Gift Ideas for the Family

Christmastime is one of the hardest things to shop for and stay within a budget for most people. In addition, you desperately desire to see a look of wonder and joy on the face of those whom you love. When our children were little, my wife and I ran across an idea that we implemented for years.  Some years we added to this idea, while others we were barely able to get it done. I do not remember where we learned of this idea, so I do not take credit for it at all. 

Four things to get your kids at Christmas:

Something they want

Everybody wants something. You can keep it simple or make it extravagant. This requires listening to your family. It may be that you have to ask them to write things down. At this point, our family uses the app Elfster to help us know what each other are looking and wanting. We can use it year round for other gift-idea occasions as well.

Something they need

You know what they need.  Whatever that may be that will help them along the journey of life. This tends to be a practical gift. Note to the wise, do not get your wife a new vacuum cleaner and claim that I told you. I will utterly deny it. 

Something to wear

This can be coat, gloves, hat, shirt, funny socks. Whatever you get them, please do not give underwear as a gift, that is just...stop - don't. 

Something to read

Here is where we had some real fun. I chose to get our children classics literature, usually hardback. Barnes and Noble always had a kiosk with these done well. My wife then chose to get them something more current that they were into - often Star Wars or something similar. One of the joys that we still have is seeing our children asking and delighting in reading both the classics and current books. As they have grown and moved out, we have even bought them cookbooks to help them on the way.

Giving gifts should be fun. Each year that we shopped Melissa and I went through the list for each one. We bought them: Something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read.

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