turn it into a gift.
Check your local areas, lots of organizations do this sort of thing, theaters, museums, zoos, etc. Some even "share" and grant admission to multiple locations.
Target does a 10% off gift cards one time before the holidays (up to $300) so I like to get my gift cards then and break them into usable amounts like $25 and $10 gift cards so I feel like I have enough for teachers, nieces/nephews, mail carrier etc.
My husband and I decided to give orchids/plants as gifts this year. Many families since the start of pandemic have been more focused on planting or harvesting from their own gardens. With a card sharing the reason for your gift, will give the gift itself more meaning.
Love this! Thank you for the ideas! One of my favorite ideas for my kids has been asking loved ones to record themselves reading a story. Hallmark always carries really sweet classic books where you can record your voice reading it. Our family travels often as we work in other countries. So it's a treasure for our kids to hear the voices on the books. Plus, when a loved one has passed away, we can still feel like a little part of them is with us. Hope this helps!
I did that for my mom one year! She loved to sew so I donated a sewing machine to one of the non profits that teaches women how to sew (Africa). For my dad, that same year I donated a goat in his honor. They loved it!
I used to give my mother in law, who was in assisted living, an amaryllis bulb from White Flower Farm each Christmas. She loved watching it grow and the flowers lasted such a long time! I also like sending citrus from Florida as gifts to support our local growers.
My favorite gift that my late husband gave me was Driving lessons. It was thoughtful and it helped me get over the fear of learning to drive in California. Some other gifts might be tickets to local museums, Taking young girls out for tea at a local tea shop is also a good experience.
As a grand parent and great grand parent, our most sought after gifts from our kids and grandkids are pictures. Last year our grandkids got together and asked my husband to play santa for their kid pictures (for their parents). He had a blast and at Christmastime we received (tearfuly) a beautiful set of collage type picture frames filled with these pictures.
I agree. My son and daughter-in-law have made calendars with a different picture for each month, photo books of the past year, and framed pictures, and photo mugs. Love them all!
One year I tempered dark chocolate and piped onto wax paper making a "word" chocolate bar for each person. I used a thesaurus to help and came up with a unique word for each person and shared with them why I thought that word described them. Ie: Generous, kind, intuitive, graceful etc...
My niece gives my husband a little container of her homemade buckeyes at Christmas. My sister gives him a container of her sloppy Joes. She makes them ahead of time and freezes them. His aunt used to give him a little container of her homemade cream candy. In each case, these were special recipes and foods that my picky-eater husband likes. It's very thoughtful of them, and it shows that they know him and they care about him.
@@deeb8733 They are yummy. I think you can find recipes online. I've never made them, so I don't know if it's hard. I think we got one at a store once. It was not good. Homemade is the way to go.
Love your goal... For years I have been taking Thanksgiving weekend to get ready for Christmas. I do the shopping BEFORE the weekend, but during the weekend I wrap everything, do my Christmas cards, decorate my house. This way when Dec 1 hits I can truly enjoy every day. ♥🎄
Last year i made a "home movie-kit" for my sister and her family. I used a container that could be used as storage in the kitchen/pantry after they finished the gift. I added a movie clapper🎬 and typical movie-snacks. Popcorn and different sweets. I chose to buy american-style snacks to make it more special (we are in Norway), and they loved it.
I have given kids a bowling date, and it's been a great success. Of course I included pizza, pop, and snacks in the deal as well. Movie tickets with a box of their favorite candy has also been a big hit.
“Consumable” Gift boxes are my favorite thing to give. For families who don’t live near us, we started doing some family boxes that would include something to bake (usually cookie mix), a gift card for pizza or takeout, and some kind of game or activity for family night. It’s been a big hit and takes the stress out of trying to plan gifts for each individual in families
When our children were young, we spent hours playing Pass the Pigs, which takes up about as much room as a cell phone. It's so much fun for all ages I've kept it. ~ Lisa
My sister and her family did a No buy gift last year. They enjoyed their time with family and food. No stress. With all the gas and food prices this year, families might want to try this.
I love this idea, but I have close family members who only associate Christians with preesents 🙄 The best we were able to do was a grab bag for the adults (including drawing a name out-of a hat when we were all together for Thanksgiving), which limited each person to buying one gift for one person!
Since I've been decluttering so much this year I decided to shop my home for Christmas. I have some beautiful pottery serving pieces that I think my Daughter and Daughter in law will love. I have a box full of gifts that were purchased 'just in case' that I'll look through first. I make things (weaving, knitting, macrame, wet or dry felting and Sami Bracelets) so if I can't find something that works for a family member, I will make them something just for them. Felted Scandinavian slippers, interesting woven table runner or rag rug, or pillows made out of the unfinished quilt my grandmother in law started but never finished that I kept for sentimental reasons. That's just the beginning of what I've found so far. I've always enjoyed the gift box idea as well. Often I will have made or purchased foods or small themed items then clustered them together in a basket for the family enjoy. Ornaments, candy or food, hot cocoa or specialty drinks, things that pair with any of those things. It's always been my favorite way to create and give gifts. Thanks for the early reminder!
Sounds lovely. I would love any of those gifts. A felted teardrop earring? Yes please!!! And your favorite holiday side dish recipe card in your handwriting.
We just moved and I used to buy gifts ahead of time. But with covid and moving we didn't see as many members as we normally do. So I am going through boxes this month to find gifts before I buy any more! I like your idea of shopping my home.
Consumable idea for someone who still uses the regular mail - personalized note cards. My mom shares lots of digital pictures of her flower gardens, fall trees, etc., and last year I chose several of her images to have made into a set of note cards from one of the many online photo sites. She LOVED them and was proud to have her own photos printed on professional-looking greeting cards. I know for some people stationery can become clutter, but she actually sends notes in the mail so I know they will be used.
Looking forward to hearing your practical gift ideas or how you work ahead! You can see everything together here: cli.re/Gift-Ideas-2021
- What teachers want for Christmas (written by a Teacher) :: cli.re/teacher-gift
- How to opt out of gift exchanges (without looking like a scrooge) :: cli.re/opt-out
Thanks Dawn! Where is your teapot from please? 🌞✌️💕
My sister and I live in different states, and she sends me a Christmas gift box each year. She always includes her home-made snack mix called "nuts & bolts", and it wouldn't be Christmas for me without that! I love it, but never have time to make it.
