Thoughtful but frugal Christmas Gifts

[Artemis Windsong]

I tried ordering a couple of items for great grandsons in another city.  It was a multi pack of wildly colored socks so they could change with each other.  I couldn't get it through.

Something triggered my memory of a Popcorn tin with a puzzle on top.  I didn't find that exact item, I ordered the popcorn tin and the puzzle separately. The entire family can enjoy both.

I ordered multiple water bottles for the family members also in another city.  Temu had sets of 4 with inspiration and ounce notations.  (I know, people consider Temu a bad site.)  I was super frustrated with ordering for each person.  I have in the past done the same thing for all the women and same for the men.

I started with checks after my late SIL beotched me out so bad about the Xmas gifts I had chosen that I had PTSD for a couple of weeks.  The kids/grands don't cash the checks.  So back to cheesy gifts!

Does anyone have frugal thoughtful gift idea?  Not gift cards, please. 

[busymom]

When DVD's were popular, a "movie night" basket was a fun gift.  You'd have an assortment of movies, popcorn, & candy in a basket.  


If anyone bitches me out about gifts, that's when they don't get any.  Wow, was your SIL entitled much Artemis Windsong?

[Artemis Windsong]

Late SIL took the cowards way out.  He was a piece of work but his kids and my DD adored him.  And still do.  My comment was one example.  Another is I stopped him from punching the teenage boys in the kitchen.  There were a lot more.

All I said to them is if you don't like it, regift it. Or donate. Someone will appreciate the effort.

[Artemis Windsong]

Dec 5, 2023 11:55:59 GMT -5 busymom said:

When DVD's were popular, a "movie night" basket was a fun gift.  You'd have an assortment of movies, popcorn, & candy in a basket.  


If anyone bitches me out about gifts, that's when they don't get any.  Wow, was your SIL entitled much Artemis Windsong ?

I like the basket idea and did that when my family lived closer.  Postage costs too much.  I doubt I will even send cards this year.  I need to find some Xmasy postcards.  (next search) I used to do that when I thought postage was too high in the early 90s.  Look at the price now. 

[Opti]

Artemis, I think Temu could possibly be used as a way to spy on Americans and others by the Chinese government. It appears to be a clearing house of perhaps all or most Chinese factory goods. I won't order from them because data analytics and the Chinese government.
They have more ads than Amazon and that scares me.

Possible shoddy goods is a real low concern for me when it concerns Temu. MO. YMMV. But I think I am right on this for whatever it is worth.

[azucena]

Seems we can never have enough phone chargers.

[thyme4change]

Games! There are bunches out there that are under 20 bucks. Or get a more expensive one for the whole family. You could also get mad libs.

Hot chocolate and mugs (or some other hot drink if you know what they like). Squiggly straws and a plastic cup can be a hit with younger kids.

There is a little tabletop s’mores maker that is pretty cheap - Cute with activity and reward.

Age appropriate recipe with the ingredients (or at least the shelf stable ones).

We always give someone a blanket - couch size. They have a bunch of cute ones, including a tortilla and a waffle. My Mom used to give the kids hand towels that were cute or personal in some way (My daughter got one with a ballerina on it - she took it to college with her.)

Christmas ornaments are always a hit, if they have a “family” tree (as opposed to those fancy curated ones with specialty matching decor). Ornaments will be kept and taken out every year forever.

My daughter always loved those socks that are kinda slippers, or socks that had cute designs. She also like little bags - for makeup, or tampons, or travel, or whatever.

My son got a set of tiny lights he could control with his phone. They changed colors - he loved them. My daughter got twinkle lights too. Some come with a remote if the kids don’t have a phone (or aren’t allowed to keep it in their room.)

Seeds and a pot - see if you can get them to love growing a plant. They would need some dirt too, which may be heavy to ship, but you could send it after Christmas via Amazon.

If they travel, there are some cute duffle bags or travel pillows that kids might like in the car.

Just some ideas.

[Opti]

Tiny lights you can control with your phone sound real fun.

[daisylu]

I tell everyone who asks to get me stuff like exfoliating gloves and lotion infused socks. Or the blue label Chap Stick.

We have enough stuff, so I prefer that people who want to gift gift something that I know we will use. 

A lot of sites like Target and Kohl's have good gift sections for under $10 and $20. A lot are beauty gifts and stocking stuffer types of things which are my jam.

I have also sent bulk snacks, vitamins, etc that I know people like through Amazon.

[Artemis Windsong]

Dec 5, 2023 12:30:44 GMT -5 Opti said:

Artemis, I think Temu could possibly be used as a way to spy on Americans and others by the Chinese government. It appears to be a clearing house of perhaps all or most Chinese factory goods. I won't order from them because data analytics and the Chinese government.
They have more ads than Amazon and that scares me.

Possible shoddy goods is a real low concern for me when it concerns Temu. MO. YMMV. But I think I am right on this for whatever it is worth.

We are spied on no matter what is happening.  A lot of the goods sold now are from China.  Or have China components.

I've been doing Fetch points on receipts.  I know that is a data capture.  Demographics and purchases have been studied forever.  That is what advertisers use to target their ads.

The required gold star on the driver's license asks for personal bills to prove who you are is a capture of information.  It's fed into the government computers.  I took in an insurance receipt.  They wanted the policy that had what categories and what levels were insured for my house.

[billisonboard]

Hopefully the Chinese are wasting resources spying on me.  

[Opti]

Dec 10, 2023 20:52:53 GMT -5 Artemis Windsong said:

Dec 5, 2023 12:30:44 GMT -5 Opti said:

Artemis, I think Temu could possibly be used as a way to spy on Americans and others by the Chinese government. It appears to be a clearing house of perhaps all or most Chinese factory goods. I won't order from them because data analytics and the Chinese government.
They have more ads than Amazon and that scares me.

