OT Money For Christmas

[PitterPatter]

I just wanted to take a poll and see what the average thoughts were on this. I have family (usually the teens) always tell me they want money or gift cards for Christmas. I have been giving it but not really happy about it because not only does it take the fun out of shopping for a surprise gift for each of them but it's very impersonal and I just feel like I am handing out charity not giving from my heart. Last year I was missing 9 wrapped gifts under the tree because it was all cash in a money card. This year when I asked for a couple things they all would like to have 2 of them came right out and said "we only want money" I just found that rude! I don't have to give anything (2nd cousins) Now I am really bummed. It would be different if they were saving for a car or college etc. Maybe it's just me please vote.

Do you think it's rude for people to request gifts of money for Christmas?

[Sunchimes]

My grandkids try that. I just tell them to come up with real things or I'll use my imagination! They fear Grandma's imagination and usually come up with a list. The exception is the one who lives far, far away. I'd rather put the shipping money into a gift card so that she benefits from the full amount.

[PitterPatter]

Originally Posted by Sunchimes

My grandkids try that. I just tell them to come up with real things or I'll use my imagination! They fear Grandma's imagination and usually come up with a list. The exception is the one who lives far, far away. I'd rather put the shipping money into a gift card so that she benefits from the full amount.

I totally agree a perfect example of an exception!

I actually have had older family who complain about what they get also so it's not always the teens. Years ago my ex husbands Grandmother was given a Swiss Coloney gift pack with all the different foods, meats cheeses etc. She tossed it on the couch and said we should know she doesn't like that stuff. Gee sorry Gran I thought everyone liked food!

[Sunchimes]

lol At least they don't complain when I use my imagination. ;-) I've only had one complain and she was just a little kid, so I overlooked it. The others suspect that if they complain, the gifts will stop. (They wouldn't, and now they are mostly old enough to know how to be gracious, so I'm not too worried.) We are pretty lucky!

[jessrlee]

I am actually sad that my Husbands family gives money or gift cards for Christmas! My youngest BIL is the only one that gives actual gifts. He always gives me something I had no idea I wanted

My kids are not allowed to ask for cash. I do mention iTunes cards to the grandparents that want to get them something cool, but don't want to go hunt down the right Selena Gomez cd. I hope that isn't tacky?

[PitterPatter]

Originally Posted by jessrlee

I am actually sad that my Husbands family gives money or gift cards for Christmas! My youngest BIL is the only one that gives actual gifts. He always gives me something I had no idea I wanted

My kids are not allowed to ask for cash. I do mention iTunes cards to the grandparents that want to get them something cool, but don't want to go hunt down the right Selena Gomez cd. I hope that isn't tacky?

Well in my opinion that is an actual item. Better than "We only want money"

I understand grandparents giving cash or anyone who may be unable to get out there and shop but for kids to just tell people they only want money... it just bums me out. We aren't banks we are family!

[sharlan]

I don't like to give cash. I do give gift cards, though.

I give my mom's bf gift cards. He's in his late 70's and if he wanted it, he already has it. He likes to take Mom out to dinner, so I buy $50 - $75 in restaurant gift cards and a trinket of some sort or a box of chocolates (his favorite). My kids give him the same things.

My "borrowed" granddaughter is really hard to buy for. So I buy her some fancy socks and give her a gift card to her favorite clothing store.

I give my daycare kids a gift card to Toys R Us.

[Country Kids]

My two teenagers I would rather give them a few small gifts and the rest in cash or gift cards. The girls and I always go shopping the day after Christmas to do returns or whatever because there are some awesome sales that day. Well when they have the cash already or a gift card they can get exactly what they want, in a size, color, style, whatever they are looking for. It saves the dissapointment of it doesn't fit, wrong item, whatever! I would actually like to have cash or gift cards because then as I run across an item I want I can get it then instead of never having the money or having to save up. The best gift card is a Visa one because they can use it anywhere.

We always give elderly relatives cash or gift cards. They can get their prescriptions filled, eat out, buy stamps, get some groceries. They always appreciate it.

Here are some ideas if you want to give a gift/with gift card/money:

Movie money-make a movie basket, popcorn,candy,drinks,then a gift certificate for a movie rental or buy tickets to the movie theatre.

Car basket-Buy a bucket and fill with things to wash a car, wipes for the interior, some freebreeze or those things you use hang up to make your car smell good with a gift card for some gas.

Game night-buy a cheap board game and then put in a gift certificate to a pizza parlor for pizzza, bread sticks and soda. Could do this for the movie basket also.

Make-up-Do a makeup basket, with some eyeshadow, lip balm, blush, lotion, or body sprays with a gift certificate to somewhere to have their hair done. You could even buy a gift certificate to a beauty school and get a whole lot done for the fraction of the cost. Like a mini spa day!

