What Christmas Presents Would You Get for Those Who Have Everything?

firstpostbekind on 01/12/2022 - 16:46
Last edited 08/12/2022 - 17:00

Edit: Ok. Gifts sorted. Thanks all (most of you)

If I can be bothered, I’ll update the post after Christmas

Not a humble brag post.

My sibling and their partner have a combined income > 500k
My partner and I are not as wealthy, but are pretty comfortable.

All of us have everything we need, and excluding a spontaneous Ferrari, we can all buy the day to day things we want (dinners, phones, cameras, bags)

I'm sorry if this sounds like a d*ck post in the current economic climate, i'm just really stuck what to buy because i'm trying to limit the meaningless exchange of things. Last year - with time and planning- I bought some pretty cool things <$500 for both. I just don't have that time/energy now.

Any suggestions for nice gifts in the $250 realm?
Please don't suggest sponsoring a child - I already do
Please don't suggest coming empty handed - I won't do that

Thanks

General Discussion

Comments

  • dust on 01/12/2022 - 16:47
    +25

    Something edible that you make?

  • brendanm on 01/12/2022 - 16:49
    +63

    Not buy anything? I love Christmas, but hate the idea that you have to buy people something, even if they don't need or want anything. Just spend the day together and have some good food.

    • firstpostbekind on 01/12/2022 - 16:51
      +5

      They have 100% bought things for us and my child.
      I like the sentiment, but even when we didn't have our current means (read: we were very poor) it was always nice to exchange gifts

      • brendanm on 01/12/2022 - 17:02
        +13

        Nothing wrong with buying things for kids. Adults can buy their own stuff. It's pumped into us that consumerism is part of Christmas, but it doesn't have to be. If I want something, I'll buy it, I'd much rather someone not buy me something I don't want/need, as it is a waste of their money, and a waste of whatever was used to make that item.

        Edit - or as quantumcat has said below, something handmade or fun, you don't have to spend $x amount of money, though I'm sure the shops would love that.

        • firstpostbekind on 01/12/2022 - 17:05
          +4

          My wife and I don't buy each other gifts for this exact reason.

          But not a possibility with the sibling fortunately/unfortunately

          • brendanm on 01/12/2022 - 17:06
            +12

            @firstpostbekind: Perhaps discuss this prior to Christmas next time. The expectation of buying gifts is silly if no one benefits. You spend $500 on something they don't want, they spend $500 on something you don't want. You're both down $500 just because it's expected and the done thing.

            • firstpostbekind on 01/12/2022 - 17:09
              +3

              @brendanm: I appreciate your thoughts but i'm not really contemplating NOT buying gifts.

              • brendanm on 01/12/2022 - 17:10
                -1

                @firstpostbekind: Then the gift you buy for some who has everything is whatever you want, that looks fancy, and coats $500. It doesn't really matter, as they don't want it, probably won't use it, and it only serves as something to actually give.

                • firstpostbekind on 01/12/2022 - 17:18
                  +3

                  @brendanm: That is exactly what i'm trying to avoid. By reaching out to the internet. Because buying nothing is not an option.

                  Have a good afternoon mate.

                  • brendanm on 01/12/2022 - 17:20
                    -1

                    @firstpostbekind: Ok. If you have to reach out to the internet, for what you buy your very own brother, you are going to end up buying exactly what I've just said. Something for the sake of it.

                  • kyle on 01/12/2022 - 19:17

                    @firstpostbekind: Why don't we explore why it's not an option?

            • Franc-T on 04/12/2022 - 20:47

              @brendanm: Thats why it can be tricky. You want to buy something they want or will apprieciate - but wouldnt think of getting themselves.

        • dowhatuwant2 on 06/12/2022 - 09:57
          +1

          Nothing wrong with buying gifts for anyone you care about beat it child or adult. The point of the post is that the person is trying to find a present that will be appreciated rather that something that would go to waste. For them they've already stated they consider giving nothing to not be an option so why be obtuse about it?

          • brendanm on 06/12/2022 - 10:56

            @dowhatuwant2: Read my comments and find out.

            • firstpostbekind on 08/12/2022 - 17:05

              @brendanm: This is a prime example when someone thinks their opinion is important but it completely misses the brief.

              I hope this is just you on the internet and not in real life.

              • brendanm on 08/12/2022 - 18:15

                @firstpostbekind: This is a prime example of where op asks a stupid question, and is simply seeking confirmation. No one on the internet knows your brother better than you, so you are going to end up doing the very thing you said you didn't want to do.

