Christmas Gift Ideas

Hi D.,

I completly understand! My in laws, have everything and can afford whatever they want!

So one year I just wrote them a letter telling them how much I loved their son. And he is the man/husband/father he is now because of them.
Something about I hope we raise our kids with the love and support they gave their kids growing up and continue to give as adults. I can't remember now everything. But my mother in law called to thank me! That both she and my father in law read it over and over and they will treasure it forever.

I firmly believe that "gift giving" should be from the heart and it's not always about a tangible present. Jim and I don't buy each other "presents" very often but give each other gifts all the time. Gift of our time if he unloads the dishwasher for me or if I take his car to run a quick errand and fill it up while I'm out.

Good Luck

L. K

1 mom found this helpful

My parents are financially comfortable, however, NOT selfish. So each holiday/birthday, my sister & I struggle to figure out a gift. Here have been successful and well received gifts in the past: gift card to upscale restaurant like Ruth's Chris', photo mug (he & my daughter) + his favorite coffee, liquor he likes, music CDs, photo calendar (big hit each year!).

Good luck...I feel your pain! :-)

Hi D.,
I make framed family trees that are great gifts for people who are hard to buy for. Everyone has a little wall space to donate for one. My small's are $50. You can pick your frame and leaf colors. You can include whatever names you would like. Maybe your Father-In-Law and your husband, you, and your children. If you are interested, go to www.sugarbeandesigns.com and you can see examples. They are all made from real tree branches and come framed and ready to hang. They take me about a week to do, so let me know if you would like me to get started on one for you! Thank you and good luck!

I'm assuming you have kids? Get a photo gift of some kind for him.

I am very interested in your feedback on this as I am faced with a sililar dilemma. I was thinking about a nicer mulitple charging station for his gadgets and maybe something personalized from Things Remembered like a business card holder or pen. Again, I am totally drawing a blank. Good luck, I'm going to read all the other ideas now!

p.s. I just forgot that a coworker suggested to me that since my uncle golfs that I could get him a gift certificate to a pro shop to go toward getting his clubs regripped. That sounded pretty good to me.

Gift cards are always nice...maybe to his favorite store or restaurant. Good luck!

Well my Dad was the same darn way...look at what his routine is...does he go out to breakfast, lunch or dinner? You can always get a gift cert to those restaurants. Does he get a morning paper or magazine? Pay for a subscription. My Dad loved coffee but he wouldn't do any of the crazy flavors so you have to really be aware of the person's likes and dislikes.

Now my Dad had a horrible sweet tooth but wasn't supposed to have sweets...so I would get the sugar free and give them to him at X-mas. Or have nuts sent to him.

If he has a car, what about a detail service for him? I even find it hard to detail my own car so having that done would be a blessing! And if you do it, I would go so far as to make the appointment for him, run by pick up his car and take it in...that way, he can't NOT use the service and it has already been done for him. Stick a bow on the steering wheel and Viola! Merry X-mas! LOL...

If he likes a particular food, candy, sausage, crackers they are pretty good and something you most likely wouldn't buy for yourself.

If your father-in-law drinks wine, there is a great gift that we bought for my brother (who has everything) called the Vinturi wine aerator-- it is like a decanter, but it does it one glass at a time. Your pour your wine into the aerator and it flows right into your glass. It is a pretty cool little gadget, and it is $39.95. We got it out of the Wine Enthusiast catalog. You can check it out at Wineenthusiast.com. My brother raved about it, so we bought one for ourselves and use it all the time.
Good luck!

How about a subscription to his favorite magazine or a gift card to bass pro if he is into sports or his favorite store.

A lot of GREAT ideas!

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My friend has a father in law with everthing. She always goes to the little shops like Weston, Parkville, where there a unique gifts. They have lots to choose from and very creative. Best of luck. The charity sounds good too. Maybe it will give him a chance to get out of himself for Christmas to see such a gift. Remember it the thought not the cost.

