The $5-10 range feels right. But that is all I usually spend on the people I buy gifts for. Bump up to $25 for closest two friends and my sisters, usually $50 for mom. Of course, I have most of my gifts already, because of deal hunting and making sure no one else beats me to my good gift ideas.
How about none of the above? I think it should either be a REALLY significant gift OR nothing at all. Wasting money on throw-away trash is one of the major sicknesses of our brainwashed consumerist society.
My mom does stockings for all of us and she has fun hunting for inexpensive things that we’ll like and use, the kind of thing we’d never think to buy for ourselves. For example I pack my lunch for work so my mom looks for cool little containers, travel utensils, etc for my lunch bag. Or she collects perfume and makeup samples for my tweeny nieces. Just because it’s low-cost doesn’t mean it’s “throw-away trash”. Dumping out my stocking remains my favorite thing about xmas morning, even more than the somewhat extravagant wrapped gifts my parents get for us.
@jbartus I could never grasp that. Also, you don’t seem to get what I mean either. Why would you need an occasion to make gifts to somebody? Just do it randomly if you actually feel like doing that (as opposed to mandatory institutionalized gift-giving) & gift useful things, instead of pointless trinkets of 1-minute entertainment value. If you don’t feel like making a significant gift, thinking of just gifting something cheap for the sake of gifting, - then just don’t. I would sure as hell prefer that. If a person gets upset at that - then you’ll know how much of a materialistic basket case s/he is.
@serpent you seem to only care about the monetary value of something and not the true value. And what you would prefer has nothing to do with anyone else.
@vanslaterco Unless you just found the kid on the street, it’s likely you have someone else who requires presents as well. And if the kid’s that new, they won’t know the difference this year.
@djslack Good eye I don’t buy stocking stuffers for the wife. It was more of a “oh, parents do that too don’t they” moment to add to the long and growing list as I learn to be a dad.
If I find something that is actually a good gift for the recipient (that is, he/she will be both surprised and excited about receiving), I count my blessings and try not to sweat the cost* (obviously within reason).
*-In my situation, if I am getting a stocking stuffer, the recipient is someone to whom I am close; not just someone that I am getting an obligatory gift. So that factors into my decision making.
Most “stocking stuffers” in my life have been either consumable(snacks, batteries, etc) or small useful items(think socks or bottle openers). For the kids: stuff like crayons/coloring books/little puzzles. Nothing that won’t get played with or used throughout the year.
I’m not a huge fan of seasonal items, gimmicks, or useless garbage so my stocking stuffers are generally as thoughtful as “main” gifts but less expensive. A full stocking shouldn’t cost more than $25-$30(And that’s pushing it) in my opinion. And if I’m going to hold anything over from my childhood they should always include an apple and an orange!
@serpent ended up controlling this string in a very negative way. Such an innocuous poll question got a visceral response that everyone had to defend or justify themselves.
Stocking stuffers are fun little gifts that are usually too small to wrap on their own. My ex MIL would give me a stocking worth probably $20 of small useful items like magnetic notepads for my fridge, and candies.
My mom still gives me a stocking. She also still gives me an Easter basket, even though she might skip the actual basket part of it.
I usually go for silly stuff. When my son was 15 I gave him kitty pencils and little pencil toppers. Of course it included some of his favorite candy. We have a weird tradition of always getting a new toothbrush in the stockings every year too.
Giving a stocking to a friend or acquaintance, and someone who isn’t at the house over Christmas is totally goche in my book.
The stocking was the MAJOR source of gift items in my great grandparents generation, with marvels such as AN ORANGE or SEVERAL STICKS OF MINT CANDY!!! ZOMG. Because of that old kind of tradition, I personally think the stocking should contain at max two or three items. A favorite candy, something new to try, and perhaps a gag gift or useful item.
Spend what you want, but all the useless junk and plastic crap that people buy children these days is just a statement to your willingness to be a consumer.
Think about that word, “Consumer”. It’s not only what they call people who buy junk and cheap crap, but it’s also what they call mental patients at a lock-in hospital.
About tree fiddy.
The $5-10 range feels right. But that is all I usually spend on the people I buy gifts for. Bump up to $25 for closest two friends and my sisters, usually $50 for mom. Of course, I have most of my gifts already, because of deal hunting and making sure no one else beats me to my good gift ideas.
How about none of the above? I think it should either be a REALLY significant gift OR nothing at all. Wasting money on throw-away trash is one of the major sicknesses of our brainwashed consumerist society.
An array of $1 - $10 or so. Anything over $15 should definitely get a box for proper credit.
