haven't started. Dad wants new ipad; with 4 kids plus his wife teaming up it's manageable. Mom likes experiences--plays, cooking classes, interesting restaurants, walking tours. We'll figure something out.

FiL gets NY Times Crossword a day calendar, MiL gets something practical (workout clothes, new slippers, a nice umbrella, etc.), and we get each of them a book. We travel to see them so it can't be anything too big. A surprising hit one year was a map they could keep in their car with all of the local NPR stations across the country. We probably spend less on presents for them than for my parents but it balances out because we buy plane tickets to visit my inlaws.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Done??? I haven't even started!

This! Yikes.

+1

We usually do Book of the Month, restaurant gift cards, maid cleaning service.

Anonymous wrote:Done??? I haven't even started!

This! Yikes.

I only buy for two adult relatives and am always at a loss at what to give them. How do you buy experience gifts? Do you just pick a date? How do you know they’ll be free?

When the were alive, we usually bought them experience gifts. Tickets to a concert or play type of thing. Some years, there was an obvious thing that would enhance their lives that they would not purchase (eg when IPads came out- then we were able to Facetime from then on).

Tickets to a play. My mom says she doesn’t want any more clutter. So I now give “experience” gifts. Actually they would prefer no gift at all, but they enjoy the various shows each year.

Anonymous wrote:Always a good idea for parents and ILs:

-Box of pears and other delicious items from Harrry & David

-Gift card to their favorite restaurant

Photo prints

Please rethink anything from Harry and David, gross

Do not plan to start until after Thanksgiving.

I agree that your parents and ILs are high maintenance. Make them a shutter.fly photo calendar which are 50% off right now.

Anonymous wrote:Most of these gifts seem really low priced. Don’t most people spend $100-200 on parents? We spend more on parents than our kids. Last year was an iPad and airpods to both families. I can’t imagine my moms face if she opened a lottery ticket.

We don't do adult gifts anymore, but when we did, I'd never spend more on them than my own children. What kind of nonsense is that? Can they not buy their own headphones when they need them? I would suggest drawing names or a dirty santa exchange with a $50 limit if they don't want to completely stop gifts.

Anonymous wrote:Done??? I haven't even started!

+1.

Anonymous wrote:Most of these gifts seem really low priced. Don’t most people spend $100-200 on parents? We spend more on parents than our kids. Last year was an iPad and airpods to both families. I can’t imagine my moms face if she opened a lottery ticket.

It depends. Our parents are at an age when they are downsizing so they don’t want a lot of things. They are even over what you too many photos. It’s not about the cost of the gift anymore. We try to visit more often and that’s plane tickets. Time together with the grandchildren is all they want.

When DH’s mother needed a new reclining chair we bought it for her and said it was a Christmas present a few years back. We do stuff like this. They won’t accept help but would for something like this since we said it was a gift. So I guess we give occasional large gifts but it’s really us helping out elderly family members in a way that they will accept.

Anonymous wrote:Most of these gifts seem really low priced. Don’t most people spend $100-200 on parents? We spend more on parents than our kids. Last year was an iPad and airpods to both families. I can’t imagine my moms face if she opened a lottery ticket.

No.

Biology flows downhill.

Anonymous wrote:Most of these gifts seem really low priced. Don’t most people spend $100-200 on parents? We spend more on parents than our kids. Last year was an iPad and airpods to both families. I can’t imagine my moms face if she opened a lottery ticket.

That's not normal, your parents are high-maintenance.

My mom is thrilled with the smallest gesture of love and affection, now, I love to get her nice gifts because otherwise she wouldn't ever get it for herself, but it's because I want to, and not because she would he disappointed otherwise.

Most of these gifts seem really low priced. Don’t most people spend $100-200 on parents? We spend more on parents than our kids. Last year was an iPad and airpods to both families. I can’t imagine my moms face if she opened a lottery ticket.