                That commenter asked why I was being obtuse, if they had read my comments they would know.

                • firstpostbekind on 09/12/2022 - 19:26

                  @brendanm: At no point did I ask should I buy a present, looking for confirmation.

                  That’s the way you continue to choose to read it.

                  My position has always been clear.

                  You just need to learn to read

                  • brendanm on 09/12/2022 - 21:04

                    @firstpostbekind: I never said you did. You said -

                    i'm trying to limit the meaningless exchange of things

                    Yet this is exactly what you are going to do.

                    • firstpostbekind on 09/12/2022 - 23:29

                      @brendanm: Says who? I ended up picking personalised fantastic gifts at the listed sub $250 price.

                      It just took more brain space and time than I wanted.

                      You’re still making up stories to fit your narrative.

                      To be clear, your opinion was never valued or helpful :)

                      • brendanm on 10/12/2022 - 09:06

                        @firstpostbekind:

                        Says who? I ended up picking personalised fantastic gifts at the listed sub $250 price.

                        Good job, so it was just a humble brag post in the end. At least you were honest.

                        To be clear, your opinion was never valued or helpful :)

                        I don't really care, it's my opinion, you can take it or leave it.

      • OneFootUp on 03/12/2022 - 03:46
        +3

        I stopped buying Christmas gifts years back and people used to make fun of me and call me names! Also, I have rejected others gifts and made it clear to not buy me any gifts in the future as I just want to be around people I love and care about without any materials between us.

        Guess what! They got used to it with the time and some of them started not to buy or receive gifts too

      • tolchok on 04/12/2022 - 09:55
        +2

        Personally, I was really sad when sibling presents stopped happening in my family. I love giving and receiving gifts. Our allowed budget was much, much lower ($20 from memory) and even though I was the second least financially secure at the time, I was still very happy to spend money on presents.

        I think that OP’s stance is totally valid, as are those who are saying to buy nothing. Both could be argued to be in the OzB spirit (crass commercialism vs saving money). Neither are morally wrong in my opinion.

        • braddsey on 05/12/2022 - 04:09
          +2

          We (siblings) never gave each other gifts, however exchanged gifts with parents. I suggested stopping this years ago because of the unnecessary consumerism.

          To keep the feeling of Christmas (and giving/receiving gifts) alive, we instituted a secret santa. Everyone gives and receives a single gift, up to a limit of $50. Works very well!

          • tolchok on 06/12/2022 - 07:10

            @braddsey: The point I was trying to make is that I think that your stance is valid, but I also think OP’s stance (wanting to buy presents) is also valid. I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer.

    • tessel on 03/12/2022 - 08:44
      +1

      Totally. It would be like sitting there with someone who says they have no money left for the next 2. Weeks because they"had" to buy Xmas presents for their grand children. I wish I was joking.

  • Quantumcat on 01/12/2022 - 16:55
    +21

    Institute a handmade Christmas. Then you can do something like bake some biscuits, knit a blanket, paint a painting etc. People who are earning a lot don't have to put much effort into gifts as they can just throw money at the problem. Whereas everyone equally gets 24 hours each day. Dedicating some of those limited hours to a gift means a lot more than buying someone an iPad.

    If you are not creative or don't have much time you can get custom mugs made with pictures of your child or pictures of them with your child, or get a jigsaw puzzle made with a picture of their dog on it, or a t-shirt custom made with something funny that relates to a hobby they have, etc. Lots of things you can do.

    • firstpostbekind on 01/12/2022 - 17:03
      -4

      Thank you, some good suggestions.

      I actually did make them custom mugs as part of their gift last year

      But honestly, if someone made you a custom T shirt or a jigsaw puzzle, would you keep and use that? Throwing money is actually the easiest solution. But I don't want to just buy (or quasi make) things that will be unwrapped straight to landfill.

      • Quantumcat on 01/12/2022 - 17:11
        +10

        You want to spend $250 to fulfil the obligation, and chances are they won't even want or use what you give them. Why not spend $50 or less for the same outcome?

        I'm not super into jigsaw puzzles so I'd probably use it once and then it would live in the cupboard until it got given or thrown away, but I would definitely wear a t-shirt and use mugs, and eat biscuits if someone made some for me. If you wanted them to use what you made or quasi-made (great way of describing that!) you'd have to think about how they live, or you could just not worry about it and be content spending <$50 to fulfil the social obligation.

