Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for all the responses. It's mostly my mom who is difficult. She says she wants a sweater this year. Here are the criteria: Wool or cashmere (pref cashmere). Cardigan. Not too short, not too long. She is a petite, and it could be a small petite or a medium petite, unless its eileen fisher and then its xs. She prefers eileen fisher. Or Ralph Lauren. Not Talbots as the quality has gone down (this also means NOT macys, not any brand that isn't high end). Prefers a solid color but maybe a subtle pattern would do.

In essence, she wants something SO specific that I can't find it, I can't figure out the size, and it's really expensive (Eileen Fisher is like $300+). So I'd rather just get her something else, but then she'll be hurt that I didn't put the effort in. It's really not fun or in the XMAS spirit.

I


This one https://www.garnethill.com/eileen-fisher-merino-pocket-detail-cardigan/womens-fashion/event1/468240
is 30% off with a code you get on the web site. maybe this would work

wow. I got my mom a box of oranges from Florida (my late grandmother used to send them so it's a way of remembering her) and we're taking my dad out to brunch at a place he likes and my mom doesn't so he has a chance to eat the food he likes with someone.

For inlaws, each is getting a nice hardcover book suited to their respective interests; MiL is also getting a pair of socks and FiL is getting a crossword puzzle calendar.

I don't think anyone in my family is getting or giving a $200 gift, and it's not because we couldn't afford to do it; it just seems excessive. My wife and I have some things we want to buy for the house and for an upcoming vacation, but I'd rather do that together rather than try to choose the right things by myself.

OP, if I were you I'd get your mom a gift card to Eileen Fisher in the amount you want to give. And/or make a donation to a charity she cares about. My sister got my mom a gift card to Kiva for mother's day one year so she could pick another mom to help (they obviously have people other than moms on the site but that's what my sister wrote in the card) and that went over well. As the microloans get paid back the lender can choose to cash out or make another loan and my mom really likes making new loans.

No clue. We spent more on parents than anyone else even our kids. It's kind of ridiculous since they make so much more than me or my siblings. Dh and I don't give each other gifts anymore to afford $200 for each parent. This year it's two iPads, a ring doorbell, a bialetti pot and I haven't figured out the rest.

We're flying to visit them. Hello, $1200 in plane tickets to California. I bought tiny (<$20) gifts just to put something under the tree, but the real gift is just showing up.

Anonymous wrote: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.

My DH did this for his parents, they loved it!

My family is super laid back and we only buy presents for adults if we come across something that makes us think of that person. This year my parents are getting 23&me dna kits as ancestry came up over thanksgiving and they sounded interested.

This year they're getting compact, wireless, smartphone photo printers
Most years we get them an experience vs. a thing but we think each set of parents will use these printers and it will be more convenient to print (especially on trips) whenever they want.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for all the responses. It's mostly my mom who is difficult. She says she wants a sweater this year. Here are the criteria: Wool or cashmere (pref cashmere). Cardigan. Not too short, not too long. She is a petite, and it could be a small petite or a medium petite, unless its eileen fisher and then its xs. She prefers eileen fisher. Or Ralph Lauren. Not Talbots as the quality has gone down (this also means NOT macys, not any brand that isn't high end). Prefers a solid color but maybe a subtle pattern would do.

In essence, she wants something SO specific that I can't find it, I can't figure out the size, and it's really expensive (Eileen Fisher is like $300+). So I'd rather just get her something else, but then she'll be hurt that I didn't put the effort in. It's really not fun or in the XMAS spirit.

Maybe check out cashmere from nordstrom’s house brand?

I'm sending my mother KC Steaks. She has everything and is downsizing, so a nice stash of steaks for her freezer as she likes to grill meat.
I'm also interested in fruit of the month club for her. Has anyone done this? Is the fruit good each month?

I don't spend 200 on anyone, ridiculous. My parents get a $20 year in review photo book.

Get her a gift card to eileen fisher

She sounds a lot like my mom - I had to hunt down a specific length wool waterfall navy cardigan for her this year and it took me weeks. And it had to be from Ireland because she’s obsessed with ancestry right now. It still probably won’t fit but at least she’ll be happy I put in the effort.

A MacBook Air for my parents and probably Harry and David for the in laws.