Thanks Dawn....I love all of these gift ideas.💡
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Gift cards in envelopes marked January through December so the couple has monthly date nights for the upcoming year.
several years ago my husband and I had some major unexpected expenses come up in Nov which meant the holiday was going to be hard for us. My grandmother was 84 years old and there was NOTHING she needed, but one thing she had never done in her life was to go to a Red Sox baseball game, and I know she listened to every game on the radio and then when she got TV, watched every game. She loved her red sox! My husband and I drew out this really cute coupon that said on May 12th you are receiving a trip to Boston to the Red Sox, and included a baseball cap and a small redsox key chain. The even more fun thing was that the day we chose to take her there was her b-day. So we took her to dinner as well as the game............ and the Red Sox WON!!!
What a thoughtful, loving gift! She's blessed to have you both.
Yaaasss!! Go Sox! Great idea! The gift that keeps on giving…⚾️🧢🏟
Beautiful ! She must have been over the moon ! GO, SOX ! I took my kids to a game there once on a Boston trip, in the late 1990s. SO fun !
🧦🧦🧦🌭🌭🌭⚾️⚾️⚾️❤️❤️❤️☀️☀️☀️
Goosebumps!
Our family gathered for pizza and then we rented a "party bus" that fit our entire extended family. The bus took us to all the best Christmas lights in the city. We played Christmas music and stopped for hot chocolate along the way. It was a memorable evening.
This is incredibly unique and lovely. I want to use this idea!
That sounds like SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!
@@iheargeese It sure was! We are going to do it again this year!
@@amberheiden7462 you'll love it!
I love that. When my children were young, we would go for a drive to see all the Christmas lights. I would make hot cocoa, sandwiches, and cookies and we would sing carols. We had so much fun.
My parents are retired and like consumable gifts like car wash, oil change, and hair salon gift certificates. It's something they definitely will use and enjoy!
Sounds good to me
That's all the extra I would love! Pedicure, a starbucks coffee, a card to a favorite store. If I'm low on money invite someone for breakfast or out to lunch, make a dinner.
Great ideas!
Love receiving pedicures! 👍🤗💅
Manicures are great too!💖😉
One of my favourite gifts ever. When I was a poverty-stricken university student, as one of my xmas gifts my mother made up a shoebox (literally) full of toiletries. Not even anything fancy, just ordinary toothpaste, deodorant, etc. I was thrilled because i didn't have to spend my scarce money on boring but necessary stuff. When my brother was poverty-stricken at college, my mother suggested i give him a bath towel because she knew he didn't have a decent one, and he was thrilled. Gifts don't have to be fancy, just meaningful to both the giver and the gifted.
hahahahha
I agree! Sometimes these simple gifts really help someone and mean a lot!
My sister bought my a hair towel wrap for after the shower 16 years ago and it’s still in perfect condition and I still use it. I’ve also received two bath sheets as a gift from my mom one year and I love them still!
I give bubble bath and Epsom salts!
YES! One of my favorite Christmas gifts as a college student was a big box with toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies, and laundry supplies. I was so thankful, I was able to eat more than ramen and spaghetti for the next couple of months since I did not have to buy that stuff.
My brother and his wife gifted us a weekend of yardwork (plus homemade Thai for dinner) one year. It was amazing - they moved a bunch of bushes(!) and logs, helped us declutter our barn AND made a wonderful dinner. Best gift ever!!
That is what I'd pick! Help is a wonderful gift!
Wow. That's was so cool of them to gift to you all.
We’ve begun a tradition of asking that our 8 children and their families don’t give us gifts, and instead do a service or make a donation to something they are passionate about then write down the story of their experience. It has made Christmas even more meaningful and created strong bonds. I hope this tradition carries on forever!
What a wonderful idea
This made my day! Thank you for the tip! What a way to teach our next generation to be kind💞
As a busy mom, I would love to receive a freezer meal with disposable plates and silverware. A night off from cooking & dishes!!
YES! Cooked food or massage 💆♀️
What a fantastic idea!
Love this idea!
I totally agree, I love it when my friends make me a meal I can heat up for my family and I get a night off making dinner!
In the interest of being mindful of single use items, perhaps a freezer meal, combined with a live in family member's promise of the clean up :)
My parents are in their 80's and don't need to add to their very cluttered home! Many years ago I started sending them bird seed and suet cakes for special occasions and holidays. They love attracting birds to their yard. I've learned that consumable gifts are awesome! Tammy in N Alabama. 🙋♀️
I love that idea, my parents would LOVE THAT! 😍
I LOVE THIS! 🐦
This idea is so great!!
I love this idea so much! For myself, for my mom etc!
This is a great idea!
We get my elderly mother a ‘subscription’ for a bouquet of fresh cut flowers once every month for the entire year. It is very special to her and they don’t last forever which is great. They swap out the vases every time. So no clutter.
Can you share where you got this?
My daughter got my parents a "cheese of the month" club last year -- for four months. So yummy! And the best part was, they let me share!
@@superjac2646 You can set this up through your local flower shop - we called it a standing order. I have great memories of the sweet lady I made deliveries to each month!!
What a great idea for older people who don't need anything else cluttering up their house!
I’m a piano teacher and one year I got almost $100 in Starbucks gift cards. I rarely treat myself to things like coffee out (it’s so much cheaper to make it at home and ya girl has student loans to pay off!) so this was such a treat. It lasted for MONTHS and I got to think of my students and how lucky I am to have students and families I work with each time I treated myself to a cheeky little Starbucks. We ❤️ gift cards almost as much as we love teaching!!!
I retired in June and I'm still using my Starbucks cards. Terrific on trips! Tip for giver - use a Sharpie and write your kiddo's name on the card. I would have loved to send the student a selfie when I use the card!
100% agree, gift cards and a handwritten note are the BEST teacher gifts!! Hotel coffee just doesn't cut it, not the same as what I make at home. My family just traveled for fall break, I toted 3 Starbucks gift cards with me from last year's students' Christmas gifts.
I’m a violin & piano teacher. I also have small dogs. Several of my students over the years have given me dog treats as gifts, usually in bone-shaped tins or whatever the special holiday packaging of the year happens to be! Very much appreciated. I open the container in their presence & then let them feed the first ones to the dogs. It’s a big hit with everyone!!
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When my kids were in university and didn't have a lot of disposable income we started doing recycled Christmas. We loved it so much that 20 years later we are still doing it. All gifts you give have to be either something you already own or something you make. I had things in house like new sheet sets in the original packaging, grandpa's shirts to make memory pillows, a evening clutch that was great grandma's. The handmade gifts were sometimes funny sometimes practical. All in all it has lead to much better Christmas gift giving and we haven't been to the mall in years.
I think this would be the neatest! Yet few think like we do, easier to go buy something off the shelf.