My mom does stockings for all of us and she has fun hunting for inexpensive things that we’ll like and use, the kind of thing we’d never think to buy for ourselves. For example I pack my lunch for work so my mom looks for cool little containers, travel utensils, etc for my lunch bag. Or she collects perfume and makeup samples for my tweeny nieces. Just because it’s low-cost doesn’t mean it’s “throw-away trash”. Dumping out my stocking remains my favorite thing about xmas morning, even more than the somewhat extravagant wrapped gifts my parents get for us.
@HemlockTea I think you said what I wanted to say to @serpent quite nicely. It’s the thought behind a gift that counts, not the value.
@jbartus I could never grasp that. Also, you don’t seem to get what I mean either. Why would you need an occasion to make gifts to somebody? Just do it randomly if you actually feel like doing that (as opposed to mandatory institutionalized gift-giving) & gift useful things, instead of pointless trinkets of 1-minute entertainment value. If you don’t feel like making a significant gift, thinking of just gifting something cheap for the sake of gifting, - then just don’t. I would sure as hell prefer that. If a person gets upset at that - then you’ll know how much of a materialistic basket case s/he is.
@serpent the point you missed again was that you are assuming stocking stuffers would be ‘pointless trinkets’.
@serpent you seem to only care about the monetary value of something and not the true value. And what you would prefer has nothing to do with anyone else.
We use to put coal into stockings (for the bad kids), what the frack do we put now.
@mfladd let Krampus at 'em.
@mfladd Broken tech toys.
@rockblossom Better yet - tech toys with intermittent problems. They’ll work for awhile, then randomly stop. Then magically fix themselves later.
Oh god, this made me realize that I do in fact have a kid now and they require presents.
@vanslaterco Unless you just found the kid on the street, it’s likely you have someone else who requires presents as well. And if the kid’s that new, they won’t know the difference this year.
@djslack But once they DO start caring it’s pretty much the coolest thing in the world for a while.
@djslack Good eye
I don’t buy stocking stuffers for the wife. It was more of a “oh, parents do that too don’t they” moment to add to the long and growing list as I learn to be a dad.
@vanslaterco The list is long, but it’s worth it.
–Dad of a 16, 18, and 20 year old.
If I find something that is actually a good gift for the recipient (that is, he/she will be both surprised and excited about receiving), I count my blessings and try not to sweat the cost* (obviously within reason).
*-In my situation, if I am getting a stocking stuffer, the recipient is someone to whom I am close; not just someone that I am getting an obligatory gift. So that factors into my decision making.
Most “stocking stuffers” in my life have been either consumable(snacks, batteries, etc) or small useful items(think socks or bottle openers). For the kids: stuff like crayons/coloring books/little puzzles. Nothing that won’t get played with or used throughout the year.
I’m not a huge fan of seasonal items, gimmicks, or useless garbage so my stocking stuffers are generally as thoughtful as “main” gifts but less expensive. A full stocking shouldn’t cost more than $25-$30(And that’s pushing it) in my opinion. And if I’m going to hold anything over from my childhood they should always include an apple and an orange!
@serpent ended up controlling this string in a very negative way. Such an innocuous poll question got a visceral response that everyone had to defend or justify themselves.
Stocking stuffers are fun little gifts that are usually too small to wrap on their own. My ex MIL would give me a stocking worth probably $20 of small useful items like magnetic notepads for my fridge, and candies.
My mom still gives me a stocking. She also still gives me an Easter basket, even though she might skip the actual basket part of it.
Here’s a handy guide: http://shityoucanafford.com/
I usually go for silly stuff. When my son was 15 I gave him kitty pencils and little pencil toppers. Of course it included some of his favorite candy. We have a weird tradition of always getting a new toothbrush in the stockings every year too.
Giving a stocking to a friend or acquaintance, and someone who isn’t at the house over Christmas is totally goche in my book.
The stocking was the MAJOR source of gift items in my great grandparents generation, with marvels such as AN ORANGE or SEVERAL STICKS OF MINT CANDY!!! ZOMG. Because of that old kind of tradition, I personally think the stocking should contain at max two or three items. A favorite candy, something new to try, and perhaps a gag gift or useful item.
Spend what you want, but all the useless junk and plastic crap that people buy children these days is just a statement to your willingness to be a consumer.
Think about that word, “Consumer”. It’s not only what they call people who buy junk and cheap crap, but it’s also what they call mental patients at a lock-in hospital.
@j0da consumer: a person or thing that eats or uses something. Let’s all stop breathing
*gauche, not goche, in my last post. Sorry.