You just described my Dad! LOL I'm not sure if you cook/bake or not, but what I do for my Dad at Christmas is make my HOMEMADE salsa and chips, put a jar of salsa and baggies (I buy the decorated ones) of chips, home baked cookies, homemade Chex mix and some chocolates (Dad loves his chocolate) or other candy in a large gift basket...last year I also put a few $1 lottery scratch tickets in last year (he won $25! LOL). I change the goodies every year so it's not always exactly the same, but I can tell you, he always has a smile on his face when he sees me walk in the door, because he loves to eat...he and his wife are retired now, so they always dine out, so it's a treat for him to get homemade goodies. You can also put personalized items in there (photos, etc.), and I buy the holiday cellophane wrap and ribbon at the dollar store and wrap it up. I get my baskets from the dollar stores or yard/garage sales, because they can get pricey at the stores. Good luck, and Happy Holidays!

For the man that has everything and still wants more- gift cards or tickets to an upcoming event are the best options in my opinion and you can stay within that 40.00 price range. A gift card/certificate to his favorite restaurant (my dad is the same way) or tickets to his favorite ball game or upcoming conert if in season...or just a gift card to his favorite clothing store or hobby store....works for me! Good Luck!

What about a magazine subscription to a fave hobby magazine? Any hobbies? You could buy a special monogrammed something. I have a friend that is a millionaire (literally). She brings a salad to work every day for lunch. For Christmas last year I found her one of those little tupperware salad keepers with the dressing compartment and plastic fork holder. Although this gift cost next to nothing, she really appreciated it, because it was a gift that meant I knew her and was looking out for something she could use and enjoy. I'm sure your father-in-law doesn't need a salad dish, but if he has any true interests, hobbies, or habits, something that matches those would probably be pleasing to him.

Try wwwstarregistry.com. You can register a star in the name of your father in law. There are other ideas as well. It is a bit more than your budget range...but it is a great alternative for those folks "who have everything."

what about a star? registering a star for him and he gets a framed certificate telling him about it. pretty cool. then he can show all his friends "bob" the star, or whatever. or just framed pics of the kids, with a grandpa sign or something. can't go wrong there.

what about one of those digital picture key chains pre-loaded by you of pictures of family - children, grandkids,etc.

I suggest buying him a gift certificate to the local car wash, or oil changes, something that is expendable and won't sit and collect dust, and something that he does anyway, why not give it as a gift.

Have something made with the G. kids pic.You could do your kids or all of them.I know walgreens does all kinds of things.I think Sam's club and Walmart do them as well and usually the Independence Center has a place during the Christmas season.You can get coffe cups,neck ties,t-shirts,mouse pads for the computer,they have all kinds of things.

A gift certificate to a restaurant.

What is his favorite store? Get him a gift card to it. I have a nephew that is the same way, his mom gives him every thing he wants and his dad does his best (they are divorced) we give him a gift card to a different place every year. We don't see him often enough to know actually what to give him every year and my brother is no help in the matter either. So gift cards are great. In fact, that is what I asked for from my family this year. Just gift cards. Good luck and God Bless.

You've gotten some GREAT ideas here in the way of "consumable" gifts (gifts that will get used up, like candies, cookies and treats, gift certificates, movie tickets, etc .... you have some wonderful suggestions from the other moms). That is exactly what you give the person who "has everything".
Now, get a nice basket, preferably something square or rectangle, so it looks a bit more "manly", and line it with some masculine printed cloth, making sure the edges hang over for a prettier presentation. Something with hunting designs if he likes that, or sports if he is into that, or just plain holiday colored plaids .... you get the idea. Use a pair of pinking shears to trim the edges of the cloth for a simple, yet finished look. Arrange your subscription notices, gift certificates, treats, or whatever in the basket, generously sprinkle in some Christmas candies (and maybe even some fruit, like apples and oranges, or small bags of dried fruit) to fill in empty looking spots, and cover (this part is optional) with more of the same cloth you lined the basket with. Now place the basket on a large circle of matching tulle, or even colored plastic wrap, pull the sides up and tie at the top with a pretty Christmas ribbon.
You now have a beautiful, professional looking gift basket that anyone would be thrilled to get !

