I’ve started my Christmas shopping sort of…I’ve been giving it some thought and this year, I decided to do something different with my friends. Family, I’m still going with the traditional buy gifts thing, but with friends I think I’m going to have a nice brunch with some grab bag type gifts.
My group of friends are from high school, so we’ve know each other for sometime, and now some of us have families. We rarely all get together anymore, and now that their are kids in the mix, I think it’d be nice to for everyone to see the little ones. Thus the brunch. Plus I love to eat. 
Anyway, here’s what I’m doing at the brunch. I don’t like trying to figure out a gift for a specific person, because well, I’m really bad at it. I try so hard to find the perfect thing, I end up getting something that sucks…really, it always happens that way! I think, wow, this would be cool, so I buy it, and then come Christmas, it’s not that great anymore. So at the brunch, I’m going to buy random gifts, one is the iPod, and the rest will be other cool things anyone can use, e.g. gift certificates, t-shirts, etc. I’ll have a quiz that everyone has to answer and certain places will get to pick first. Everyone gets something, so really, it’s just about picking. I’m going to make every gift the same size, so that it’s really even more random. It should be great fun! The food is going to be great too…it’s one of my favorite restaurants.
Are you doing anything special for Christmas beyond the usual gift exchange?
D
October 17, 2006 at 7:34 am
Awesome idea!
Here are some ideas I have run across –
1. Soduko Rubik’s Cube (famous cube but different)
2. Ben & Jerry’s Lock (for the ice cream lovers)
3. Table Topics – (I have a 20% off coupon code if you like this) Comes in many different editions.
Have fun!
udandi
October 17, 2006 at 9:51 am
Sounds like a fun plan!
my friends have learned that I will not participate in gift exchanges because I really like to give big to the children at a homeless shelter that I found out about through my local alumni chapter.
Maria
October 17, 2006 at 9:57 am
Wow! That sounds like a great party in the making! I’m sure you’re friends will enjoy it.
This year, we’re (me and my son) are going to spend time at home instead of running around to everyone’s house. He’ll be 22 months, so he’s just starting to understand what it is all about. We’re definately not going to have alot of presents because I want to teach him that Christmas is about Jesus and family, not material possessions.
Maria
October 17, 2006 at 9:58 am
By the way, I think it’s great that you’re thinking about Christmas so soon. Best to be prepared right?
LAMoneyGuy
October 19, 2006 at 12:05 pm
My friends and I used to do a gift exchange. Every year around November I would start stressing out and find myself fighting the crowds at the mall on Dec 24.
About three years ago we decided that we will all save money if we agree to forgo gifts and go out for a nice dinner. So, once a year we go somewhere very nice, much nicer than any of us would normally go. We have an amazing meal, and get out of the holidays for about $100 each outside of family gifts.
MsMiniducky
October 23, 2006 at 9:26 am
The brunch is a great idea! My group of high school friends is still working through what works best for us in terms of gift giving since we already forgo all birthday gifts throughout the year… and it’s so hard to overcome that need to give nice gifts!
Brendan
November 20, 2006 at 2:12 pm
Love the contest idea. Takes the difficulty and guilt out of trying to find a good gift for each person. Will people be pissed that they got cheaper gifts than other people though?