What Should I Get?

My in-laws are quite well off and want for nothing. In years past I've had professional molds of my sons hand made into Christmas ornaments, done photos of the family, or given a homemade gift. It all varied on how much money we had that year and how much time I had.

Last year they asked that instead of buying them anything we adopt a family in need and buy for them instead. We found a young man through my husbands job who loved to hunt and fish, just like he does.

This year we are buying for a whole family that we know. The father has been laid off for the second time in three years. We have a bit more money to devote to the project so we can get a couple gifts for their son as well as gifts for mom and dad. I plan to write up the story of what we did and how we did it and put it on Christmas paper for my in-laws to read on Christmas morning. We are making an effort for the whole family to go shopping together, not just having me run out and do it.

Hi T.,
I struggle with this every year with my mom, but what I have found she likes is money. I will get her a small trinket and put money in it and she loves it. My sister does the same thing. My mother is 75 soon to be 76 works full time just to meet her monthly expenses so this comes in handy for her, or visa gift cards so they can use it anywhere they want to. I have done this for my mom in the past also.

Good Luck

I am a grandmother and all I want is pictures. They don't need to be framed and actually I like them in emails so I can make them the wall paper or screen saver. I have asked them to not send presents becasue I don't need stuff and I hate for them to waste the money. This year there is a video of the Christmas program at school and I'm anxious to get that too.

For my own parents I call them and we talk every week and sometimes just because soemthing comes up I want to share or I know that they are doing something special that week. They prefer that over any things I could send them.

Have you ever booked a photo shoot for your parents and your kids together...even at WalMart it's fairly affordable and it can be as candid or formal as you'd like. And it's probably not something that your parents would do for themselves! It would be a gift that your parents, you, and your children would enjoy and could be an annual event...

Merry Christmas!

We will give them gift certificates for their favorite restaurant.
My mom is happy with a framed family portrait or anything with pictures of her grandkids on it.
There are some charities/causes she is interested in, so a donation in their name works out well too. One cool site is: www.oxfamamericaunwraped.com
Found Magazine or Books are always an interesting gift.
My parents have everything. Sometimes I just make them mixed cd's of music that reminds me of them. I also send my dad dvds of little known movies or tv shows that i think he'll get kick out of.

Something with a personal touch is always good-making them something, something from the grandkids. Something that reminds them of "you" and "your family". How about a gift that they only bring out during Christmas-a Christmas throw, ornaments, etc. A gift certificate/card to their favorite restaurant or how about his/hers spa packages? I wish you all the best...

Merry Christmas,
K.

It looks like you already have a ton of great responses and its getting awfully close to Christmas, but I thought I would throw my two cents in. My mother has EVERYTHING but this year I got her a digital photo frame keychain. It was not that expensive and I took the time to download the pictures on to it for her so now she has a keychain that scrolls through 42 pictures of her grandkids. They also have the same thing in a regular frame instead of key chain. Good luck, and let us know what you decided on! Cathi

I liked both of the suggestions previously mentioned. My dad is one of those people that just buys whatever he wants or needs so come Christmas, it's hard to get him something other than a gift card. However, this year I made a photo calendar with pictures of his kids and grandkids. I know he will absolutely love it! You can do it on any photo site - Kodak, Snapfish, Shutterfly, etc. For my mother and grandmother, I made a photo book of grandkids (also available on the same websites) where you just add your digital photos and they print it up like a professional book. Although if you order now, you'll probably have to use expedited shipping to get it in time for Christmas.

My parents also have everything--so we have had to be creative. My sister usually comes up with the best ideas. we've given them a calendar with photos of the G-kids on each month--any print shop does this.

For my MIL this year we did a blanket with the G-kids pictures on it. You can do that at Walmart!

GL:)

I find it's fun to get nostalgic. Find something they liked as kids, or that you had fun with as a young family with them. My Dad loves yo-yos, so every so often I find him a nice one. My Mom likes crafts, so those are always fun.

How about a gift certificate to go eat. (that is what I get my mother now) However, when my father was also alive I wrote them a letter for Christmas. I wrote about things in my childhood that I would never forget. I told them some of the things that they did for me that I wanted to pass on to my children. I thanked them for always being there, loving, supporting and helping me. To this day. (that was 15 years ago. My mom still says that was one of the best gifts she has ever received.

Hope that help
R.

I would go with MONEY!!! You can't get anything wrong or something that they won't like, so just give them money and let them get whatever the heck they want.

I have this same problem every year with my in-laws. They are very wealthy and we're not at all, so it's hard. What we did this year was a "consumables" theme from us. They already have everything and they don't need more "stuff". We did some dry canning - layered soup and cookie mixes. I made my FIL homemade cookies. We went to a craft fair and got handmade soaps for my MIL. I also handmade some blank greeting cards for my MIL to use throughout the year. The point was to buy or make something they could use up.

From our daughter we made concrete garden stones with her handprint. We also made Hug Boxes. You wrap an empty box and put this poem on it. It's great if the grandparents are far away. Hope this helps!

Poem:
This is a special gift
That you can never see
The reason it's so special is
It's just for you from me.

Whenever you are lonely
Or are ever feeling blue
You only have to hold this gift
And know I'm hugging you.

