@CaptAmehrican and to make the experience more realistic sell them a 6 pack for 5x what you paid for it!
And give them a cardboard cutout of a person’s head that they can hold in front of them to block their view (full disclosure - I’m short so this is how I see most concerts, plays, and games)
@CaptAmehrican Agreed. Tickets are my go-to when I am stumped. YMMV, but I think they qualify as a legitimate gift in a way that cash/gift certs do not. They also can provide a thrill on receipt and once again when the event rolls around.
If you tell me what you want, I’ll get that for you. But expect something random too. This year, people are getting stroopwafles with their gifts since I bought way too many. I’ve learned that you need to give something unexpected along with the anticipated or else it looks lazy and unthoughtful. That’s why my wife is getting a new toolbox this year. She’s also getting a nice new laptop bag (Thanks Instant Regret Kit!)
At the start of the plague I sent Spirograph sets to my brothers & sisters. I missed a gift note on one of them, and caused some entertaining confusion and speculation about where it came from. I wound up being dubbed the Spirograph Elf.
I’m trying the same sort of thing for Christmas. Some gifts are tailored to a specific person, but most were a cool game I found. Then Amazon cut me off at three orders, and said they didn’t want my money any more.
I’ll try again and see if the block has timed out yet.
All of the above.
@RiotDemon Definitely.
I like to delight and surprise but my wife tends to override my gifting wishes. So, I guess that’s how it goes awry.
Whatever weird and cheap deal I get on Meh throughout the year. That’s a surprise, but not sure “delight” fits.
I keep waiting for a deal a day website to tell me what to buy for the gift recipients in my life.
I love giving experiences tickets to do things. 2020 has killed that.
No theater tickets
No sports game tickets
No concert tickets
No events at all
@CaptAmehrican The 2020 version could be a TV to watch theatre, concerts, and/or sports.
@CaptAmehrican and to make the experience more realistic sell them a 6 pack for 5x what you paid for it!
And give them a cardboard cutout of a person’s head that they can hold in front of them to block their view (full disclosure - I’m short so this is how I see most concerts, plays, and games)
@j2 You feel my pain.
@CaptAmehrican Agreed. Tickets are my go-to when I am stumped. YMMV, but I think they qualify as a legitimate gift in a way that cash/gift certs do not. They also can provide a thrill on receipt and once again when the event rolls around.
I do surprise and delight when I can, but most folks get what they asked for, or cash.
If you tell me what you want, I’ll get that for you. But expect something random too. This year, people are getting stroopwafles with their gifts since I bought way too many. I’ve learned that you need to give something unexpected along with the anticipated or else it looks lazy and unthoughtful. That’s why my wife is getting a new toolbox this year. She’s also getting a nice new laptop bag (Thanks Instant Regret Kit!)
At the start of the plague I sent Spirograph sets to my brothers & sisters. I missed a gift note on one of them, and caused some entertaining confusion and speculation about where it came from. I wound up being dubbed the Spirograph Elf.
I’m trying the same sort of thing for Christmas. Some gifts are tailored to a specific person, but most were a cool game I found. Then Amazon cut me off at three orders, and said they didn’t want my money any more.
I’ll try again and see if the block has timed out yet.
It started when my taco-loving brother-in-law found the TacoSarus Rex.
Not. Just. Not. A little resentment if you give me something cause I thought we were on the same page… And now you made i awkward.
Varies. For immediate family (wife/kids), they get a lot of what they asked for, but everybody gets a least one surprise.
For extended family who will only get one gift, its an ordered approach: