Christmas Shopping-In laws

CheekyGirl22

I struggle with what to buy for my in-laws every.single.year.  I always try to put a lot of thought into my gifts (for everyone).  It seems pointless to just waste money getting people something they will never use or won't like.  Plus, I like to let people know that I put some thought into it.  Wins me DIL brownie points.hehe

So, whats everyone getting the parentals for Christmas this year?  Any ideas?  I was hoping to have everything bookmarked for black friday/cyber monday and be able to get it all on sale....but right now I am drawing a blank!

1krazykitty

I hate shopping for the inlaws (and everyone else for that matter!), I put so much thought into the gifts I literally drive myself crazy.

Last year we did omaha steak shipments. 

 This year we have decided to do gifts for kids only. 

mrs.jacinthe

MIL is getting a pair of pjs and a sushi set.  (Both things that DH has approved as "she'll love it.") 

FIL is getting ???.  He is ridiculously difficult to buy for.

melgrady

We made a deal a long time ago that I would shop for my mom and DH would shop for his dad. It makes life much easier since DH has fun buying tools and music for his dad.

1krazykitty

melgrady:

We made a deal a long time ago that I would shop for my mom and DH would shop for his dad. It makes life much easier since DH has fun buying tools and music for his dad.

we made this deal too....it would give me major anxiety when he would go xmas shopping at walmart 10pm on xmas eve. MEN!

rori11

DH is in charge of buying for his family, I am in charged for buying mine.  No way would I take on the added responsibility of doing all of the shopping.

However, back to your suggestions...how about tickets to a show close to them and a gift card for a dinner at a place close to the show?  My parents love getting things that get them to do something - they already have everything else. 

Another suggestion is a southwest gift card - I obviously have no idea where they live but it can be a - come visit us anytime kind of thing.

Roni.Cedra

I think we are getting our ILs a donation made in their name.

LoLoPanda

Perhaps "sponsor" a date night? Get them gift certs/gift cards for two tickets to a movie theater and a gift card for a favorite restaurant? I did that once for my mom's birthday and now my parents have a date night every two weeks.

leolyns

My MIL - wanted this measuring spoon & cup set from Lillian Vernon - got it.

My FIL - probably a gift card to Caffino, his favorite coffee place.

My mom - a nice scarf off zulilly

Mom's husband - no idea yet

My dad - no idea, probably a warm sweatshirt since he relocated to NY/PA border area.

periwinkleblue

We gave them tickets to a broadway show one time (MIL is into Broadway shows) and last year, we gave them Netflix subscription since they love to watch DVD. I don't think the Netflix will work anymore with everything going on at the company and the focus on streaming.

 

This year, maybe we'll get a gift card to a nice restaurant. The southwest gift card someone suggested might be a good idea. 

Mrs.BoomBoom

Framed, ready to hang photos or personal calendars

Passanie

I just ask them what they want.

For MIL, it's a scarf and a stepping stone I'm making for her garden.

FIL, not sure yet, but probably a book or two about art, military history or the 49ers.

sm23

We usually only buy gifts for our nieces, and we typically get them books or something they can color/do artwork with. Beyond that, I leave it up to DH since it's his family and I'm Jewish, so it's really up to him what he wants to do for Christmas. I just go along with whatever    Most years, he doesn't get his family anything (and repeatedly asks that they don't get us anything, though that never works). But last year, he got his parents a donation in their name to their local food bank, and they really liked that we did that.

hannikan

In DH's family we always do Secret Santa. So we only have to get 2 gifts instead of 5. Last year I pulled FIL's name and SIL helped me get him a baseball book signed by a famous A's player. He was very excited about it. That was nice because he passed away only 2 months later. We usually pull names at Thanksgiving so we'll find out who we get next week.

soprano71

My ILs are incredibly hard to shop for, mainly because they don't really have any major interests. I usually let H decide and then we give them gifts from both of us.