Vintage books from their or my childhood to read with grandkids.

A box of oranges and grapefruits-- super handy if they are hosting guests.

A flowering amyrillis plant.

My parents also live far away, I’ve been doing airline gift certificates for the past few years and it’s been great.

We decided several years ago that only kids get Christmas presents. None of us need things.

Instead, we donate the money we would have spent to local children’s charities and adopt familiea for Christmas.

We are getting my parents theater tickets and a monthly dinner subscription service. I also get small things for their stockings and my son picked out a gift for them from him (everyone got a Lego set).

I am not in touch with my own parents, so nothing for them.

But my in-laws get different things. My MIL had me explain subscription boxes to her twice, so I'm getting her a couple of those. Last year we got FIL Cuban cigars when we went to Cuba. We got them Billy Joel tickets, Book of Mormon tickets, we got them a private sushi chef for dinner, stuff like that.

Anonymous wrote:I am so out of ideas. I try to get clothes but they never fit. I've given gift certificates to a local theater and they never go. The expectation is that I spend ~$200+ on each of them and it just feels like a waste. They like nice things but truthfully if they really want something they just go get it. They certainly don't need more stuff -- they have a 4 bedroom house for the 2 of them and it's bursting with stuff as it is. They live far from me so it can't be "movie day with me" or something like that. What do you give your parents for christmas?

Why is the expectation $200 on each? They obviously don't have money troubles. Don't feel hamstrung by the amount.

Get something they can consume--fruit or vegetable of the month.

Or something practical like movie passes, certificate to get there car detailed.

What do they like to do?

Harry and David food delivery

Coffee subscription

Anonymous wrote:Books; spa gift certificates. A couple of years ago we shifted to a modified gift exchange - each adult gets a gift for one other adult, for max $100, and that's it. Everyone can buy for the kids. It's so much easier this way.

We are doing this with my parents this year. It’s been heavenly!

My ILs refuse to budge and want to go the personal gift route. I’m done. I’m doing an “evening out” basket: gift card around $50 to a restaurant, $25 movie pass, and a nice bottle of sparkling wine and accompanying sweet treat.

Same. And mine also want about $200 worth of things. I got them a Ring doorbell, Bialetti pot strainer, movie tickets, new gloves and made photo albums of the kids.

This year I got my parents a personalized door mat from William-Sonoma. Random, but the best I could come up with, and they're moving into a new home, so there is some thought involved. I think my most successful was the year I got them high-quality socks for every occasion, wrapped individually and labeled by activity (Cozy by the fire! Golf trip to Florida! Fancy dinner at the club!). They got a kick out of it (see what I did there?), and I felt it wasn't a total waste of money since who doesn't need socks?

My inlaws always give us specific ideas, which is great. Tend to get tech gadgets for my FIL and clothes for my MIL, though this year she's getting a personalized puzzle with pics of the kids, since we enjoyed doing one together other Thanksgiving.

Books; spa gift certificates. A couple of years ago we shifted to a modified gift exchange - each adult gets a gift for one other adult, for max $100, and that's it. Everyone can buy for the kids. It's so much easier this way.

A few years ago I bought a VHS to DVD converter. We have a ton of VHS home movies that I secretly took and converted to DVD. About 25 hours worth ranging from 1980 to 2000. It was, I think, the best gift I ever gave them.

I am so out of ideas. I try to get clothes but they never fit. I've given gift certificates to a local theater and they never go. The expectation is that I spend ~$200+ on each of them and it just feels like a waste. They like nice things but truthfully if they really want something they just go get it. They certainly don't need more stuff -- they have a 4 bedroom house for the 2 of them and it's bursting with stuff as it is. They live far from me so it can't be "movie day with me" or something like that. What do you give your parents for christmas?