Do you draw names for Christmas gifts?
By Echo123
@Echo123 (155)
United States
December 14, 2006 11:39pm CST
As the family gets bigger and bigger and bigger, it has been suggested that the adults draw names and exchange one significant gift. We would still give to each of the children in our extended family.
Do any of you do it this way and how has it worked in the past? What are some of the pros? The cons?
1 response
@ossie16d (11821)
• Australia
3 Jan 07
Our family is only my husband, myself and our son so we can easily buy for each other. However, friends have a rule where all the names go into a hat in February and they draw out a name. The females get to buy a present for the females and the males for the males. They cannot spend anymore than $30 per gift and it is in effect from the whole family. That is on the husband's side of the family and in all there are 34 in the family. The wife's family buy for everyone but they have a limit of $5 per gift. We usually spend Christmas with them, so are included in this lot. It can be quite interesting trying to find something for that amount of money. LOL
My husband and I decided many years ago that we would only buy gifts if we actually saw the family because we lived in a different state to both families. We would buy a gift when the baby was born, then when they turned 21 and when they married. That was it for us.
One thing is that often people get all these gifts they have no idea what to do with, so your thoughts of only buying for the children is a good one. Talk to everyone so they know your plans etc and if you want also put a limit on how much money you will spend on each child.
I generally start my Christmas/Birthday shopping early in the year when things are on special. That means I get better quality items cheaper and it isn't such a rush at Christmas to find the gifts.