You never can unwrap it
Please leave the ribbon tied
Just hold the box close to your heart
It's filled with hugs inside.

Love, __________

My parents have everything and they are penny pinchers. I got them a gift certificate to a nice restaurant both my parents love to go to but would never fork out the cash for.

I love scrapbooks and the new digital storybooks that you make on your computer are fast and easy and a great gift!!

I am a Creative Memories consultant and they have a free download to your computer for their software. I know Kodak and Shutterfly do them too, but I believe Creative Memories is easier and better quality.

I made a book for my in laws and for my sister-in-law's family this year for Christmas. I have been showing them to friends and they some made grandparent books or a year in review book. Mine was a vacation we all took together last summer. Everybody loves them! They are so easy to make and only take a few hours (2-5).

The website address is (if your interested) www.mycmsite.com/rtesser look for the StoryBook creator free download at the bottom of the page.

Let me know if you have any questions. They are wonderful gifts!!

R.
SAHM of four kids 6 and under

i just went thru this too with my mother in law and my mom. so we got my mother in law a gift card for 3 perms where she gets her hair done. and for my mom we went with a gift card for her to have her car washed and vaccumed thru out the year. both fathers have past on so we just had to get for our mothers. i know it's the hardest thing to do!!!

T., I don't know if your parents live close or far away. But, try and think outside the box of something wrapped. I try and find "relationship" gifts when it comes to adults. It doesn't always work that way, but I try. I really LOVE the ideas so far, but maybe consider their love languages. Do they like to spend time together with your family? Maybe a special "We Love You" dinner with their favorite foods and watching a movie together. Do they like to be pampered? Maybe a paid trip to the SPA. Is there something that they need physical help with around the home? Maybe create tickets for "Snowblowing" the driveway, or "Planting" their favorite flowers or food in the garden, come Spring, or doing the grocery shopping for them one week...a coupon booklet of sorts for something neat each month. Do they like to read? Maybe have your children make up a story about the things they love about grandma and grandpa, or favorite memories with them, complete with drawings, etc. OR have those stories framed. Everyone needs a new calendar. Can you send in family pictures to a photosnap place online and create your own? Would they enjoy going to a pottery place and creating their own piece?
I know these are quite a different take on Christmas, but they can really create memories different from the norm. Good luck to you.
J.

We have started buying our parents Tastefully Simple products because we know what they like and we know it will get used since the like the products and they like to eat. We have purchased wine for my parents in the past as well as a nice wine rack. We did gift baskets last year with popcorn, candy, flavored coffee's and such from our friends store candy wrappers. We have also given gift cards to places we know they love to shop. Looks like you have some great ideas hopefully that will make buying a little easier.

~B.

:)

what counts, is LOVE AND ATTENTION AND CARE, not what object it will be.
I smile, as my sons are 25 and 23: imagine my thoughts about 'what should I get them for birthday?" when they do have everything!!!
With parents, it is still easier.
What do they like?
I BIG jar of good cookies, and chocolate, and
then start thinking in terms of what they like, what are their hobbies, how they spend their 'quality time'
and after all, what are your financial options?
who is the cook in the house? are there any appliances that are really old or worn in their kitchen?
does mom wear jewelery? maybe, a nice necklace...
classics for dads is a beautiful big cup...
keep asking yourself questions, go walk around in stores,
like if yo were going hunting, and ask yourself, what would they like of what you see around in stores right now, and what can you afford?
Good luck, really!!!
Whatever your choice, they will be very happy, believe me!!!

about photos, I read in other advices...
You know, it might be late this year, but for the NEXT Christmas, please have a look at
http://www.blurb.com
you can COMPOSE a real book there, writing and placing pictures, and then PUBLISH it on that site, ordering it in a hardcover, will be something less than 30 bucks, but you can compose it together, deciding how to make pages, including your 5 year old son. Imagine, you have a year to make it, till next Christmas, it will be a real published book with your family's photos and write some stories, maybe funny events from your family history, or something... :)

Even parents who have "everything" would enjoy personal care products that are natural, safe and affordable, because no matter what your age or gender we all have skin and usually drying skin problems with cooler winter weather. Or even the luxury of pampering in a hot tub with the addition of the Dead Sea Salts to moisturize and reduce wrinkling... go to www.jordanessentials.com/8783 and see the full line as well as available gift sets.... Jordan Essentials discounts when you purchase in sets. I personally give these products to family members and find they are pleased and amazed with the results.
R. B.

I have the same problem. My daughter just came up with a brilliant idea. I haven't found the web site yet so can't give you that but...for $50 you can give someone the gift of offsetting the greenhouse gases that their car is creating for a year. I'll find out more details. seems like a great 'green' Christmas gift!

Framed pictures of the grandkids is always appreciated. If your kids are doing art, frame some of their "art" for the grandparents.

What about a gift certificate to a favorite restaurant?

If you have a digital camera and have lots of pictures on your computer from the past year or two, but them one of those new picture frames that scrolls thru a bunch of pictures of your kids. They run about 75.00 and alot of time to get the pictures loaded the first time.

Or, you can make them a photo book or a frame with a lot of little pictures. If they have everything, they never have enough pictures.

M. b