Going red and GREEN!
We like baking some extra Christmas cookies to add to our friends gifts or to give to our neighbours (that would probably also be a nice activity to do with kids). Another thing my uncle and family always have done is make calendars, adding a photo that they have made during the past year to each month's calendar.
We've done this a few times. Especially now that everyone is an adult.
This is Awesome!! Love this idea ♥️
When my mother in law was a live. We picked a day between thanksgiving and Christmas. She made lunch for me and I wrapped all her gifts for her. We had great fun and had special time together each year.
That sounds so special. I’m glad you have the memories as well!! 😊🙏🏼❤️
You obviously had a very close relationship with your mother-in-law. What a thoughtful thing to do for her!
@ Sue Tillman
That is so sweet. Thank you for sharing!
Last year I started a new tradition of gifting printed copies of my 5 favorite new recipes from the past year. It's a way to share a bit of my life with family members and friends that I don't get to see all the time. One way to make it more "gift-y" would be to include a specialty ingredient that is needed for one of the recipes.
You could offer to make it for them! Food is always a good gift!
Great idea!
Love this idea! Thanks for sharing!
Great idea!
I love this idea!
My Dad passed away in April (he had pancreatic cancer). I'm so grateful that I had made his favorite candy (homemade almond roca) for Christmas every year for a few years before he passed. He didn't need stuff, but he sure enjoyed that special homemade gift. I also gave his two doggies gift packages of dog treats and chew toys. This was meaningful for him because he LOVED his dogs so much!
One year I made gift boxes. Two I remember, in particular. One was a box for entertaining to my mom, who became anxious about having even a small number of guests. The box included everything she'd need, from napkins and paper plates to a cheesecake she could freeze and thaw when she needed it. The other was to a hard-working niece: a day in bed. It included what she would have earned working that day, a book, snacks, etc.
Greta, the day in bed is fab!! So thoughtful
My parents are gone and my in-laws are older (in their mid-80s). They have anything they want/need and are very independent and refuse to ask for help. My husband and I and his brother and wife give them snow removal for Christmas the last few years. We hire someone to plow their driveway and shovel their walkway anytime there's 2 or more inches of snow. Some years cost more than others but it's made them so happy and we don't have to worry but them going out and doing it or us having to go over after work and doing our own driveways etc. It's been wonderful and they have been thrilled with it!!
When my son was about nine my income was very low. I gave my son IOU's for Christmas for movies or future events during the next several months. I wrapped the hand written IOU up in a small box. He was not all that thrilled at first but he understood about the situation. He got excited when a new sci fi movie came out... he would bring me the IOU to cash in and we would go to see any new movie that came out even if it was 6 months later. It is a cherish memory now. That was being a minimalist 40 years ago!
Thats super cute, necessity really is the mother of some great new Christmas traditions! : )
Last year all the grandkids bought my grandmother a digital photo frame that connects with WiFi so the whole family can send pictures to it. She loves it, it’s a way for her to stay connected with the family, a specially those who live further away. She loves getting pictures and videos of the great grandkids. So if you have a older person that’s not tech savvy this is great gift😊
We gave my in-laws a Ceiva frame and subscription over a decade ago, and pay for the annual renewal every year too. It has been one of the best gifts ever. Every family submits pics of the grandkid and great-grandkid activities, special events, trips, school stuff, etc; and its on the frame without them having to do a thing. It was a hard sell to my extended family that this would be a great gift, mostly explaining how it worked, but they fully got on board once they saw how it required no effort on my in-laws part; it was easy to upload photos to share, how much joy it brought them and they felt more connected to our busy families in case we didn't get to see them for awhile.
Interesting! I've never heard of such a thing.. I'm not the most techy person. But i'm going to look for this for my parents!
I decided a few years ago to pare down the gifts for my grandchildren. They get plenty of stuff! Now they get an item of clothing, and a coupon for an individual trip to the donut shop with Grandma. I wrap both item, and put them in a large packing box, available at Walmart for around $2. I do not wrap the box. As it turns out the box is the best part. They play with those boxes the whole Christmas vacation. They color them, they glue things on them, they turn them into cars and rockets and doll houses. They get in them with their blankets and read. By the time the tree comes down, the boxes are ready to recycle.
The ten year old has already asked if his Christmas present would be in a big box this year. Of course it will be!! I will give them boxes as long as they want them. After all, a box can always be put to good use in their closet.
I love spending time with my gran and I bet your grandchildren cherish the time with you. Not to mention a nice little break for their parents ; 0
I love the idea of a trip to the donut shop! If the kids don’t like donuts, it could be some other fun place, maybe ice cream shop!
Minimalist Teacher here - Seriously, a thoughtful notes in a card is worth a million bucks to us!!!
$5 coffee gift cards are also the bomb. Teachers are always exhausted, and they come in extra handy on those cold, dark winter mornings.
I put my 14 year old in charge this year. She made an Amazon linked Google Doc and asked at family parties if the items she thoughtfully picked were the right thing. Everyone was grateful and surprised. I have been purchasing what I can each payday from her list. She wraps as they come. It’s a huge burden for me to figure out what to give and handle it all myself. She’s doing amazing and under budget too! Great math assignment.
I love this idea so much!!! Amazing to hear how well it’s working out!
Great idea! It sounds like your daughter is enjoying it.
What a great idea
Wow, that's awesome
Great idea!!!
The most meaningful gift I have ever received is from my daughter. Years ago, she took a small gift box and taped pieces of paper inside with different attributes about me. I will forever cherish that gift. She has grown up and moved over 3,000 miles away, but is right here in my Heart.
I love that - handmade heartfelt gift
What a touching gift!
How sweet!
We look forward to my mom's gift the most every year. She gets us a bag of groceries- but it's all the fancy stuff from Trader Joe's that we wouldn't think about treating ourselves to. Like, the rainbow of honey or maple syrup, nice chocolate, etc.
Yes! However, I make it even easier. One Trader Joe item and a TJ gift card attached and “wrapped” in a TJ reusable bag.
And you can think about her for several weeks after Christmas as you enjoy the treats!
Oh I also love the rainbow of honey from there. 💖
Love this! I would love something like this because I tend to always go for the same stuff when i buy groceries.
@@glendaslanina9939 they even put out Christmas prints on their bags, I use them for wrapping or gift tags also!
I was talking to my 14 yr old last night on what he wants this year. He looked at me and said "you know I really can't think of anything. I have everything I need." This is after years of FOLLOWING YOU DAWN and practicing minimalism. It just filled my heart. This year has been so hard for so many reasons including lots of parenting doubt, but in that moment I was like I'm doing just fine. Thank you Dawn for continuing to spread such an important message.
