Adult children

I try to make something for people who really don’t need the money.
My time and the thoughtfulness that goes with it is really appreciated
This year included placemats and coasters using sprout fabric.
And I framed photos taken during recent birthday celebrations.

We do a secret santa for 3 adult children and their spouses. We all make a list for our secret giftee of £50. So that you know that they are getting something they would like. We buy whatever parents say the GC would like although now they are getting older we are increasingly buying them an outing that we take them to. Works well for us.

I know postage is expensive, it all takes a lot of time and hassle..... but, maybe some goodies they miss from home would be appreciated.
We live overseas and there is some things we always miss, like brown sauce, tunnocks wavers, golden syrup to make flapjacks - ask your DC, maybe there is something they really miss.

We do a £50,secret santa for the adults in the family who want to join in . So basically everyone gets 1 £50 present and we ask their partners what they think they would like oe they can drop big hints . We buy shocking fillergidts for the GCs and pay for a club of their choice- they have done Irish dancing , street dance , ju jitsu , rugby, cricket and gymnastics so far !

I encourage my 3 adult sons to build an Amazon wish list over the year then choose from that.
This will be the first year we haven't all been together for Christmas, although the youngest will be back from University, but the older 2 can't get here until New Year, so we're having 2 Christmas', with relevant present distribution taking place on the 2 days.

4 Kids and 3 partners, 7 grandchildren. With each of the children it's been presents or cash until they had their own offspring then it stopped for them and went to the grandchildren instead,

We have 3 adult children , 3 partners and 3 GC so quite a lot to buy for. Every year we have agreed on a £10 limit for each adult and this year there is a competition between the adults of who can get the best buy from the charity shops. We are also not buying toys as the children already have everything they need. So books, clothes or days out.

We have never spend too much as we never been able to afford it. We have always considered Christmas presents as a bit of fun and real presents are for birthdays.

This has always worked well for us.

We agreed years ago that we’d do a Secret Santa for the adults in the family, so each couple just had to buy one gift, then last year we decided to drop even that, as we all have more than enough stuff. We have a set limit for each DGS, and ask their parents what they’d like - some of the boys come up with a long list that we choose from, some just want one thing. If it comes in below the limit we transfer the extra over to them.

I do fill a Christmas stocking for every adult who’s at our house on the big day - sweets, a book, etc, along with the traditional apple, orange, nuts, silver coin and sugar mouse. And always a not so traditional Christmas lottery ticket.

I found the expensive set of pans in a cupboard under the sink still in unopened boxes 4 years after gifting them to one of my AC. I was helping son clean up as DIL was in hospital at the time. So now I send a nice card and bank transfer money each birthday and Xmas. So much nicer than an unwanted present
AC get £100 and DGC £60 plus selection box for the children and bottle of spirits, wine, tin biscuits and tin chocolates for adults.

I see that there are recommendations for magazine subscriptions as Christmas gifts. Check before you buy as my adult children have stopped being interested in magazines and prefer to just look online for up y to date information.
Sending money to children and grandchildren overseas seems like an easy option cop out to me. Particularly as they may well have much more money than you and might not even notice it in their bank account. Much nicer and more thoughtful to send a small parcel of personal well thought out gifts. I know postage is expensive but you can shop around for that nowadays and a parcel from home can be very exciting for the recipients.

Why dont you make an individual gift for them as a family or give them a smaller priced gift or ask them for ideas and pick one i personally think sending a large amount of money seems disconnected although lots like to go off and spend their gift on something nice when you have too much it doesnt have any impact so something they dont have would be good something to remind them of their childhood something fun to do as a family or a treasure hunt or a pottery class or sewing kit or making something together i think a doing gift is always fun even a train journey boat trip a zoo where they can make memories together along with a journal xxgood luck

I have spent more than ever this year on adult children and grandchildren . I was diagnosed with a life limiting serious illness earlier in the year and have come to realise that I would rather give them all quite expensive luxury gifts now and see my money enjoyed whilst I am able ( e.g. very expensive body lotions and perfumes which I know they like, and cashmere scarves etc for the adult daughters )-
I can't take my bank with me and want to bring some joy now!!
I know that they are all reasonably well-off, but probably wouldn't buy such luxuries for themselves. I have also paid for holidays this year for the same reasons.
Its a pleasure to do this, but bittersweet as I know that won't be around for too long.

