My family is also fairly small, and our gift giving is quite moderate. For my dad, I usually get him a restaurant gift card or a renewal to his local daily newspaper subscription for 6 months and a nice bottle of wine. A couple of years ago I pre-paid his cable TV bill for 3 months. For my sisters and their husbands, I buy them restaurant gift cards or a gift card to a home improvement store. For my two oldest nieces who are in their early twenties, they want cash. For my youngest niece who turns 13 in a few months, I consult with my sister as to what to get her. Last year my gift to her was shoes and kneepads for volleyball.
My church always has a toy collection for needy kids, and I like to buy toys for that knowing that these may be the only toys these kids receive.
For me, Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, not to camp out in front of a store for days hoping to snare a deal on a TV or to trample other shoppers at the store entrace at 3:00 a.m. I don't believe Baby Jesus said "Now celebrate the incarnation by maxing out your credit cards." Just my two cents.
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Born and raised in Dubuque, Iowa. Chicago 1979 to 1986. Northwest Suburbs of Chicago - Schaumburg since 1988.
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