You may want to consider a nicely framed family photo or something small, but engraved/personalized. If he golfs, you can get golf balls made with his initials on it. Something that shows thought.

My in-laws are very comfortable and have everything they want plus more. They have already told us that all they want this year is a family picture...so my DH, kids and I have secretly gotten together with my BIL/SIL and son to take one 11X13 of all of us to give them for Christmas. They'll love it!

Last year I made them t-shirts with my girls handprints on them that said "I (hands put on in the shape of a heart) Papa...Nanny. They wear them everytime we see them!

for your FIL, does he golf...what about a round of golf w/a small pack of nice golf balls?

My Father In-Law was that way as well. It got harder each passing year to buy for him.
One year we got him a Nice engraved pen set.
Or if he eats a lot of fruit get him a nice fruit basket My sister In-Law got her dad that every year because he really didn’t need anything and if he did they went out and bought it.
Or if he likes to watch movies get him a dvd player and a movie if he don’t already have one.
It is always easier to by for the Mother In-Law then it was for the Father In-Law.
Looks like you have some good ideas there….
Good Luck

A couple of things I didn't see mentioned-- I know some guys are too masculine for spas- but what about a spa treatment- a massage or something? Or if he reads, you could get him some books. If he's a hunter, get him some kind of little trinket for his vest.

It doesnt sound like someone I would want to be around for any length of time. But since he's your father in law..i guess you feel obligated to gift him in some way...you could bake him his favorite dish! Or you could make him somethin (like something crafty, but practical). Or ask your hubby what he suggests..after all..it's his father.

My grandfather is in the same boat. He loves puzzles, so this year I bought him a custom 500 piece puzzle which is actually a photo of my son (his great grandson).

I like the making his favorite food Idea, if he has a ton of $ he doesn't need gift cards. Honestly I'd gag gift him. Get him something that kind of teases him that isn't really insulting that he will get the joke right away. No one has fun if you have to explain a gag gift. Good luck with 'Scrooge' LOL!

There are many options these days to put kid photos onto items as gifts, or just frame a photo. Make something personalized he cannot buy for himself easily and will be a treasure of his sweet grandkids. This could be a coffee mug, calendar, etc. Or, go in with other family to get him a digital photo frame and have everyone upload photos before presenting it to him.

C.

Have you thought of a family portrait,a photo album of your family. Maybe something on a more personal level.

There are all kinds of Thing-of-the Month clubs out there. Fruit of the month, plant of the month, cake of the month, wine of the month, book of the month, etc. You don't have to get a whole year's subscription if that's out of the price range, you can often do three months or six months instead.

I'm a big fan of giving an outing together. Tickets to see a play/comedian/concert together. Lots of choir and orchestras have season subscriptions you can buy, if he likes music. That sort of thing is nice instead of an object or something edible, I think.

If you have children..how about something that they make for him...hand prints around a picture frame with a picture of them...or a nicely framed picture of the family?? Does he like fresh fruit?? Go to Harry and Davids ( they are online too) and have a gift basket shipped to him. You could go to one of those t shirt shops and have a t shirt or sweat shirt specially made for him...with the grandchildrens names on it.OR....go to a Kodak kiosk and look at some of their great ideas for coffee cups, picture frames etc etc etc with your choice of picture on it.
I think all of these ideas will fall within your price range. Good luck...and Merry Christmas!!!

I love it! My in-laws are the same way, except they don't have any money, just selfish. I personally would love it if someone gave to a charity in my name.
For the people who have everything I would look at Brookstone, or even target has great gift sets right now. If he's into wine, Trader Joe's and World Market have great prices. Candy has always been my go to gift, especially for those who need nothing. If you are in St. Louis I would go to Crown Candy in north St. Louis, great candy and nostalgia. Good luck, those are the hardest people to shop for. Once I got a sentimental gift for my mother-in-law and thought she would appreciate something sweet from her son, she took it out of the bag, and kept looking, I was like, yep that's it! Now she tells us exactly what she wants, even got upset when we didn't buy her a ticket for a cruise one year, not kidding.