      • sakurashu on 04/12/2022 - 19:08

        A custom t-shirt made by someone you love and who knows you sounds sick

  • kerfuffle on 01/12/2022 - 17:04
    +7

    Aesop handwash and Post Poo Drops

    • firstpostbekind on 01/12/2022 - 17:05
      +3

      Great thought! Previously done :P

  • AndyC1 on 01/12/2022 - 17:08
    +12

    I have a brother in a similar situation and I usually buy something for the house they live in. A nice plant or some thing for the BBQ or a nice outdoor light or something that they can use at a picnic or… Think of the last few times you have been around their place and think of what you would do differently w.r.t. using something they do not have and that is your answer a to what to buy.

    I just bought an Aldi 2 burner BBQ cover for their webber as it's only got a crappy cover at the moment that is not very think and the wind blows it off the BBQ.

  • Austin 316 on 01/12/2022 - 17:11
    +18

    Perhaps book them an unusual activity - like a trapeze session or deep water dive? Something that gets them out of their comfort zone and give an adrenaline rush.

    • firstpostbekind on 01/12/2022 - 17:30

      Thanks. Good thoughts

      • Indomietable on 02/12/2022 - 15:53
        +12

        Dont forgot to ask them to include you in their will / insurance beneficiaries :D

        • casho on 05/12/2022 - 08:41
          -1

          so funny!

  • cafeman on 01/12/2022 - 17:11
    +17

    Random consumable subscriptions - herbal tea, honey, coffee, whiskey, something that keeps arriving throughout the year. They'll think of you every time they try something new.

    Or, set a budget for a subscription-like "hobby" and pre-purchase four things to be delivered throughout the year. Could be woodworking, gardening, board games, painting, knitting, electronics, wood burning, geocaching, books on a particular topic, a movie a month around a particular obscure theme, just something somewhat random that it's unlikely they'd do or even know about. To work out what to buy just search for information on "how to get into …".

    As a bonus, you can pick a new thing every year and maybe they'll discover something they enjoy so much it becomes part of their life.

  • tabz on 01/12/2022 - 17:20
    +4

    Without really knowing what they like, or would use…

    • Nice linens from bed threads
    • Alcohol (whatever they're into. e.g. nice whisky, or a selection of craft beers)
    • Giftcards to any specific hobby related stores they're into? (golf, cycling etc)
    • Any electronics that they don't have that they might use, like a UE Boom?
    • Providoor gift voucher (have used this a few times when I can't think of anything else)
    • firstpostbekind on 01/12/2022 - 17:35

      Thanks

    • sakurashu on 04/12/2022 - 19:10

      If they drink whisky, there are some amazing ones around the 150-200 mark or you could get an inexpensive age statement from glenfarclas which looks impressive because of the years in cask

  • AustriaBargain on 01/12/2022 - 17:22
    +5

    The Aldi toilet freshener clip on thing is pretty cool. Keeps each flush lemony fresh.

  • altomic on 01/12/2022 - 17:23
    +1

    barium enema

  • nuker on 01/12/2022 - 17:34
    +8

    Leathernan multitool

    • firstpostbekind on 01/12/2022 - 17:35

      Thanks. Love it

      • ProlapsedHeinous on 03/12/2022 - 13:27

        I like this. Its pretty handy to have in a pinch.

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 01/12/2022 - 17:53

      honesty - the best.

    • us3rnam3tak3n on 03/12/2022 - 17:28

      And it's fine if they already have one because a spare in the car, toolbox, camping kit etc is always handy.

  • Seraphin7 on 01/12/2022 - 17:39
    +10

    Just agree "no presents".

    Otherwise, classic bottle of wine or other "luxury" consumable.

    My advice is don't buy anything that's not a consumable because, in the situation you have described, anything they "want to have" they will already have and whatever you choose risks being simply shoved "in the garage" never to be seen again, if not flat out binned.

  • AustriaBargain on 01/12/2022 - 17:40
    +2

    You could hand craft some xmas cards with your family photo in it, that's a classic rich person thing.

    • Gervais fanboy on 01/12/2022 - 17:43
      -1

      Classic rich ‘white’ people thing lol…

      • Daabido on 01/12/2022 - 21:33
        +10

        You're right. Non-white people do not like family photos.

        • Gervais fanboy on 01/12/2022 - 21:57

          some xmas cards with your family photo in it,

          Seems like you and I are on different wavelength here.

