Christmas gift giving.

shazartist · Senior Member

Christmas gift giving.

Firefly · Guru

You have some good ideas in there Sharon, I would never thought of some of them, like the lawn mowing for instance.

My daughter is a working single mum and something like that would be ideal for her, thankyou. smile

Rip and Rosie · Guru

I remember one year when my parents were getting on, and finding it harder to get around, I got them a subscription to the local paper - they got it every day anyway, but it saved them having to get to the newsagent every month to pay the bill.

Another year we got them a lawn mower service. The old fella liked that one better than jocks and socks I can tell you!!! He used to wander along bossing the bloke around- loved it !!!

Recently all we got together and got a mixer tap installed in my sister's kitchen - she thinks she's in heaven now- lol.

An idea I have seen, but not used myself, is a little book of (make your own) vouchers for an evening's babysitting, so young parents can have a night out or a weekend away.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Everybody has their car serviced, or how about a voucher from a gym, a manicure, a dog-wash, or even the cost of the dog's annual vaccination, a rubbish-tidy for the backyard, gutter-cleaning? A picture-framing service? A promisary note for a basket of ironing, or an afternoons mending, or weeding?

If I get another package of sickly sweet smelling handlotion and bath salts made in China I dont know what I'm going to do with it! Dont like giving it to somebody else, cos they probably hate it too, and throwing it out doesnt seem right.

More ideas?

shazartist · Senior Member

Gerty Dancer, I think the best place to take those gifts is the St Vinneys, at least someone will buy it cheap and the money gets used for something worth while.

cheers Sharon

Happywanderer · The Master

I like to buy useful gifts only, although the gift giving has been narrowed down a lot these days I still manage to find something that will be of use to the recipient. My daughter wanted a birthday book, easy. Just an example.
Every year I ask for petrol vouchers, Never been given any yet.

villatranquilla · Guru

We have told the adults in our family that there will be no presents this year, instead we will make a donation to a charity supporting the needy in a third world country - looking at a well, goat or chickens and have asked them to do the same for us. Just the littles will get a present.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Thats Oxfam, isnt it Villatranquilla? Great idea.

And the littlies are getting items bought at local craft markets from us, they seem to get mountains of made-in-China toys from everybody else.

jimbo · Guru

On Xmas day I'll be at Greens Lake for my birthday

shazartist · Senior Member

There are so many creative ideas available, although, I still like the service idea...as many people unless they have unlimited funds find a pedicure, nail treatment, window washing, ect a luxury.

One year we decided to only buy from St Vinny's...if you are creative it is amazing what you can do with some really horrible stuff. I made my sweetie a leather vest for his Harley...and only had to pay for the emblems, the leather from this awful old coat was fabulous.

My daughter found an old plate (part of a broken plate stand) it had a round hole in the centre and she made a clock...it was amazing.

cheers Sharon

Boroma577 · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:

Every year I ask for petrol vouchers, Never been given any yet.

Me too, Love fuel vouchers they are the best ever.

Ron and Shirley · Senior Member

For a number of years Shirley and her Daughters have been exchanging gift vouchers.

They select and establishment that serves "High Tea". For example http://www.onlymelbourne.com.au/melbourne_details.php?id=16681

They are working through a list like the one in the link, buy the gift vouches to put under the tree at the family Christmas dinner, then sometime in February, when they are all free, they book in for an afternoon of indulgence.

We guys just exchange local bottles of hopefully good bottles of wine or Port.

-- Edited by Ron and Shirley on Sunday 4th of December 2011 06:35:01 PM

Cruising Granny · Guru

My Christmas wish if for my family to get together. That would be the best gift.
Failing that they can pool their resources and shout me to a spa treatment - massage and skin scrub.
I'm beginning to really hate this time of the year because mine is never what it should be.