I'm tapping the collective for creative gift ideas! What's a great generic family gift?
Asked by
syz (
36034
)
November 26th, 2010
In an attempt to limit the rampant consumerism that had taken over our Christmas celebrations, my family decided that we’d each buy one gift of no more than $200 that could be used by any of us. We pull numbers from a hat, and each successive number holder gets to a) pick a wrapped mystery gift or b) steal the gift of previous number holder and make them choose a new unknown. It’s great fun watching the competition and ally soliciting, but I don’t have any great ideas for a gift this year. (Past items have included a car emergency kit, Kuerig coffee maker, Roomba vacuum cleaner, a Garmin, a Kindle, a wine collection, a Roku movie streamer, an ecosphere, a telescope, a birdcam, and so on). Electronics are popular, but certainly not the only option.
Come on jellies! We always seem to compete for who has the coolest gift, so I need your help!
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25 Answers
A digital camera. Optional add-on: a digital photo frame.
How about a nice set of cooking knives? Like these.
How about a beautiful cane picnic basket, complete with wine glasses and a bottle of very good wine, a picnic cookbook such as this and some kind of cloth or picnic rug.
Gift certificates for Black Angus, Red Lobster, Cattlemen’s, Chipotle or whatever.
Spa day.
Radar detector.
Juicer.
Wine of the month club, have a bottle there the day you exchange gifts.
Ipad case with keyboard. Basically converts your ipad into a laptop.
Remote speakers.
Wii system
A year’s auto detailing/oil changes
Feng Shui consultation and lucky bamboo plant
Home Depot or Harbor Freight gift card (I’d love that. hint.)
$200 Amazon gift certificate
I’ve recently fallen in love with this one—it’s a livescribe pen and great for anyone who attends meetings, is a journalist, or is in school (all ages). Plus, they’re on sale now!
I love the idea of a spa day (or offer various services so they can be adjusted… a teenager may not be interested in massages but may want a facial and manicure/pedicure).
The Amazon gift card is a fantastic idea too—Amazon is a lifesaver!
What about creating a basket of comfort (perfect for winter) and include: cozy socks (old navy has great ones that are 2 for $6 right now), slippers, a throw blanket, maybe a backrest pillow, some essential oils, candles, hand cream, lip balm, cozy pjs, a big mug and some packets of hot coco.
I’ll think of more and get back to ya! This is fun… can I come to Christmas?? ;)
If everyone is in a similar geographical location, how about a year long subscription to a CSA?
Oh, or a year’s subscription to Netflix.
My client gave me that last year and I loved it.
Oh. My son did this one year. It was a great idea, but about ⅔ of each delivery went to waste because we didn’t know how to use it or there was too much of one thing or they just didn’t keep until we could get to it.
Oh, you know what else I’d fight for in a gift exchange? Tree trimming and/or lawn and fertilization service. I would bet you could get a hell of a deal on buying a seasonal service right now in the off season and it would be so appreciated in the summer months.
I’m looking into it now
A DVD recorder
Gift certificate for the local movie theater
Gift certificate for the local playhouse
Membership to the Zoo
Tickets for a brunch cruise (if you live near a harbor)
If your family likes cheese (like mine does) a 4 month certificate to a gourmet cheese of the month club like this which ran about $170 for 4 months of deliveries.
If your family likes camping or picnics (like mine does) how about a set of camping items like this new LED style camping lantern from Coleman for $22.99 and a classic Stanley thermos for $30, a Coleman LED headlamp and matching flashlight for $18.74, a Coleman 50 can wheeled soft sided cooler for $39.99, several Coleman food “covers”: for $1.99 each, and a couple of REI camp stools for $19.50 each.
My wish list:
Tree pruning
Chimney cleaning
Window washing
Garage sweeping
Septic system pumping
Field brush hogged.
A rose bush and the muscle to dig the hole and improve the soil.
100 daffodil bulbs, including planting
Three Swedish massage
Trail built in woods
Dry walls in woods rebuilt
$200 worth of split wood and kindling for wood stove
$200 worth of cat food and kitty litter
Monthly nail trim for Milo
Oh gosh, @gailcalled . You just nailed my year’s list too.
And a partridge in a pear tree ♪
Seriously, anyone who owns a home, particularly if they are young homeowners, would love service things that you just don’t think about when you are a renter but become big budget bites when you have property.
Prepaid maid service for the coming year.
Uncommongoods.com is a great place to look for cool houseware and some “generic” but creative gifts. Can get slightly pricey.
Ok, it’s not all that exciting, but I bought a “wildlife homes” theme: a bat house, a bluebird house, and a woodpecker house (damn things are expensive!).
I was going to buy a bat house one year because bats are supremely cool animals. Then I thought about the pile of guano underneath it and changed my mind.
We have a bat house and it never had any bats attracted to it, although we live in an area frequented by bats.
On the other hand we have 3 bird houses sitting on the low wall in our front yard that have lizards living in them. It’s so funny to see them come and go.
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