My family decided in November on not buying Christmas gifts this year as we are all adults and have what we need anyway. I get paid once a month and right now am living cheque to cheque. So I spent the money I had saved up on extra credit payments. Now they've changed their minds and all want gifts. I have 25 dollars to last me til the 30th. How do I get through this holiday without being as bitter as I am now? And not feel like a loser for no one having a gift? [more inside]
posted by beautifulcheese on Dec 12, 2009 - 27 answers

Please help me come up with a theme for our family holiday Yankee swap. [more inside]
posted by rabidsegue on Nov 1, 2009 - 9 answers

How do I celebrate my first Messianic Hanukkah? No one else in my family is Jewish, and they're trying to "make me" celebrate Xmas. [more inside]
posted by hasna on Dec 15, 2008 - 46 answers

My sister and I want to do a gift-free Christmas. What rules should we set? And how do we break the news to our mom? She's big on bargain hunting and spoiling us, so we're sure she's not going to take this well. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 25, 2008 - 16 answers

I'm looking for ideas for things to give my daughter before I go away for 3 weeks. [more inside]
posted by valleys on Feb 11, 2008 - 26 answers

A gift for a new member of the family? [more inside]
posted by drycleanonly on Feb 2, 2008 - 5 answers

Help me find gifts for remarkably un-greedy teenage girls: they are 14 and 15, and absolutely refuse to tell me what they want (I think their mother, my aunt, raised them too well.) [more inside]
posted by Mr Bunnsy on Dec 18, 2007 - 24 answers

Are there any books you think a smart, grieving preteen would find comforting or of use? More details inside. [more inside]
posted by Ash3000 on Dec 17, 2006 - 15 answers

Relationship Etiquette Filter: I had forgotten that I still have a gift that an ex's mom gave to me several years ago. It supposedly had sentimental value, and I feel weird about keeping it. Will I offend by trying to return it? Oh boy, there's way [more inside]
posted by wejones on Aug 16, 2006 - 43 answers

Fundy-In-Law-Filter: My husband's sister and her husband are hard-core evangelical fundamentalists. We are liberal Episcopalians. This causes a problem every Christmas. What do you say when you get a gift that was clearly meant to make a point? [more inside]
posted by Biblio on Dec 27, 2005 - 84 answers

I am looking for suggestions for a gift for my parents in NYC. Something for them to do together like a class or short course (1-5 classes range). Something a little offbeat is fine (although they are in their 60s so not too offbeat...) preferably in Manhattan. I have been thinking cooking but am open for most ideas. [more inside]
posted by GrumpyMonkey on Nov 2, 2005 - 9 answers