Possible shoddy goods is a real low concern for me when it concerns Temu. MO. YMMV. But I think I am right on this for whatever it is worth.

We are spied on no matter what is happening.  A lot of the goods sold now are from China.  Or have China components.

I've been doing Fetch points on receipts.  I know that is a data capture.  Demographics and purchases have been studied forever.  That is what advertisers use to target their ads.

The required gold star on the driver's license asks for personal bills to prove who you are is a capture of information.  It's fed into the government computers.  I took in an insurance receipt.  They wanted the policy that had what categories and what levels were insured for my house.

Very true, but did you know Mr Trump won because he was more willing to exploit data analytics than Hillary? That his team would target real people, call them up, talk with them and figure out how to manipulate them? The low turnout in WI wasn't just because Hillary did not campaign there. It is due in large part of the data analytics TEAM  for Trump that figured out how to scare black people from going to the polls using FB, etc.

And you don't have to take my word for it. Multiple people wrote books on this. At least one was on that 2015/16 data analytics team for Trump and later felt guilty enough to quit and write a book.

[Opti]

Dec 6, 2023 13:43:37 GMT -5 daisylu said:

I tell everyone who asks to get me stuff like exfoliating gloves and lotion infused socks. Or the blue label Chap Stick.

We have enough stuff, so I prefer that people who want to gift gift something that I know we will use. 

A lot of sites like Target and Kohl's have good gift sections for under $10 and $20. A lot are beauty gifts and stocking stuffer types of things which are my jam.

I have also sent bulk snacks, vitamins, etc that I know people like through Amazon.

What is blue label ChapStick? EOS used to put lip gloss in these round ball containers. Do you know if they still make them? I used to buy them on major sale.

[daisylu]

Dec 12, 2023 11:04:14 GMT -5 Opti said:

Dec 6, 2023 13:43:37 GMT -5 daisylu said:

I tell everyone who asks to get me stuff like exfoliating gloves and lotion infused socks. Or the blue label Chap Stick.

We have enough stuff, so I prefer that people who want to gift gift something that I know we will use. 

A lot of sites like Target and Kohl's have good gift sections for under $10 and $20. A lot are beauty gifts and stocking stuffer types of things which are my jam.

I have also sent bulk snacks, vitamins, etc that I know people like through Amazon.

What is blue label ChapStick? EOS used to put lip gloss in these round ball containers. Do you know if they still make them? I used to buy them on major sale.

I only use Chap Stick, so I do not know about the EOS. The blue label specifies SPF and has no flavor. I have never cared for flavored.

I do use Smith's Rosebud Salve on my lips at night. That is one of the best healers ever and san be used for tons of stuff. Took care of DH's sunburn with it a few years ago. It comes in a small round tin and lasts FOREVER.

[Opti]

Thanks for the info. I might try that especially if it is on Christmas sale.

[zibazinski]

I ordered ten dollar three wick Hanukkah candles for my friends. Unfortunately they arrived this afternoon and Hanukkah is over. So I gave them cute Costco gift bowls with snacks inside them that also cost ten dollars apiece and I guess I’ll save the candles for next year.

[Artemis Windsong]

Some thoughtful gifts I received.  Hand soap and festive Xmas towel.  A makeup bag with small nail care set, magnetic list for the fridge and chap ice.  Another festive kitchen towel and home made snack bread.  A neck scarf with my name and design on it. Fudge and another candy.  Banana bread.

My little gift looked lame.  A small  box with the title Give It To God that had a pen and little slips of paper.

[Artemis Windsong]

Another cute idea are those hot bowl holders for the microwave.

[Opti]

Dec 15, 2023 21:05:21 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

I ordered ten dollar three wick Hanukkah candles for my friends. Unfortunately they arrived this afternoon and Hanukkah is over. So I gave them cute Costco gift bowls with snacks inside them that also cost ten dollars apiece and I guess I’ll save the candles for next year.

The eighth day already happened? They can always use it next year.

My mom was a grade school teacher most of her life so we got quite a few cards about things stuck in shipping or whatnot. If it truly is the thought that counts, why does it have to arrive on the first day of Christmas, before Hanukkah ends etc.?

JMHO which might not play well if local conditions are different from my midwestern values birth fam.

[zibazinski]

Dec 19, 2023 0:57:29 GMT -5 Opti said:

Dec 15, 2023 21:05:21 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

I ordered ten dollar three wick Hanukkah candles for my friends. Unfortunately they arrived this afternoon and Hanukkah is over. So I gave them cute Costco gift bowls with snacks inside them that also cost ten dollars apiece and I guess I’ll save the candles for next year.

The eighth day already happened? They can always use it next year.

My mom was a grade school teacher most of her life so we got quite a few cards about things stuck in shipping or whatnot. If it truly is the thought that counts, why does it have to arrive on the first day of Christmas, before Hanukkah ends etc.?

JMHO which might not play well if local conditions are different from my midwestern values birth fam.

I have no idea about the etiquette so I’m saving them for next year. Hopefully, I’ll be around to hand them over.

[Artemis Windsong]

Microwave bowl cozys are definitely useful.

It seems the gifts I receive in a gift bag are 2 or three items.  A baked good and pretty kitchen towel.  Or nuts. 

Our billiards group doesn't exchange gifts or cards.  One lady who has dementia and her handler gave all of us gifts of a makeup bag with a note pad, chap ice, and purse size nail set.  I was in a dither wondering what to do.  The Handler said they went to McDonald's every Wednesday.  More than I'm willing to spend.  My position today is accept the gift and move on.