Share your gift ideas, because I am a bit stumped.

  • mommykink@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Unsure of the rest of my family but it’s become a running gaga to get my mom the cheesiest custom-printed throw blanket we can think of. This year’s is a horribly cropped screenshot of a text conversation we had a while ago about buying groceries from Dollar General

  • Hobbes@startrek.website
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    1 year ago

    The best gift ever is that my family all agreed not to buy unneeded things for each other. The gift of not stressing, not having to go shopping, and not spending money just keeps on giving.

  • Mamertine@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    We stopped doing gift exchanges. We were just getting things we didn’t want. Ymmv, that doesn’t work in all families.

  • hoshikarakitaridia@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    Bathing salts, a chair cushion, a calendar, a cooking book, slippers and some chocolate.

    It all sounds random but what makes them good presents is that I have reason to believe my family actually wants those things.

    That said, I think next time I’ll be giving less thought into it because apparently half my family would like to stop with the presents cause they feel like they don’t need more shit and also don’t like being obligated to buy stuff for other people. Fair enough, but if it’s small things I still like gifting stuff.

  • AquaTofana@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Got my husband a light for his desk that is in the shape of the bon fire spawn/save point in the Dark Souls series. It’s in one of those clear resin blocks and it glows. Then we’re going to a bougie ass resort for a 2 day stay cation where he doesn’t have to worry about anything!

    Got one of my besties who enjoys D&D a bottle opener called “Tool of Opening”, a dunce cap for his dice when they disappoint him, and a t-shirt that says: “Lawful in the Streets; Chaotic in the Sheets”. Basically a bunch of little kitschy things based on his interests.

    Another bestie is (probably) getting some kinda Critical Role merchandise. Maybe a wooden sign for his room that says “Entering Dave’s Dungeon Roll for Initiative”. Still deciding on him.

    When we sold our house, I opened investment accounts for my niece and 2 nephews, and I just throw money in there for every birthday/Christmas. As infants/toddlers they’re going to be too young to appreciate it for a while, but I grew up bouncing between “lower class” and “lower middle class” so I want them to have more opportunities starting out than I did. They’ll appreciate it one day. I hope.

  • berkeleyblue@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    For the most part our family has decided to not get gifts this year. We just spend time together, eat something nice and enjoy each other, except for the one child in our family that of course still gets something.

    For my wifes side of the family, we decided to do secret santa this year and cap ourselfs at 30.- CHF for value.

    Not helpful for gift ideas I guess though^^

    • AgnosticMammal@lemmy.zip
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      1 year ago

      Byo food in this case? Lest this causes more than one person to bring potato salad, lol.

      Best tip for this is to designate types of foods instead of asking what they’ll bring to avoid back and forth. Eg. Someone’ll make the salad, someone’ll make a pastry, someone’ll make dessert, etc.

    • felixwhynot@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I use a strategy for some gifts which I call “luxury consumables”. Get someone something that they will use up (food, cheese, chocolate, olive oil, soap, booze, tea, etc) but that’s a bit nicer than they would get for themselves. If you can afford that!

      For instance, flavored oil and vinegar for the chef. Fancy chocolate for… everyone. And in this case, smoked cheese! Sounds tasty AF.

      • AgnosticMammal@lemmy.zip
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        1 year ago

        Hell yeah this has been my tactic too. My family had stopped making the habit of gifting because of the unnecessary gifts, and so this is a great way to ensure they’ll actually use the gift.

  • magnetosphere@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    A friend of mine drives an SUV. I’m getting him a sticker of Jason for the back window, with an “arm” holding a bloody machete that attaches to the back window wiper. When the wiper is on, it looks like Jason is hacking away with his machete.

    I think it’s kinda corny, but he loves stuff like that!

  • Nollij@sopuli.xyz
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    1 year ago

    Get them a nicer version of things they already get. Fancy coffee, hot sauces, soap, candles, pens, that sort of thing. It loses some of its charm, but that could also mean a gift card to a nicer restaurant. Just make sure it’s enough to cover the meal.

    This works especially well if they’re pretty cheap and wouldn’t get things like that, simply because they’re too expensive.

    You can also go for some very pseudo-luxury items. Vermont Maple syrup (or Maple candies - seriously, it’s just crystalized sugar, but it seems so rich), sausage and cheese sets, chocolate oranges…

    Finally, here’s the biggest tip - Don’t wait until December to think about it. Pay attention through the year. They will almost certainly mention something offhand to you. A passing comment like “we never have enough -----” or “---- never works right” are perfect opportunities. Just make a note on your phone. Feel free to ask probing questions and even tell them that’s what you’re doing- if it’s before Halloween, they’ll almost certainly forget by Xmas anyway.

  • RozhkiNozhki@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I found plantable paper stars/snowflakes that can be used as gift tags or tree ornaments. The paper contains wildflower seeds so you can plant this paper star into the ground in spring and it will sprout flowers.

  • Phlogiston@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    My in-laws are in Arizona where there are scorpions. I’m giving them a powerful blacklight flashlight so we can go look for them when it gets dark out.

    • marduk@lemmy.today
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      1 year ago

      They are also great for spotting certain mushrooms/lichens! Try pointing it at a tree to see the blotches of natural sunscreen growing on them

    • AtmaJnana@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Be aware that powerful UV flashlights (especially the no-name Chinese ones) can also damage your eyes quickly without you noticing. Better ones will come with protective glasses.

      • Guest_User@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        To be clear UV flashlights are NOT the same as blacklight flashlights. However I totally agree if you are getting a UV light source for some reason, eye and possibly skin protection is a fantastic idea

        • AtmaJnana@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          I mean, black light (aka wood’s light when fitted with a special filter) is UV-A. Hence it is important to educate people.