For the past 3 years when I asked my youngest granddaughter (she just turned 10 two months ago), what she would like for her birthday or Christmas, she just smiles and says I have everything I need or want! She is such a loving and grateful child! I am so blessed!! She loves to read, so I try to find her a new book, a reading lamp, etc. She is really active, so I let her pick out some new tennis shoes or t-shirts. Her family just moved to a rather small town and bought a large property as well as rescued 4 horses, so I will be giving her money (and a few small gifts), so she can buy what she needs.
Your son is so sweet.
I can't remember where I heard this but my family actually followed the suggestion. My daughter went to the store with my husband and they picked put a pretty notebook/journal. I have four children and all four write in it for me for either my birthday, (which is close to Christmas) and Mother's Day. I LOVE reading their memories or their words of appreciation. Better than any gift.
What a great and meaningful idea! I think I will definitely implement this when we have kids 🥰
One year I gave my dad, uncle and brother-in-law a “gift certificate” for a “cookie of the month club” for a year. I would choose a different kind of cookie every month and give them each a dozen. My dad said it was the best gift ever.
What a great idea!!
That is amazing!!!! Totally steeling this idea, loooove it!
Great idea! I'd love to be on the receiving end of that!
I did this for my elderly parents who were many miles away. I sent them through the post office. They loved it.
Once my grandparents got into their 80s I started making meals for them for their birthdays and Christmas - soup, chicken pot pies, shepherd's pie. Food they enjoyed that could be frozen so they just had to thaw it and heat in the microwave or a pot on the stove. They both loved it! And as a bonus, I felt good giving them something made with love.
I did similar one year for my in laws. They both were going through chemo and didn't need anything nor did they want anything with mortality in the back of everyone's minds. I made them a bunch of meals so they didn't need to cook. I had forgotten about this. Thank you for the memory!
As a grandmother of 76 years old, this would be such an appreciated gift!!
I did this with my grandma!!! Anytime I cooked soup, chili, etc I always froze a bowl or two for her. One Christmas she got a huge cooler all wrapped up. She said it was the best gift ever
I’m giving my family a questionnaire this years, like “what’s your favorite snacks, restaurant, department store, movie, etc..” then creating a custom gift basket personal to each of them.
Would you be so kind to share your questionnaire and how you were going to put it together. At what point will you be giving it to them?
Great idea!
Live done something like this for my kids one year with ”giftcards” for different experiences, they loved it!
We have done this for our kids and their spouses for years! At a family gathering a while back, we handed everybody an index card and told them to write their name, bday, fav color and also fav color to wear, fav salty snack, sweet snack, bottled drink, gum, restaurant, dessert, and food. (I keep all the cards in a little bag). Now my adult daughter gives each one a gift bag of these items for their birthdays. ❤️
I do this w girlfriends on my street but for mini birthday parties. Our husbands sometimes drop the ball on bdays, but we throw very specific bdays at craftnight. She likes lavender, Kevin Bacon, Target and lemon desserts? Ok, lavender candle, Footloose napkins, $10 Target gift card, lemon cupcakes and a bottle of wine that happens to have an artsy lemon on the label! It's hilarious and touching
My daughter has special needs and because of this she has large number of teaches and therapists. We always give a gift card and handwritten card and this year we will also give them a bottle of real vermont maple syrup and a small package of pancake mix.
Years ago for my husband’s grandmother, who insisted on no more “stuff”, we went in with his sisters on a flower/plant subscription for 12 months. She LOVED calling us each month to describe what had arrived and give us updates on how the plants were doing. It was such a great feeling to see how happy this simple gift made her.
I am a special education teacher-I had the joy of working with a student for 4 years, by year 3 the mom made the comment that she was running out of Christmas ideas, so she made home made caramels along with a note written by the student...It was by far my favorite gift! I know it gets expensive with you try to consider all the teachers, paraprofesssionals, and therapist!
Something my Grandmother did for years that I loved…. She put together family history stories for all her grandkids. Each year we got a few more pages to add to our binder telling the story of one of our ancestors.
Now that she has passed, I’m so grateful to have those to share with my kids.
This may sound rather bizarre, but when my family asks what I want for Christmas the number one thing I say is toilet paper. As a single mom struggling to get by it is the one thing I hate having to spend money on and I really don't need any clothes or clutter. Receiving tp or paper towels, laundry and dish soap makes me happy.
Completely agree! And "fancy* dish soaps, good paper towels or new tea towels. New pretty sponges.
My sister was the same. A struggling single mom. But those gifts helped her so much so she could focus on getting through school to support her kids.
Seems like small stuff, but when any one of these things runs out, their value is enormous. My parents had to pinch pennies, too, and I sure don't know how a package of four rolls of tp for the 6 of us lasted from one shopping trip to the next.
I don't hoard these things, but I do make sure we have enough to make it through a major ice or snowstorm or electrical outage, etc. without having to go to the store on treacherous roads. Right now we have some flooding from heavy rains.
I get this 100%…these are items that cost a good deal of money yet are literally flushed or washed down the drain. When on a tight budget, it’s sometimes very hard to decide which you need more, TP or milk?
It’s not bizarre at all! For our family and friends a bale of TP from Costco is the go to gift for housewarmings and now has started to show up on other holidays. It is always a great gift.
My dad has everything he wants. I decided on experiences for him - zip lining, hiking, helicopter rides, pro games, etc.. He’s never been happier than to spend time with me.
Last year my brother bought me and my husband a new type of spaghetti sauce, noodles, a sparkling cider, and a nice candle for Christmas so we could have a date night at home and also get to try something new. It was delicious and probably one of the best gifts I have gotten in a long time.
Love this idea!!!! ❤️
That is so sweet
So thoughtful!
Great idea!
I’m a teacher, and yes, gift cards are so fun! I especially love the ones to restaurants and Target. I think a lot of us are frugal, so the opportunity to grab something you enjoy for “free” is so nice.
As a quilter, I have lots of scrap fabric, so at the holidays I find making gift bags then filling with homemade treats are always a treat!
Oh, fun if you have the skill and the time!
Going to a birthday party for a 5 year old tomorrow. She has a 2 year old brother. They definitely have enough toys and books so I'm making a pizza basket. Has all the stuff in it besides cheese that they need to make pizza. Figured they would enjoy doing that and can "make dinner" one night for the family as included pre made crusts (and a mix if the parents are up to it). They also make pizza sauce in a squeeze bottle that makes it very kid friendly!