I love buying my AC presents, though it’s not always easy. I ask them what they would like and there is usually something I can afford my SIL never says what he wants. He is very successful and can buy anything he wants. He does have a wish list of vinyl so that is V one idea. I usually buy him a foodie gift. This year a gift box from a truffle specialist containing ruffle oil, truffle powder and truffle mayonnaise. My limit is £50 per perso n.

We don't buy presents for the over 18's and spend extra on the young ones

It's difficult to do anything but money overseas now. My DD, SiL and two DGS live in Spain and anything sent from here is held up in customs, argued over as to whether a gift or purchase and then a levy charged, apparently randomly - sometimes more than the gifts inside. They used to regularly get stuff delivered here and I'd send it over but since Brexit it's just not doable anymore, our business doesn't sell into Europe any more either.
Fortunately they're able to come over this year which is great, but with teenagers it will still be a few small gifts to open and then money - towards driving lessons for one and gym subscription for the other.

storynanny My comments were about my family. I certainly didn't mean to imply your family weren't important to you. I'm sorry if that is what you took from my comments. I buy my son in law a box of his favourite crisps, booze and sweets he loves but never buys for himself. This year I got him lime curd because he loves it. Dd is getting chocolate Brazil's, booze and beauty items. They both get vouchers to buy clothes. I give them a voucher for a restaurant and the promise to babysit.

LOUISA1523 this is the link to sponsor a guide dog or hearing dog puppy.
You can do it for yourself or as a gift for someone else.
My grandchildren are young children but it could be for any age.

www.guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help/donating/sponsor-a-puppy/

www.hearingdogs.org.uk/sponsor-a-puppy/?source=ADWORDSPS&gclid=CjwKCAiA9ourBhAVEiwA3L5RFj-AhKhtjJxqdQMDf7kWgn8jQrlh_RPlEacOaOAh2As_cxfzMxz-lxoCsTUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Grandmabatty

I can't imagine not giving my daughter and son in law presents. I even fill Christmas stockings for them. I do ask them what they would like and liaise regarding gifts for the boys but dd and sil are important members of the family.

I can’t imagine it either - and
I certainly didn’t say they aren’t important. I’m asking for suggestions.
Some lovely ideas so far.
I’ve already transferred my usual amounts now for everyone overseas this year but definitely going to bear some of your ideas in mind for future
Thank you

I can't imagine not giving my daughter and son in law presents. I even fill Christmas stockings for them. I do ask them what they would like and liaise regarding gifts for the boys but dd and sil are important members of the family.

V3ra

^My GC love Chester Zoo so I’m getting them a zoo animal sponsorship. They will get an e-magazine through the year...^

I set up a puppy sponsorship to the Guide Dogs and Hearing Dogs for my two grandchildren at £5 a month each.
They both got a toy puppy, welcome pack, and updates throughout the two year training 🐕🐕

Out of interest....are these adult GC....do you just get them this?

We don’t buy adult presents anymore, I give the young GC and GGC money envelopes. It’s just so much less stress for me.

Mine have said dont spend, but I still do.
I think it is appreciated.
Although their income may be bigger in some cases, they live in small places on the whole. Or else they live quite minimally.
I am conscious of not giving them anything too large. One of them said they have run out of storage space in their flat.

We gave up buying for adults decades ago - as it just seemed pointless. The charity shops did well from it, though, with all the unwanted things to dispose of. We just spend, rather more, on the children, instead.

The last few years, though, I've given the parents money to buy a gift for grandchildren. It really makes sense, as they're already out shopping anyway - and they know what the kids want.

I don't miss the stress of going out in the cold and dragging myself around crowded shops, looking for something suitable - not one bit!

My GC love Chester Zoo so I’m getting them a zoo animal sponsorship. They will get an e-magazine through the year...

I set up a puppy sponsorship to the Guide Dogs and Hearing Dogs for my two grandchildren at £5 a month each.
They both got a toy puppy, welcome pack, and updates throughout the two year training 🐕🐕

Due to very different levels of affluence in our family my eldest daughter came up with a clever idea. Presents for adults must come from a charity shop and must cost ten pounds. Though I think the budget will have to rise this year! Have had a lot of fun searching .