Who do you buy for?

Crystalina wrote: I was just wondering who everyone buys for for Christmas.

We used to buy for everyone. Sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, all the little nieces and nephews. Gene and I would go broke buying for everyone. About 4 yrs ago my inlaws were in a financial bind and asked that we not buy for them because they could not buy for us (not that that's what Christmas is about) but we honored their wishes and his whole side decided to only buy for their immediate familys. Gene and I never buy for each other at all. We never have. If we want it we just get it. Anyway, that was about Izabella's second Christmas. After that because of money the family always wanted to exchange names or whatever. It got confusing so I stepped foward and said that we would no longer be participating in any gift exchanges and were only buying for our kids for Christmas. Alot of the family had attitude about it but what got me is they said we were buying for everyone and when it got closer to Christmas we got a call saying that we would exchange names. Well by that time my gifts for everyone were already bought. I kept all the gifts and decided to throw them my "No More Gifts!" rule. I said that our parents would still get gifts and I wouldn't care if they (the grandparents) bought for the kids but I'm not giving gifts to anyone else or recieving them. That cuts down on the "What are we going to do about gift giving this year?" question. It works out great now that everyone accepts it and everyone is doing the same thing now. I say if you want a gift then I'll catch you on your birthday. Christmas is for me, DH and my kids. I also stopped hopping from house to house on Christmas day also. MIL was not happy about that at all! Like I told her though, I'm not about to take the kids away from their new toys and drag them around all day. Christmas is for us. If you want to see us or have a dinner we can do it on Christmas Eve.

~Roo'sMama~ replied: On my side of the family the siblings and their spouses draw names - we used to buy for everyone but it's gotten to be too much. So we buy for my mom and dad, whichever siblings names we draw, and the kids. My oldest sister has 4 kids and my other sister has one kid going on two, so it's still a lot even with drawing names amongst the siblings.

Oh Dh's side we buy for his mom and dad, and his sister and her boyfriend. I don't think we've ever gotten his sister's kids anything, which is really sad but we don't know them very well... her ex husband has custody of them and we never see them.

We used to buy for certain friends too, but money has been so tight the last couple years that we're not sure if we're going to be able to do that for awhile.

CantWait replied: Not many people really. My mom, grandma and brother when we have the money. My best friend in Edmonton, dh, and their kids also.

This year I didn't plan on buying for anyone besides dh and the kids, however my bf started shopping early this year and already got the kids something, so I feel obligated now to buy also. I wish she hadn't because she's still got a job, whereas I don't, so it's a little tougher.

This also means that I have to come up with something for my family because I've bought for my friend and her family. Luckily they are closer, and it will cost less. Brother is super easy because I just have to bake for him. Grandma, something small and she's happy, she's happy no matter what. I might just make a photo album for her. Mom, who knows.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: We buy for our parents and our nieces/nephews. That's it. I have 2 nephews and 2 nieces.

MM'sMama replied: For about 30-33 people and we always have a huge family Christmas! This year there will be more to buy for though. Lots of babies and marriages this past year.


ETA
We tried the whole SS thing last year so everyone only had to buy a gift ONE person. The rules were this each person had to list 3 things they wanted/needed the max so spend was $20 and they had to make a gift of some kind. Then we drew names on Thankgiving and the other rule was the perosn you got had to be outside your immediate family. But it so didn't work! And even though people said they were ok with what they got I felt bad for those who really got cheated as far as the gift they got and some got nothing. Some were mad about the whole idea of SS but never said a word and just didn't do anything for who they got. I thought it was a great idea.

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: We buy for Logan, small gifts for each other and our parents. I usually buy small gifts for my brother and sister, but last year my sister and I decided that instead of getting a gift for each other, we'd buy for Kenna and Logan. So, I get to go pink shopping and Jenny gets to go blue shopping. It works for us. As for Aaron's brother, Aaron's never said anything about it and I figure if he wants to send something to Scott, he can go buy it himself. I'll mail it for him if he ever does.