Ummmm....this is AMAZING! Stealing this!!
This is such a good idea!
👏 👍🏼
I did something similar for my nieces one year. They were into baking, so I put in packets for baking. I think I included pot holders too.
Love!!!!!
My parents give the kids music lessons - they pay for the kids' piano, drum, and guitar lessons. They also give us the gift of going to family camp - they pay for most of the camp fee. Best gifts ever!
*Dawn skip the many comments about your hair* we regulars notice anything & everything different and always want to comment favorably to you. So don't think "what looked so wrong before and why does it looks so much better now?" NOTHING!!! We just love & adore you (and the family) so much we want to encourage you in any way and in the same way as you do for us. Watch any of your past 571+ videos and listen to yourself...we are proud to be mirroring your words of encouragement you give us :-D Much Love
Fantastic ideas!!! I’m a newly retired elementary school teacher, btw. I 100%agree with your ideas about teachers and gift cards, LOL! All the teachers that I have known, as well as myself, LOVED gift cards!!! In recent years, I even started getting some from Dollar tree which were super thoughtful because I spent a lot there for my class, as well as home. I got gift cards for manicures. That’s how I discovered how much fun it was to go get a mani-pedi. Some years the parents grouped together and gave a larger gift card to Amazon! I was always very touched by anything that they went to the trouble of doing for me! As you mentioned, none of us expected parents to buy gifts but yes, it was definitely appreciated to know that family appreciated the work you were doing. I will tell you that one of the best gifts was when a little 5 yr old boy in my class wanted to share his snack with me and broke pieces off his strawberry pop tart and stacked it on the corner of my desk while I was checking on the others. Strawberry pop tarts were his favorite snack. 🍓❤️. Thanks for this awesome vid!!!
One year, we were having a really hard time financially. I made cookbooks of favorite family recipes, including tips and history of recipes for my nieces. Binders, computer paper, page protectors (including extra for them to add their own recipes) and they were thrilled! My kids insisted on having their ow copies!
I love shopping local farmers for maple syrup, honey, jams and pickles etc. I love receiving these types of gifts and love giving them!
As a local farmer with a storefront, I second this! Quality honey, maple syrup, and even frozen cuts of quality beef/pork/chicken are a great gift.
I think offering our time to help someone near and dear to us declutter, clean, and organize would be a wonderful gift. Thank You Dawn for all of your wisdom 💗
I wish someone would come talk to me as I declutter, much more motivated!
YES! For we older ladies who can't do what we once were capable of, this is an ideal gift. A thoroughly scrubbed kitchen would make me smile for days (maybe even weeks)!
@@pastorsuzannetaylor5452 Awwww. I wish I could do that for you! My mother passed 6 years ago, and all she wanted in her latter years was for us to spend time with her and do the little things (like mopping) that she was no longer able to do. Time together is the MOST precious gift we can give. Hope someone visits you soon just to do your mopping. 🤪
Great idea! Perfect. It is actually enjoyable to do cleaning and decluttering tasks when you do it with someone too.
Awesome idea. I would love that as I am 70 with health problems!
For years I had given my brother a calendar and I took the time to write all the family birthdays in it. He always looked forward to what kind of calendar I sent each year.
I had our family's traditional Christmas cookie (my great grandmother's recipe) made into a beautiful print on Etsy and put it in a cheap frame to become a Christmas decoration and gave it to my parents. It was a huge hit.
Also, this is our first year pairing down, and it is something my husband really doesn't want to do (gifts are a huge deal to him, specifically the quantity given to our children because of how he grew up). We compromised and decided that this year we would start the process by making all stocking stuffers consumable, and keeping that tradition moving forward. Gotta start somewhere right?
As a teen my favorite gift ever was tickets to see the show Wicked with my dad! Experiences are always remembered more
What a great gift! Special memories are a treasure.
We gave our kids coupons like “free dessert tonight” or “stay up 30 minutes later “. There are lots of free printables online. It extended the “gift” out as they would use them over the next two months. We did it again in Easter baskets because they loved it so much. We also give gifts based on a trip we are going on, or survival stuff (pocket knife, flash light) that are more pricey. Take any need-like new bedding or a new towel and do something special or custom (they all got hooded towels with their favorite characters and I pitched the other towels so I had less laundry).
When my kids were younger, we did the same with the coupons. They loved them.
These ideas are so great! Thanks!
We do this in Easter eggs too! The kids of all ages love them 💕
What an amazing idea! Thank you for sharing!
I love this idea!! Thank you!
Last year I was recovering from surgery. My budget was light & I needed something I could send to relatives I would normally see at Christmas, but couldn't because of the pandemic. I also had limited mobility. I watched a video tutorial on macrame snowflake ornaments, and that's what I ended up making and sending to my relatives. Even if you don't put up a tree or have guests, a lightweight handmade macrame piece can be hung on the wall, set out with other seasonal decor in a vignette, used as a coaster. And a small macrame snowflake is easy to pack away after the holidays, unless you want to keep it as decor all year. I missed my aunts and uncles so much, and I know they don't need anything. So I just figured a small handmade item from me would let them know I was thinking of them.
I am now 60 and still proudly display the crochet snowflake my Aunt Denise made for me when I was small. She was awesome that way. Even though I was just a kid, she knew that snowflake would be mine to take into adulthood for a tree of my own one day. I have no doubt your snowflakes will have a place of honor as well. It's a loving gift. ❤
Love this channel. I have a tip. My son LOVED summer camp but it was too expensive for us to pay a whole summer worth so he asked for camp for gifts for Christmas and birthdays from his grandparents. He made wonderful memories growing up and is now a counselor himself! He appreciated this gift more than any toy he could have gotten. It was always presented in a fun card and one little thing to unwrap and he new all year he was going to his favorite place in the summer.
A very meaningful gift my daughter gave to me for my birthday this year was having a tree planted in my name - in Scotland. It's in a reforested project area. I received a certificate for a 1 foot by 1 foot piece of land, (it's framed and hanging on my office wall) so I can honestly say I own land in Scotland. I love trees and totally enjoyed my visit to Scotland many years ago, so it's always been a special place to me. I've also heard you can 'adopt' an animal in a rescue situation somewhere. The money you pay contributes to the animal's care and you get a packet of information and a picture of 'your special animal'.
My meaningful gift idea is plants i have propagated. I’m starting now with some bamboo & vine ones since they are hardy, I find really cute trendy ceramic pots on sale then repot them once they get enough root growth from propagation. I love the idea that the plants I’m giving are part of the original “mother” plant I already had. Sometimes lucky bamboo plants have little charms dangling from a vine, I’ve thought about putting something on that like a charm or crystal, but not sure if that is dorky or cute. 🤔 just an idea that is I think thoughtful & something that will last as well as cost effective. Most mothers/women like plants? Am I right?