[Nellie]

I do think it is tacky to ask for cash for Christmas. For us older kids on both my and my husbands side of the family we get gift cards or cash. They typically give us a small 10 to 15 dollar gift then a gift card or cash. The grand kids get gifts yet. But on my husband's Dads side all his kids are 13 and older and my husband and I have a 13 year old. He now gives them gift cards too. It use to be nice to see the littler ones open gifts. There are a couple of littler grand kids, but it seems kind of dull watching every one quickly look at there gift card and put it in there wallet. Last year every one received a little gift with there gift card. My mom did better last year by getting every one a small gift with the cash. If we tell my husbands mom what we want for Christmas she will buy it for us. So typically my husband and I are the only married ones from her kids so it is a little harder for her to get a gift for us and we get gift cards. She does typically get my husband some kind of a history book or books and I get a cute gift bag with nice hand towels, candles, and other goodies from the Family Christmas Tree Farm gift shop. Then we get gift cards for the rest. I feel awful that last year I got my 12 year old daughter at the time a few gift cards for Christmas. She is getting to the age where she is into clothes. We have opposite taste in clothes. My husband and I shopped the year before to pick her up a few things she was asking for. I picked up a vest in one color and said it was cute. My husband said put it back and pick out the one you think is the ugliest and she will like it. My mom when we got to be about that age took us shopping and we picked out most of our gifts(clothes). Two years ago 1/2 of the clothes I bought she wanted to return. I considered bringing her with last year, but with a newborn at the time I ran out of time and bought a few gift cards. She still had gifts to open, but the gift cards to her favorite clothing stores saved time before Christmas. We went shopping after Christmas and she bought a few things with them. Then she saved them and would have "money" to buy stuff the next few trips to the mall.
Also I'm pretty good at getting things at a good price. If I only have $15 to spend on a niece I can come up with a pretty good gift that no one would know it only cost ed $15, but giving her a $15 seems cheap and she won't get much for it.

[Cat Herder]

Technically, it is tacky to ask.... BUT that is what my DD is asking for from Grandparents this year ($25 limit is the longtime family rule). DD has been working hard and saving up for half of the cost of her car this summer.

Asking for a car would be MUCH worse....IMHO.

In all honesty, my teens FAVORITE gift from extended family (that they rarely see all year) is Borders / Barnes and Noble gift cards.

IME, Once kids are not so cute, compliant and cuddly family seem to lose interest. They call and ask me what to get and having a simple option seems to make them happy and relieved.

My family does not swap gifts other than for children. Once you are off to college, you get a Christmas Card and dinner invite instead. Gifts are not really the focus at all for us. We like food, music (everyone plays some instrument and sings) and laughter.

[Zoe]

My parents and grandparents always gave us cash and gift cards as an after-thought. Either in our stockings or in an envelope AFTER all the other presents. It was more of a "in case there was something special you want that you didn't get."

I never asked for cash, it was just something they did. I do think it would be rude to ask.

[KEG123]

My grandpa always gave giftcards when I was a teenager, half the time I didn't even know what I wanted anyways so it was easier. Now, he does give me cash, I guess because I'm a "responsible adult with children" now.

[PitterPatter]

My Gran was always strict about spending exactly the same on all kids. There was no set limit but if she spent $30 on 1 gift and another kids was only $25 she would attach the $5 difference to make it fair.

I agree with Nellie about catching thinsg on sale and saving a buck too. Another reason to give the gift. If I can find a great gift for $15 I would rather do that but if I hand out $15 it may seem cheap to a certain couple teens.

Another aspect I didn't even touch on was the amount I have to give out vs the amount coming in. It never really bothered me until this yr. I have a family member that adopted 4 kids on top of her own 3 so now I have 9 gifts I have to buy for that 1 family vs them giving 2 to us. It's just too hard to hand over $100 + in cash. The limit is $20. It's easier for them to manage $40 than me to manage $180.

I would love to have it like Cat just do for the kids and have fun. I don't care if the adult cousins get or give. Its the kids I love watching open gifts and play together.

[Cat Herder]

Originally Posted by PitterPatter

I have a family member that adopted 4 kids on top of her own 3 so now I have 9 gifts I have to buy for that 1 family .

BTDT... I pulled a family of 8 kids off the "Love Light Giving Tree" one year. Usually it had 1 child per tab. I could not turn around and put it back...

THIS was my solution along with some smaller items... Label it "To ***** Family".

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sportcraft...oring/17206396

[PitterPatter]

Originally Posted by Catherder

BTDT... I pulled a family of 8 kids off the "Love Light Giving Tree" one year. Usually it had 1 child per tab. I could not turn around and put it back...

THIS was my solution along with some smaller items... Label it "To ***** Family".

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sportcraft...oring/17206396

OMG Cat thank you so much!!! GREAT idea!! I am so buying this now! Wow that will save me a small fortune! Well really saves me about $130 but WOW! TY TY Lady!!

[Crystal]

I only think it is rude to ask, IF the giver did not ask the person what they want. They're just being honest!

Now, if they walked up and said hey, ya know I never wore that sweater you gave me, so if you don't mind cash this year, I'd appreciate it" then THAT would be rude!

If you find it rude, or you really do not enjoy giving cash and really do enjoy picking out gifts, then simply don't ask them what they want and buy them a thoughtful gift from the instead.

Personally, I LOVE giving and receiving cash or gift cards. I am soooo not a shopper and I have very different taste than most people I know!

[Kaddidle Care]

All the teens in my family are getting a candy bar and cash. It's what they want (Mom told me on 3 of them - they are always saving for something - usually sports equipment that is usually so expensive there's no way one relative can spend that much.)

I'm more than happy to not have to shop. I always end up getting the wrong things or wrong size. I try but eh...

The presents aren't really what Christmas is about - you know?

I'd rather bake everyone something and go out to dinner with them!