Christmas shopping for close relatives can be extremely easy in some aspects but it can also be extremely difficult in others. On the one hand, shopping for close relatives is simple and a great deal of fun because they are people you really care about and people you know really well. However, on the other hand shopping for close relatives can also be extremely difficult and stressful because there is the added pressure to select Christmas gifts your relatives will really cherish and enjoy.
Most people really look forward to Christmas shopping for their close relatives. For them this is an opportunity to purchase a gift for a loved one that he or she is sure to enjoy and appreciate. Of course, this assumes you are close with your family, and not buying out of obligation.
One problem may stem from having a lot of great ideas about what to get a particular relative. You can't get them all! Well... most of us can't anyway. So selecting from a list of several items gives you a fair shot so long as the options are readily available.
If you know one certain item is the perfect gift, you might run into the opposite problem... This can be particularly stressful and frustrating if you are simply unable to find the exact item you are seeking during any of your shopping trips. While its alway a good idea to know generally what you are looking for, don't write single ideas in stone! This frustration can make the Christmas shopping a great deal less fun. It can also cause you to not see other items which would also be great gifts because you are so focused on finding this one particular item.
Even when you don’t have a list of gift ideas for a particular relative, you may experience a great deal of frustration during your Christmas shopping. The pressure of finding a great Christmas gift is most often due to perfectionist tendancies on the part of the shopper, and not so much to picky recipients. Although this should not really be a concern because it is most likely your close relatives will all be thrilled with just about any gift you select for them, it still causes stress for many people.
Another problem associated with shopping for close relatives is it may be difficult to select appropriate gifts for multiple relatives without worrying that they will compare the gifts. Again, this is not a likely scenario as most people would not go out of their way to discuss the gifts they were given, but it is something that causes concern for many. Some individuals will feel that it is not appropriate to purchase an expensive gift for one relative but not for others.
One way to deal with this is to select one item and give similar items to all of the relatives. Although the gifts will not be unique or selected for each individual it is one way to deal with the possibility of the recipients sharing information about the gifts they received. One example of how to do this is to give an item such as a sweater to each relative but to personalize the gift by selecting different styles or colors for each relative.
I give a hand filled fruit & nut basket and box of home-made cookies to each family as a unit, in addition to the following:
Our extended family solves all of these problems by holding a version of a grab bag. Rather than buying a gift for each person, names are put in a hat and each person has one to buy for. That keeps the budget in line (there are about 12 people in this grab bag in any given year). We set a dollar limit, usually $25 or $50 - which keeps the budget even happier! We also stipulate that the gift be a gift card. Shopping is fast and simple.
The kicker in the whole thing is that each person has to choose 3 gift cards they would like to receive. So - everybody is happy, stress-free and on budget.
The kids all get gifts from everyone, but the adults get their card and are good to go. If you have a large family or an especially tight money year going on, this might be a way for everyone to stay comfortable and still enjoy the best parts of the season - including participation in the gift-giving ritual.
Many Blessings,
GrannySue
PS: Don't forget to leave a comment - your hints, tips and suggestions are always appreciated!!
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