I would love to get plants even though I do not have a green thumb but would love it more if I received care instructions!
I think nice plants are a great gift for everyone. You can personalize with crystals (I like the idea of charms or crystal) maybe in the color of the receivers birthstone, fave color, even a charm that has an inspiring word on it. You can send me one😁 purple.
@@berlaloup1675 I agree! I would love a purple one also!
Love that you are giving a piece of you with the gift! Plants are a lovely present!
Love this idea!
One gift that women in my life seem to enjoy is a gift certificate to their hair dresser !!! They love being able to get their hair cut or done to pamper themselves and it supports a local business
Clever!!
I always ask for a hair salon gift certificate for Christmas from my parents when they ask. Then I’ll go and get a balayage that’ll look great until next Christmas 😆 They know how much I appreciate it, not only for the actual hair update but because it’s such a treat for me as a student and a mother of two little ones to go get pampered all by myself. Having someone else wash my hair feels SO luxurious, haha!
Yes! Or a massage place because momma deserves it! Lol
I used to give my mom a gift certificate to her hair dresser. She loved it.
Preschool teacher here and I can say with 100% certainty I LOVE gift cards, especially when they are for things I can enjoy with my own family over break such as pizza, ice cream, movies, even the coffee ones because they can treat us to hot chocolate after sledding :-)
When we were little, my grandma always gave us goodie bags for Christmas with crayons, coloring books, snacks etc. We always looked forward to those bags. I think the repetition every year is what helped us look forward to them.
My grandma gave me a homemade pair of pajamas and a new coloring book every Christmas Eve. We always had Christmas photos in our new pj’s.
When my father was in his nineties we gave him a “memory jar”. His six children and many grandchildren wrote favorite family memories and stories on slips of paper. We folded each one and placed them in the big jar. A box or basket would work well too. Each day my father loved pulling out a special memory from his loved ones. I think it was one of his favorite gifts. Another year my sister converted all our old family movies to DVDs. He loved watching those movies.
I LOVE those measuring spoons! Especially because they have 2 ends so if one is for wet ingredients, you still have the other side for dry. Also, great because the oval side fits into spice bottles!
I love the idea of a book, chocolate and tea... add a candle and that is the perfect hygge gift!
Love it I’ve Just got acquainted with hygge
I recently put together a similar gift basket for my niece for her wedding gift. Included a neutral throw blanket, a favorite marriage related book, candle, mug set, photo frame and gift card :)
We gave hello fresh meal kits one year - they loved them - it gave each family 4 dinners that were super easy to prepare.
I would LOVE it if someone gifted me this!!
I’ve done that!
Love the gift box idea…
Gardener- Seeds, pots, soil, gloves
Movie buff-Theater gift card/streaming service enrollment, popcorn, candy, blanket
Home DIYer-Home store gift card, favorite beverages or on the move snacks, notebook or calendar to track projects
Sunshine boxes with everything yellow or Pink me Up box with everything pink…so many fun things out there!!!
I gift the Japanese garden knife from Amazon. $20 and it is literally the best garden item we've ever bought. It's loved by everyone
Love this! Here’s a challenge…. Male teachers. I’m good with a gift card but would like something to wrap with it and don’t really know what any of them like. What could you did to spruce up an Amazon gift card? I have a much easier time with female teachers.
@@michellejones7708 - a steak?
@@laceybiddy2434 I was thinking of gift items that were considered consumables but that is a great idea for a new gardener💚👍🏻
@@michellejones7708 Male teachers/coaches: Barbecue sauce & a grocery store gift card to choose their steak
I love your gift box ideas! My daughter has a produce market and makes gift boxes using foodstuffs from her store. She’s very creative and I love seeing what she makes. Last year I gave my granddaughter a different gift card on the 25th of each month, gas, fast food, retail. I purchased a year subscription of Ipsy for my other granddaughter. For my elderly Mom, I paid her December utility bills so she had money to buy her gifts.
Something my Mother did while my 3 boys were growing up was every Christmas on a Saturday she'd have them over and they would bake cookies and make ornaments for the tree that year! Those were such great memories for all of us! They are all grown now with kids of their own and I've since been giving them some of those ornaments they'd made all those years ago. They loved it! And...are planning on doing it again this year - their grandmother is 83! ; ) The simplest gifts that come from the heart and some thought really mean the most to people
From a grandparents thoughts…. inviting the grandlove(s) over to make cookies or something with you would be so fun for the child/children and give them a precious lasting memory. You could always take a picture and frame it or even do a canvas like Dawn showed with a note written on the back about how much you love spending time with them so they could have that as a keepsake also.
I love that term "grandlove(s)! That is so very appropriate!
Before Covid and when my health was not so bad, I would drive 4 hours to visit my daughter's family for Christmas. I would take my two granddaughters back with me for a week and we would cook, watch movies, do art projects, go out to eat, stay up late, etc. It gave their parents a "break" for a week as the girls were out of school, and we made great memories.
Dawn, this was a great and timely message. I am a grandma to a 4 year old and a 2 year old. They have a sea of toys which I helped contribute too. But after spending time with them, I spend more time picking up and putting pieces together (Lego with Lego, puzzle pieces with puzzles, etc). My daughter, their mom is super busy and doesn't have time to sort through the toys, rotate them, or even purge on a regular basis. So this year, I wanted to give the 4 year old a room makeover, or at least something like a reading teepee. Or give them each a stuffed animal beanbag to at least corral the mountain of stuffed toys they each have. I like giving craft gifts to do with them or books to read to them since they are both too little for many experience gifts like museums.
On another note, we just moved and it was embarrassing to see how much junk, duplicate items (2 households) and items we just don't need). Even our mover said you have a lot of stuff. Now that we are in our small condo, we are sorting through the clutter and trying to get rid of stuff. I want to but sometimes have a hard time because I do the what if? But I am trying to use the 20/20 rule. If I can replace it, I can part with it. My husband though is not on the same page so he has tons of truly useless items that he refuses to part with. It is an uphill battle!
Thanks for always having great content and uplifting information! Love your family.
Just want to suggest that if you help give the kids’ rooms a makeover… you might include taking a photo of every shelf and what goes there. And then attach it some way. That helps kids know where things go and makes clean up more simple for everyone involved. We do that in daycare and kids learn well that way. Good luck!