C&K*s Mommie replied: Everyone in Chris extended family buys for the children. They are aged from 9 or so on down to Kellie who is 2.5. This includes nephews, neices, cousins, grands.

Then the extended family will draw names, each person has that one person to buy for. That is at Chris' grandparents home.

At my IL's home, same thing. All the kids have more things bought for them, they range in age from 8 on down to Kellie. Same thing about the names, one person draws one name and that is the only adult to buy for.

So 2 adults total, and a multitude of children. Plus white elephants for each home (Chris' grandparents and my IL's home).
The white elephants for the grands home can be gift certificates to restraunts or theatres (always popular) or something that is nice. For my IL's home white elephants are generic, dollar store type things, or things from around the house that you no longer want.

hawkshoe replied: Honestly, way to many. Each year I try to cut it down, but more seem to creep on. I buy for my mom and dad and their spouses, his mom and dad and their spouses, his oldest sister and her husband (they have no kids), his nieces and nephews (6 of them), my nieces and nephews (3 plus my girlfriends kids 3), My girlfriend, my neighbors (they always buy for our boys and us), and my boys Godparents, and a little something for my 4 sils. I am sure there are more, but that is the majority of it.

danahas4monkeys replied: we buy for dh's side , he has a small family one aunt one uncle one cousin and grandma, his parents and sister and niece, then we buy for my sister and her 3 kids and dh and I always have my other sister here with me (she is autistic and still believes in santa she is 29) so I have to get her as many presents as my 4 kids get, and I have one other nephew that I buy for. and I usually have a secret santa gift. dh and i normally dont buy for each other and if we do its one gift.

Dana

amymom replied: Nicole~~what does 'white elephant' mean?

We buy for Grandma and our kids. We might buy for each other, depends on what we need and want and have money for. We buy for all my neices and nephews ~~ 7 this year. With my siblings and their spouses we draw names and spend $50. There is sometimes complaining and I hate it. The most fun is we do stockings and we each buy a small thing to put in the stocking for all 20 of the siblings and their families. We get together for a day and enjoy the company.

With my DH brother's kids (he passed away and they are all adults with kids), we do a bring a dish dinner here at our house (comes to 20-30 people) No presents and we pick a day that all can come. Last year we did it Christmas night it was so nice and relaxing.

(I love Christmas without the gift giving) As soon as MB really doesn't 'believe' in the magic of Santa Claus, we are going to cut down on the big surprises and do little ones and a day out with the kids. This may be the year.

Boo&BugsMom replied: We buy for eachother, our son of course, moms and dad's and neices and nephews. That is it. It gets too expensive otherwise. I do buy for my brother still, but that is because he is single yet and quite younger than myself (7 years). Christmas can get crazy out of hand and I like to keep it more simple and for the kids mainly.

Boo&BugsMom replied: Nicole, we did a white elephant one year and it was loads of fun!!!

coasterqueen replied: We used to buy for everyone but that got too expensive and our kids needs (not wants, but needs) are going to come first so we stopped that.

On my side we buy for my parents, sister, grandparents and 2 bitty cousins (and we only buy for the 2 cousins because their parents buy for our kids every year and they are DIRT poor so I feel like I should as well ).

On DH's side of the family we only buy for the neices and nephews, as well as 3 of DH's siblings because they are young. Well one of them is, he's 9. The other 2 are 23 and 21 but very poor and struggling so DH gives them money for Christmas to help them out.

I also buy for my co-worker, boss and the lobbyist in our office.

I also give money to the postal carrier and garbage men.

ETA: Of course we buy for our girls and then if there is any money left over Dh and I buy each other something.

luvbug00 replied: I buy for Mya, Brad , his (parents,sister) and my family ( brother, parents and grand, cousins under 18) and I get for friends. My S/O always gets the best gifts (other then Mya) i spoil my men.

moped replied: We draw names on both sides
Jack
Grams
The kids on my side draw names - so Jack buys for soemone
My best freind and husband
Maybe a little something for close friends etc
Tom
My 2 little cousins that live close

About 13 - and it always turns out to be more!