  • Cheaplikethebird on 01/12/2022 - 17:42
    +7

    In the same position. This year I tracked down an old photo of our grandma, the sort that you’d see posted on r/oldschoolcool, going to get it restored, enlarged, and framed.

    • AustriaBargain on 01/12/2022 - 17:45
      +10

      Love your use of the Oxford comma btw.

      • Cheaplikethebird on 01/12/2022 - 17:53
        +6

        I learnt grammar arguing here ¯_(ツ)_/¯

        • WhyAmICommenting on 02/12/2022 - 12:05
          +14

          You dropped this: \

          • Cheaplikethebird on 02/12/2022 - 12:10

            @WhyAmICommenting: Hahaha you know me too well 😏

            Oh wait you mean the ASCII, yeah the \ is there just not appearing in the published comment. CBF working out why.

            • OZKap on 02/12/2022 - 17:05
              +9

              @Cheaplikethebird: Last time you learnt grammar, now you can learn markdown.

              \ is an escape character in markup, to stop for example asterisks bolding, you have to type \*\* to show the asterisks as text: **asterisks bolding**.

              For your man's arm, one \ is escaping the _ trying to italicise. Double \ will show the arm properly.

              ¯\\_(ツ)_/¯ becomes ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

              • MrFrugalSpend on 04/12/2022 - 09:20

                @OZKap: So you had to comment with 3x \ or 4x \ to get ¯\\_(ツ)_/¯ ?!
                Without the space, I had to use 4 to show as double arm

                • OZKap on 04/12/2022 - 09:31
                  +1

                  @MrFrugalSpend: My examples of what you need to type I put in code blocks by surrounding it with ` ` (the little mark on the tilde key). That escapes the whole section

                  • muncan on 04/12/2022 - 12:25
                    +1

                    @OZKap: Came for the one armed bandit, stayed for the markdown masterclass.1

                    1. thanks! ↩

    • firstpostbekind on 01/12/2022 - 17:48

      Love it!

  • Baysew on 01/12/2022 - 17:46
    +11

    Deliveroo Gift cards.

  • Ghost47 on 01/12/2022 - 17:47
    +3

    Have an orgy.

    Just kidding.

    Bridgeclimb tickets if they haven’t done that?

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 01/12/2022 - 17:55
      +11

      Have an orgy.

      wh-what are you doing, non-step bro?

      • Cluster on 01/12/2022 - 18:09

        If she's not blood related, she's free to be dated :-)

        • brendanm on 01/12/2022 - 18:56

          If they are all Tasmanian, the first rule doesn't even apply.

      • theHMASfriendship on 01/12/2022 - 18:13
        +3

        Maybe OP could buy them a washing machine to get stuck in

    • ProlapsedHeinous on 03/12/2022 - 13:29

      I thoroughly enjoyed this when I visited Sydney. If you're decrepid, they take their time and have many breaks during the walk.

      • MrFrugalSpend on 04/12/2022 - 09:49
        +1

        I presume you are talking about the Bridge Climb…. although the same unwritten rule presumably would apply for decrepit people in the former activity

  • sam-1966 on 01/12/2022 - 17:53
    +7

    I used to make my mother a calendar on vistaprint every year with photos of her grandchildren - she always loved it. You could find photos from your childhood of Christmas, family holidays etc. Your siblings partner's family would probably be able to give you photos and it would be for both of them. If they have kids, throw some photos in of them. I would also put all the birthdays etc on it as mum would always write all of that on her calendar. All the family pets' birthdays were included.

    Any 'nerd' vibes - if they ever loved Star Wars, a light sabre each… similar stuff is available for Harry Potter (I have always wanted one of those wand remote controls), Star Trek, any of the comics. And not likely to be something they'd buy themselves.

    • firstpostbekind on 01/12/2022 - 18:45
      +1

      I’ve been in the process of making my mum a photo book for about 2 years 😂

      • sam-1966 on 01/12/2022 - 18:47
        +1

        Try the calendar for this year… they're pretty special and they look at it all year round. And you'll get an idea of which bits they like.

  • Cluster on 01/12/2022 - 18:08

    Everyone needs to eat. Either make something special yourself or buy a gift box.

  • Domingo on 01/12/2022 - 18:17
    +7

    What Christmas Presents Would You Get for Those Who Have Everything?

    A nice broad usage antibiotic like Penicillin

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