My childhood friend and I always do a “Favorite Things” gift box for each other. It allows us to share new products, snacks, books we love and we both always look forward to getting our box.
My mother in law gave all of her kids(and families) gift certificates to their local theatre. So when the latest Broadway show comes to town we could use it to take our family out for an amazing show. It was such a great gift!
My mom has always stockpiled Christmas gifts all throughout the year as she seen great sales. That way there was no burden or rush at Christmas time and always had lots of gifts for everyone. As a adult I chose not to buy gifts for my kids and husband. I chose to have memorable experiences. We also drive around and and give out winter clothes and food to homeless people and pray with them. Our kids are well aware of helping those in need and praying for people. We even taught them about people who are afflicted and need healing. We are raising up the next generation of warriors for Christ.
I love receiving consumable gifts that I don't have to worry about finding a place for in my home. A candle and a nice bottle of hand soap make a great gift!
High school teacher here! I don't often get gifts from students, but I can confirm that a thoughtful note or a gift card is always appreciated.
Last year we bought early, stuck to the budget and then had a no spend December. It took the anxiousness away from wanting to impulse buy or keep adding a little. We were able to have breathing room to enjoy the holidays and had more money at the end. I loved it.
I was planning a no buy January but no buy December is a really intriguing idea!
@@shelbybell787 yeah, and then with the money you saved you won't miss out on all of that great January clearance. 😁
That's such a great idea! The last minute "add a little" is what absolutely kills me every year!
I told my parents that I'm going to help them paint their bedroom. I have a week off before Christmas already and hope that I'm going to get finished with the room before the holidays :)
My grandma loved sending out birthday cards, so every year I gave her a roll of stamps, Walgreens gift card and some flowers! Her favorite gifts every year!
I’m a teacher and I’m here to say… we love gift cards! :) Thanks Dawn, for the great ideas.
We often won’t spend the money on ourselves for things we want but don’t need. For example, if you have a crafter in the family with a cricut, supplies for their cricut would be nice! I’m a nurse and wouldn’t even buy insoles for my shoes but a visa birthday gift card from my family was enough to make me go get them and I’m so thankful!
I am the same exact way!!
Funny how we as nurses will serve others and "instruct" our patients to take good care of their feet, but don't provide the same service to ourselves! Hope your feet are happier! (You AND your patients need them!)
I love the Cricut supplies idea...or gift card to craft stores. I have a Cricut, and many many of the items I made are gifts....so sometimes it IS nice to get those supplies!
As a teacher, I can definitely say yes to gift cards! And if you know the teacher well, a bottle of wine for special dinners over the holidays is also appreciated. The other thing teachers like are school supplies and art supplies. Hot glue guns and glue sticks, expo markers, sharpie markers, etc. The best thing to get though are those cards or letters that let you know that the kids and their families appreciate you. Those ones I keep and when I’m having a rough day, I pull those out to lift me up.
Yes to gift cards! As a single person, I love receiving gift cards especially to stores where I am saving up for a big purchase. Living by yourself is expensive so I am so happy when someone gives me a gift card to help me put towards a nice furniture piece or something.
I gave my parents (who live far from me) a Skylight last Christmas so they could get photos of the whole family on an ongoing basis. I loved it so much that I asked for one for Mother's Day!
Can i just say that I LOVE this video??? And reading the ideas in the comments has also been fantastic ❤️
Many years ago when my daughter's still lived at home and my husband and I were still working my mom gave us a wonderful gift. She could tell I was pretty much burnt out. She made us a weeks worth of dinners or 7 meals to thaw and heat whenever we wanted. There was twice baked potatoes, homemade spaghetti sauce, a seasoned chuck roast in a disposable foil pan, beef stew, and so much more. It allowed us to catch our breath and unfrazzle our life.
SO thoughtful!! great gift idea too!
My parents are retired and don't need anything - they assure us! However, since my mom isn't able to do as much as she used to due to health issues, I find that making/baking homemade goodies and special breads is one thing (or rather several things!) that they love. I make a few different traditional family recipes, homemade candies, and a specialty Christmas bread. They are always well received, and there's never leftovers! It's a way to show love and honor to the two people who influenced my life (and my eternity) the most! Cookie doughs can be frozen ahead of time, but I mostly make things a few days ahead. I plan one day (sometimes two) and just knock 'em all out, putting them into air-tight containers and refrigerating them to keep them fresh. I've also made the breads a week ahead, and given them then so they can eat them up to the holiday - and them bring other treats for the day. (Yes, I have been called "Suzy Homemaker!" I'm OK with that!)
The other thing we give them is TIME - time spent with us just visiting and letting them know they are not alone. We often end up playing dominoes and laughing so much!
As a grandmother, I would so appreciate that!
One of my favorite traditions was getting my two nieces a tea set and a picnic blanket for each of them. My sister made friends with their friends mother, so they and their little school friends were always together. I wanted to be sure to include my nieces friends, who were also very special to me. I presented each tea set and blanket with a basket of cookies, cakes and hot cocoa, enough for all of us to enjoy a "picnic" around the tree. I didn't buy toy tea sets, but rather real grown up china that I had purchased used through thrift stores. This was an affordable idea for the single mom that I was. Each year only required the picnic basket of goodies, and our tradition was born. Out would come the teas sets and blankets, and we'd all sit and have our picnic of goodies and cocoa when I arrived.
My son is grown now, but I can't help remembering one of the best gifts he got from a good life long friend of my husband's family. He was a senior and would go over and help her whenever she would need it. She gave him a gift card to the local movie theater. He thought this was great since it has gotten so expensive to take a date to the show. :)
I gave my Aunt a Calender with all of our family members n each month and she loved it! One year I found a teapot at a flea market that my Mother in love had but was broken many years before. She cried when she opened it up because she had loved that tea pot and missed it so much! ❤️
mother-in-love: I love it!
When our kids were young, and before our world went nuts, we purchased amusement park annual passes for the immediate family. The kids grew to expect it knowing it would lead to MANY family outings over the coming year.
That is cool.
My kiddos are old enough to do this now. On the last day the water park was open he said while we were leaving, I sure hope I get a pass for Christmas again because I love coming here we have so much fun. Made my heart happy, because we were all together and we made so many memories!
Our in-laws gifted annual passes to my family for a few years and it was a wonderful gift that we enjoyed all summer. When my son was young I printed out 12 "coupons" to go to different places around town (children's museums, other activities he liked) along with a modest amount of spending money for the inevitable little souvenir item he would want, and each month for the next year he could pick one place to go. Probably things we would have done anyways, but it made it a bit more exciting to turn it into a gift.
