As the “kids” get older, it’s harder to get things they really like, especially if you’re hoping for any kind of surprise.
This thread is meant for discussing what gifts are being asked for, are popular, we want, or whatever.
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Well…Santa better be bringing me a new Fitbit or Apple Watch or something.
For our kids…
I got everyone nice coffee mugs from our town and I’ll get coffee that is roasted here too. And granola that is made here. And jellies that are made here. And they will each get money of some sort. They like consumables at this point in time.
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This is a bit of an issue for us this year. Usually, we only give gifts to our son but, now that he’s married, I don’t want to have to ask him what she wants or ask her what he wants. We’re thinking of just asking them if there was anything they wanted that they didn’t get for their wedding, or just gifting them some money. They really don’t need anything, and I hate perfunctory purchases.
I hate this time of year.
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Our adult kids always seem to need something for their house that is not urgent but needed, or if not, a trip. We contribute to those and they take a pic with a bow on it.
we give our kids 3 things:
Something to wear
Something to read
Something else (a catchall category that usually means related to a hobby)
And then on Christmas, the six of us each present a choice of charity, and we donate to one that we all agree on. has to be different from the previous year.
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I like giving practical gifts and the children seem to like those too. Both of my daughters enjoy entertaining at home so I will probably get them something they can use but wouldn’t buy for themselves. Anything Le Creuset will be well received.
My son is harder to shop for though he’s become a clotheshorse lately. I’d love to get him a bespoke suit but will probably just get him some new ties and dress shirts. Probably a Lego set marketed to adults ( e.g. architecture, Creator) because he still enjoys that sort of thing.
Travel and arts (e.g. Broadway, museum, airline) gift cards are popular with them. Money too, of course.
I just want books and cozy socks.
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I don’t love getting gifts but like giving them. 
But did tell my daughter this weekend that I would like a fun crossbody “belt bag” that I wouldn’t Buy for myself.
Or a pair of Adidas Samba athletic shoes 
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Kiva.org is a really interesting way to donate. It’s not really a donation (but you can do that) but a way to become involved in micro loans around the world to help people start businesses etc.
We’ve done it a few years. You can get your donation back as loans are repaid and invest in someone else’s project. Worth a look perhaps. It’s similar to a kickstarter platform with returns not just for a specific project but to actually start a business.
Charity Navigator is a great site to look up charities so you have more confidence in where your money is going. They rate them on quite a few fronts.
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Oops, didn’t mean to reply to gouf78 -sorry. I keep making that mistake.
My husband is fascinated with the Arnold Expedition, when Benedict Arnold took his men through the Maine wilderness to try to take Quebec City (it was a big failure). Places close to our cabin are named things like “East Carry Pond” or “Carrying Place Road,” etc., because the men had to carry their bateaux through thick forest (a Loyalist mapmaker purposely gave them inaccurate maps and they had thought they could go down a river most of the way, but no).
ANYWAY, I found a map of their route online so I’m going to buy it and frame it for DH. 
I think he will like it a lot.
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We gift experiences - theater tickets, dinners, memberships, travel type stuff.
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So far I’ve only bought a botanical garden family membership for D’s family and a Playmobil Star Trek (USS Enterprise) set for H. I didn’t know Playmobil made anything for adults until I saw this set.
I’d like a Lego wildflower, orchid or succulent set. I enjoyed their Bird of Paradise set this past year.
We used to contribute to Heifer International but have directed charitable funds elsewhere lately. I’ll probably suggest that to our kids if they ask.
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Last year I got my niece and nephew gift memberships to local botanical gardens. I know my niece went once to hers; not sure if nephew and (now) wife ever went to theirs! But they were both appreciative.
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You probably already know this, but FYI for those who don’t:
-Kiva loans have already been approved and disbursed when applicants’ profiles are posted. It does say that in the fine print, so just be aware that your donation is not actually going to the borrower you select.
-Over half of Kiva loans charge interest rates of 30% or above. A third of the loans are at 50% of higher rates.
YMMV. Kiva is a legit non profit that does help people, but their business model is not without controversy.
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Our two kids like to chip in and buy us local theater tickets. Sometimes in town, sometimes Boulder Dinner Theater 30 min away (closing soon - makes me so sad), sometimes Denver an hour away. The dates have luckily always worked for us. Oh, one year it was a cheesemaking class a few miles away, in a more rural area where their elementary school is - that was fun too!
We struggle for ideas every year. Our gifts for them are never grand, since we are not sure what they’d like. But whenever we are with them here or Cape Cod (son lives in Boston), we always insist on picking up the tabs.
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We did this a couple of years,
Something you want,
Something you need,
Something to wear,
Something to read.
I think we drew four each (there are four in our family), so each person bought and received four gifts.
Lately, it’s been more of getting them each a nice gift (Apple Watch, doc Martin boots), plus a few inexpensive gifts. We’ve done family pajamas for the last four years, which are pajama pants with a fun matching non Christmas themed tshirt. One year muppets, last year pop culture references of our names (e.g. if a daughter was named Charlotte, it might have been a Charlottes Web tshirt- except they were funnier than that). This year I’m doing these tshirts which are illustrations from real police stops of inebriated drivers- there are four that fit us perfectly, even though we’ve never been in that situation, lol. https://society6.com/sockpuppetmaster/designs
You can look her up on tiktok to see the videos.
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We bought unpurchased gifts off of our daughter and son in law’s wedding registry the first Christmas after they were married. We knew it was something they wanted, at least at some point, and yet it was a surprise because they were not expecting anything from their registry almost a year later.
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Oh goodness. I think your husband and mine must be related…DH’s computers are all named (his work requires they be identified by name) for figures from the battles at Saratoga
I volunteer at a very nice charity thrift shop. We get great and often new with tags items. For the last 6 years, everyone in our family has gotten one gift purchased from this shop…proceeds benefit developmentally disabled adults and young adults. We have gotten some great things…for a song. I try to find things that are useful.
Last year, my DD got brand new Bomba socks, a six pack. DS got a Northface jacket. SIL got a Brooks Bros sweater. DH got LLBean pair of chamois lined jeans. New with tags all.
This year, I’ve gotten DS great wicking socks, DD an Athleta jacket, and SIL a Northface windbreaker. Haven’t found anything yet for DH. But I have time!
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We don’t want stuff and neither does our daughter. We have transitioned to almost all consumable gifts - chocolates, jams, liquor, etc.
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I have two (27 this Christmas) daughters and their fiances to buy for. One pair needs nothing and makes enough to buy whatever they want. Other pair needs everything but will be moving at least twice next year so don’t want stuff, at least not now.
Last year I got the ‘needs nothing’ the aerogarden and that was a hit. This year I may get them a lawnmower (since they stole mine) or an epoxy kit for their garage. I love a nice garage floor!
I think I might get the ‘needs everything’ a Global entry for her passport for her graduation (Dec) present.
For the boys, I’m thinking of binoculars as I have a credit at REI that needs to be used soon. Just some to be used at sporting events.
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