Holiday gift question

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2005
Holiday gift question
3
Tue, 05-22-2007 - 8:54am

I know it's very early to be thinking about this stuff but my dh and I got into a discussion about Christmas over the weekend and I'm hoping to get some imput on something.

First let me start by saying that we have only one child. He will be 14 years old this Christmas. We have never purchased much for the holidays. One gift each or we would pool our budget and give him just one larger joint gift. No stockings. Just a simple gift.

Now a gift could be a box filled with several small items or one larger item. It all depends on what you want to give. Last year I gave him a box with a music cd and two dvd movies. Dh gave him a baseball hat from the local college team and a gift card to the comic book shop. So occasionally he does get more than one item from each of us, some years he gets just one larger item as a gift from both of us. Our budget is $50 each, or $100 for a larger item.

Our problem is that now that he's older, it's getting harder and harder to find just the right gift. We do not ask what someone wants for a gift because we feel that it's rude to ask for something and it's not something we wish our son to see as acceptable.

Dh is thinking that it may be easier to just pool our budgets and purchase him a $100 visa gift card. This way he can get whatever he wants, he could get a larger item, he could use it for music downloads or sheet music, books, clothes etc..

My question is... Do you think it's wrong to just give a teen a gift card and nothing else? He's used to getting just one thing from each of us or a joint gift from both of us. Would your teen be disappointed if they unwrapped their one gift and found a $100 visa gift card?

stacy

Avatar for weberdns0
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2000
Tue, 05-22-2007 - 9:36am
My kids would be disappointed if they did that.
Avatar for heartsandroses2002
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 05-22-2007 - 9:46am

How about the $100 gift card and then something small like a DVD to add to his collection? Or a prized comic book he's wanted. Or a special article of clothing he's wanted...It may mean spending a little bit more, but at least it's not just an envelope.

IMO, it's not the value of the gift, it's his reaction to the gift. I've gotten my dds things that I would think is ridiculous, but they do cartwheels over it! To each his own I guess.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2005
Wed, 05-23-2007 - 7:18am

Actually we did increase the amount to $100 last year. I respectfully disagree that a 14 year old can't purchase much with $100.

stacy

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