Check your local areas, lots of organizations do this sort of thing, theaters, museums, zoos, etc. Some even "share" and grant admission to multiple locations.
I was/am not ashamed to tell people that chocolate, candles, and Amazon gift cards are my love language lol always ❣️
Target does a 10% off gift cards one time before the holidays (up to $300) so I like to get my gift cards then and break them into usable amounts like $25 and $10 gift cards so I feel like I have enough for teachers, nieces/nephews, mail carrier etc.
My husband and I decided to give orchids/plants as gifts this year. Many families since the start of pandemic have been more focused on planting or harvesting from their own gardens. With a card sharing the reason for your gift, will give the gift itself more meaning.
Love this! Thank you for the ideas! One of my favorite ideas for my kids has been asking loved ones to record themselves reading a story. Hallmark always carries really sweet classic books where you can record your voice reading it. Our family travels often as we work in other countries. So it's a treasure for our kids to hear the voices on the books. Plus, when a loved one has passed away, we can still feel like a little part of them is with us. Hope this helps!
What a fabulous and meaningful gift!! Sharing the joy of reading and hearing a special loved one’s voice, too!!
I LOVE this.
For the person who has everything: we have donated to meaningful organizations in honor of that person. They loved it!
I did that for my mom one year! She loved to sew so I donated a sewing machine to one of the non profits that teaches women how to sew (Africa). For my dad, that same year I donated a goat in his honor. They loved it!
I used to give my mother in law, who was in assisted living, an amaryllis bulb from White Flower Farm each Christmas. She loved watching it grow and the flowers lasted such a long time! I also like sending citrus from Florida as gifts to support our local growers.
My favorite gift that my late husband gave me was Driving lessons. It was thoughtful and it helped me get over the fear of learning to drive in California. Some other gifts might be tickets to local museums, Taking young girls out for tea at a local tea shop is also a good experience.
As a grand parent and great grand parent, our most sought after gifts from our kids and grandkids are pictures. Last year our grandkids got together and asked my husband to play santa for their kid pictures (for their parents). He had a blast and at Christmastime we received (tearfuly) a beautiful set of collage type picture frames filled with these pictures.
I agree. My son and daughter-in-law have made calendars with a different picture for each month, photo books of the past year, and framed pictures, and photo mugs. Love them all!
One year I tempered dark chocolate and piped onto wax paper making a "word" chocolate bar for each person. I used a thesaurus to help and came up with a unique word for each person and shared with them why I thought that word described them. Ie: Generous, kind, intuitive, graceful etc...
My niece gives my husband a little container of her homemade buckeyes at Christmas. My sister gives him a container of her sloppy Joes. She makes them ahead of time and freezes them. His aunt used to give him a little container of her homemade cream candy.
In each case, these were special recipes and foods that my picky-eater husband likes. It's very thoughtful of them, and it shows that they know him and they care about him.
What are buckeyes?
@@deeb8733 It's a type of candy, made with peanut butter, coated with chocolate.
@@MelindaPlainandSimple Ohmygosh. Yum. Now I want some! 🤣
@@deeb8733 They are yummy. I think you can find recipes online. I've never made them, so I don't know if it's hard. I think we got one at a store once. It was not good. Homemade is the way to go.
@@MelindaPlainandSimple very easy and no bake = happy dance!
I love that you are already thinking about Christmas. My goal is to have everything done before Dec 1st cause it stresses me out too
Love your goal... For years I have been taking Thanksgiving weekend to get ready for Christmas. I do the shopping BEFORE the weekend, but during the weekend I wrap everything, do my Christmas cards, decorate my house. This way when Dec 1 hits I can truly enjoy every day.
♥🎄
Yes ! That was my goal the last two years and it felt soooo good to have things done early so I could enjoy the season !
Last year i made a "home movie-kit" for my sister and her family. I used a container that could be used as storage in the kitchen/pantry after they finished the gift. I added a movie clapper🎬 and typical movie-snacks. Popcorn and different sweets. I chose to buy american-style snacks to make it more special (we are in Norway), and they loved it.
I have given kids a bowling date, and it's been a great success. Of course I included pizza, pop, and snacks in the deal as well.
Movie tickets with a box of their favorite candy has also been a big hit.
“Consumable” Gift boxes are my favorite thing to give. For families who don’t live near us, we started doing some family boxes that would include something to bake (usually cookie mix), a gift card for pizza or takeout, and some kind of game or activity for family night. It’s been a big hit and takes the stress out of trying to plan gifts for each individual in families
When our children were young, we spent hours playing Pass the Pigs, which takes up about as much room as a cell phone. It's so much fun for all ages I've kept it. ~ Lisa
My sister and her family did a No buy gift last year. They enjoyed their time with family and food. No stress. With all the gas and food prices this year, families might want to try this.
I love this idea, but I have close family members who only associate Christians with preesents 🙄 The best we were able to do was a grab bag for the adults (including drawing a name out-of a hat when we were all together for Thanksgiving), which limited each person to buying one gift for one person!
Since I've been decluttering so much this year I decided to shop my home for Christmas. I have some beautiful pottery serving pieces that I think my Daughter and Daughter in law will love. I have a box full of gifts that were purchased 'just in case' that I'll look through first. I make things (weaving, knitting, macrame, wet or dry felting and Sami Bracelets) so if I can't find something that works for a family member, I will make them something just for them. Felted Scandinavian slippers, interesting woven table runner or rag rug, or pillows made out of the unfinished quilt my grandmother in law started but never finished that I kept for sentimental reasons. That's just the beginning of what I've found so far. I've always enjoyed the gift box idea as well. Often I will have made or purchased foods or small themed items then clustered them together in a basket for the family enjoy. Ornaments, candy or food, hot cocoa or specialty drinks, things that pair with any of those things. It's always been my favorite way to create and give gifts. Thanks for the early reminder!
Sounds lovely. I would love any of those gifts. A felted teardrop earring? Yes please!!! And your favorite holiday side dish recipe card in your handwriting.
We just moved and I used to buy gifts ahead of time. But with covid and moving we didn't see as many members as we normally do. So I am going through boxes this month to find gifts before I buy any more! I like your idea of shopping my home.
Consumable idea for someone who still uses the regular mail - personalized note cards. My mom shares lots of digital pictures of her flower gardens, fall trees, etc., and last year I chose several of her images to have made into a set of note cards from one of the many online photo sites. She LOVED them and was proud to have her own photos printed on professional-looking greeting cards. I know for some people stationery can become clutter, but she actually sends notes in the mail so I know they will be used.