Holiday Shopping & Gifts
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| Wed, 11-29-2006 - 12:45pm |
Well, I guess the holiday season is now officially upon us, huh? What sort of gifts are on your teens wish list this year?
I was at the mall yesterday exchanging some pants for DH and thought I should at least get started on gift shopping.
Wouldn't you know it, I had a very tough time! DD and DS need nothing, want for naught and are pretty much indulged all year round. I'm having a hard time getting in the mindset that I need to go buy more 'stuff' for them this year.
So, how well do you think something like this will be received? "Well guys, you both have everything you need and most of what you want and I really couldn't see spending a bunch of money on stuff you don't need or want just so you'd have presents to open this morning. So, we're just going to have a nice day together, maybe watch a movie or play some tennis and then I'll fix a nice dinner later." ?
NOT well, I'd venture to guess.
I passed by a Sam Goody store on the way out of the mall and saw those stereo/boom box things one can hook an iPod into in the window display, so I bought each of them one. (BTW, buy one for $100 and get a $50 rebate -- great deal.) Other than that, I'm stumped.
Any ideas?

Well, we always do an iTunes card as a stocking stuffer. Otherwise ds14 wanted a Gears of War shirt; I told him he could get that himself as I didn't thrill to it (all have skulls and "GEARS OF WAR" all over them), so he did! (I said NOT to school) I got him a Halo 3 tshirt and also a tshirt from Fender with 'Rock On' on it (he plays guitar), and dh found a couple of things via his ham radio buddies (for trade, no $) that he'll fix and give him (a fuzz pedal for his guitar and some kind of heads up display for his XBox). Other than that, I think he wanted one DS game and fluctuates on another one, so I'll probably get the one and a Target card for him to choose stuff. I got a couple of books for him too; that's about it.
Sue
I am getting dd17 the iPod boom box thingy you described, some new festive pajamas, and a gift certificate to someplace, not sure where. I will also be contributing a portion of my year end bonus towards a car in March for her is she does well 3rd quarter.
For dd19, since I'm going into debt putting her through college, I do not feel compelled to run out and get her needless items, like you said. So, she is a couple of things on her list that she wanted (clothing) and H and I are considering letting her take her car back with her in January - but we haven't made any final decisions.
We're having a slew of family over Christmas Day and my mom will be with us this holiday for the first time EVER - I already feel blessed that I will have all those I love home with me, so that's my gift. And I think we're going to try and focus on the joy that being together, healthy and safe brings. And LOTS of yummy food & drink!!
I just don't see the benefit of loading up gifts under the tree when A) we can't really afford it this year, and B) I'd rather put my money towards dds educations, and C) we really do not need anything. We always give to a local women's shelter and donate money to local charities as well as Food Share...I'd rather my kids realize that's what it most important - sharing what you have because you can.
Ughhh I don't even want to think about Christmas!! This will be my first Christmas without dh (he's deployed overseas) - I survived Thanksgiving, but have to say I am absolutely dreading Christmas :(
I have already bought dd(14) - the Ipod Ihome thingy and ds(almost 11) one of those video game rockers. Other than that I am stumped. My mom recently decided to get ds the Wii - but of course now we can't find it anywhere. DD does need dressy clothes for game days so maybe some cash for that will do. What I really want to do, is buy a pool table as a family gift - just can't figure out where to put it!! The only place I have space is in the garage and dh isn't thrilled w/ that idea. Other than that I'm clueless!
The entire family is bugging for what to get them and I just laugh - all I can do at this point!
Oh bleech...Christmas shopping. I hate it. I invaribly wake up right before Christmas, and think, well, let's just say not very nice thoughts about I didn't get such-and-such for so-and-so. Or, one of the boys (or both) *finally* decide what they MUST have for Christmas so off I go in search of what is probably going to be impossible to find at that late date.
Your dd is probably too young yet for what we did when my ds was a senior. I basically stocked his "kitchen" for him for Christmas. And believe it or not, it was his idea! I picked out Corelle dishes and glassware, silverware, pots and pans, ovenware, cuptowels, etc. We didn't buy the expensive stuff, bought most of it thru ABC mail-order and Walmart. When he finally moved out, he had all the kitchen stuff he needed. Apparently, I have passed on my gene that has "practical gift" encoded on it. :)
This year, younger ds is already wanting things to deck out his truck (that he won't get until next summer!). Right now he's wanting those neon lights that kids put under their vehicles that glow at night. I thought they were *all* illegal, at least to drive at night with them on, but according to ds15, only the red and blue are illegal here. Green is acceptable. And how convenient....green is our school color!! LOL I'm hoping this will be a passing wish, that he will come up with something much better.
Sadly, many times, the boys just got cash for Christmas. But, that's all they ask for. Usually, it was because they wanted something really expensive that they knew I would not shell out the bucks for. :) Last year, ds15 wanted a cell phone that was *way* more what I thought he needed. But, if that's what he wants to spend his money on, so be it.
Sorry, not much help here, I know.
Well, I really do envy you - with two "fashionistas" who never have enough clothing to suit them, I will be shopping via their "wish lists" mostly, and alot of it online for that matter! I do rather hate, though, buying only what they have asked for and no "surprises" take the fun right out of it, kwim?
DS10 has asked us for a PSP and a game, Avatar DVD's and toys. I think maybe he knows there is no Santa...sniff, sniff.
A few years ago one of dd's friends had a family who also felt their kids had "everything". I don't know if one can say that if a teen doesn't have an Ipod, these days, can one? ;) So anyway, the mom wound up buying the kids all their own snowboard - they used to love to go up to the Sierras every winter so it was a kind of "family" gift thing which they also really enjoyed. I have another friend whose boys have everything year round, so can't think of a thing either, and last year she bought them...jet skiis! What she will think of this year, I can hardly venture to guess...
If I had my druthers, I would just buy us all a "family gift" of Tivo and/or maybe a Plasma t.v., because we're the family that doesn't have "everything", but...we'll see...