Christmas gifts - help me

[sandandsea]

What are you getting your dads for Christmas!? Ours are so hard to buy for. My dad is a good ole country boy and FIL is retired and doesn't really had any hobbies other than soccer (South American teams mostly).

They're impossible. I hate doing cologne, they don't wear ties, etc.

For my MIl I was think of a grandkids birthstone necklace but it's 50/50. She could LOVE it or hate it and I have no idea which side she'd be on. And if she hates it she'll let us know and then I'll feel bad.

We have agreed to about $50 as a budget with everyone.

[vivela]

I like sites like uncommon goods for that kind of thing. They have lots of random, cool things you wouldn't otherwise think of. Last year I got my dad a set of different types of salt from all over the world. Not too expensive, but something fun for the man who had everything.
I also do "of the month" clubs sometimes. There are a couple sites that do it. You can sign someone up for a few months of some product and they get a new one to try every month - cheese, coffee, beauty products, international foods, dog toys and treats, etc.

[babyzebra]

My dad is super hard to buy for and my FIL is super easy to buy for. I get my dad a gift card almost every year because he's so difficult. I figure if he hates everything everyone buys for him, then he gets a gift card, and I don't feel bad about it. We always get my FIL a new kind of hot sauce and liquor every year and he loves it! Maybe we're enablers...

[babyzebra]

sandandsea I have a lot of good ole country boys in my family. Does your dad drink alcohol? Does he need a new pair of boots or working-type shoes? What about any gun/hunting accessories if he's into sport shooting?

[sandandsea]

I was thinking maybe a wine club for FIL and I found a jerky and nuts package on man crates website maybe for my dad?

ETA. I went with this.

[Kevinmac]

I'm always at a loss for FIL. He never uses stuff we get him. I bought him some gloves so far. I really want to get him a gift certificate for a scenic railroad in my area. He loves trains and would like it, I just don't know if MIL would go with him.

I don't speak with my father, so that's pretty easy.

[GOmamab15]

Good question.
This year my SIL suggested a secret Santa gift exchange. I thought it'd just be siblings & our spouses but it turned into everyone who normally comes to Xmas at my ILs, which includes my Dad (isn't it sweet that my ILs get along so well with my Dad that he goes to all the holidays with us so I get ALL my family under one roof? I'm a lucky girl.)
So, since I didn't pull their names, am I off the hook for buying our parents gifts this year? I'm leaning towards yes, but I kinda think they'll still get us something regardless of who they drew, so idk.

[mladerri]

I buy most the men in my family subscriptions to magazines. My father likes car and driver and brother in law likes golf. Maybe you could do a hunting or outdoorsy magazine?

[origamimommy]

babyzebra we do literally the same thing for FIL--nice booze and a fancy hot sauce lol. Sometimes we do sporting events tickets and he loves that too.

[babyzebra]

Dec 6, 2015 23:00:15 GMT -5 origamimommy said:

babyzebra we do literally the same thing for FIL--nice booze and a fancy hot sauce lol. Sometimes we do sporting events tickets and he loves that too.

You gotta love simple men!


ETA and now Lynyrd Skynyrd will be stuck in my head!

[lakecountrygal]

MIL -- Wine Glasses with DS's hand prints on them

FIL -- whiskey glasses with DS's handprints on then

My parents -- ??

Siblings (to DH and I) --- ??

We try to get people something they use or need. As you can see MIL and FIL obviously drink a lot.

[teggy20]

These slippers are literally our go-to for pretty much everyone we don't know what to buy for. A bit more than you wanted to spend, but they're AMAZING and last forever. I also have struggled with what to get my dad every single year, and now we just update his slippers every Christmas. He loves it, easy for us. Win/win.

www.llbean.com/llb/shop/65637?feat=511926-GN3&page=men-s-wicked-good-moccasins

[titania]

teggy20, I got those for MH last year and he loves them! We are also going with slippers for my MIL this year.

For my FIL we are going with a tool of some kind... that is DH's job to figure out

[babyzebra]

teggy20 and now I want those for myself!

[csat]

We don't really exchange big gifts in my family, but even with smaller gifts it's nice to get people something they'd like but wouldn't normally spend the money on themselves. Both of my parents are hard to buy for, they don't really need any 'things'.

So last year I got my dad some really expensive bacon and (yes I'm serious) chicken livers (his favorite) from fancy market. He talked about how good that bacon and those chicken livers were for months. I'm doing the same this year.

[frecklesnbrains]

I'm with csat - I always give my parents food. Coffee for my dad and stepdad. Chocolate or tea for my mom. Jars of jam or pickles or something like that for my stepmom. Wine for my dad & stepmom. I got a fruit-of-the-month club once for both sets of parents. I always get something that is a bit nicer or different from what they would get for themselves.

And those L.L.Bean slippers are awesome. I might get a pair for DH. We're not going to exchange Xmas gifts this year in favor of saving for a babymoon (not to mention baby!) but he has an early January birthday and he got stuff for my bday this past year so he deserves a little something. They also have nice versions for women. I've had a pair myself for years and years.

[teggy20]

titania, babyzebra, frecklesnbrains, they are THE BEST. I have a pair, too, and wear them approximately 20 hours a day. I love giving them as gifts!

[virginiaorjohn]

I buy my dad a Lowes gift card every year because bro is practical and Lowes is his favorite store. I know he'll use it and be happy when I give it to him. Although this year he also said he wanted a gift card to the local movie theater because he likes seeing movies. I might do both!