Non traditional gift ideas... About This Page:

[mrsmaup]

I had been racking my brain the last few days over what to get my 84 year old grandmother. I thought I could find her something at WDW, but nothing really caught my eye, besides she is always complaining that she has too much "stuff". Too many knick knacks, too many clothes, etc. She likes lighthouses and cows, but once people know you like something, they tend to overrun you w/those items!LOL!!

Today my husband said "why dont you send her flowers?" WHAT A GREAT IDEA!!! My grandmother has been a widow for many years now and she dosent get flowers often(if ever). They are beautiful, not something \she would spend money on herself and when they die, she can throw them away, not have to dust them endlessly!LOL!!

Tonight when I was watching a feed the children infomercial, I saw this piece about a lady who does not buy a "gift" for her adult family and friends, but sends them an empty bowl w/a poem in it letting them know that while the bowl looks empty, it really is overflowing w/food for a hungry family because she made a donation in their name to feed the children,.

I thought that was a GREAT idea!!

I seem to always get overrun w/"stuff" that I really dont need and im sick of always sending something that I know the recipent dosent really need.

I like the idea of flowers or a fruit basket or a coffee of the month club and I REALLY like the empty bowl idea. I know what I will be doing next year.

Anybody else have any non traditional gift ideas that really hit the spot?

[kimdisneynut]

My grandmother is 93 years old the best gifts she loves is when we give her gift cards to the grocery and we allways but her a month supply of things like paper products and frozen items. She loves this. The first time we did this she said now this is something I will use. At the age of 93 I have everything I need but food. I need to eat to continue to live.

Kim

[Chrissi]

A few years ago, myself and about 30 or so of my first cousins made miniature quilting squares and one of my aunts pieced them together to make a quilt for my grandma. We gave it to her for her 80th birthday at our family reunion. She loves it! It's got a place of honor on the back of her couch waiting for one of her 96 grandchildren or great-grandchildren to snuggle up in it to watch Jeopardy with her. She'd been asking us for years to stop buying her flowers. She has those little potted hyacinths all over the house from years of Easter gift-giving.

[Irene]

The gift card to the local supermarket is what seems to be hit. Along with some crackers and cheese.

[Perky2sol]

My DH's grandparents are in their 80's. Last year, I decided to go very practical for them. I wrapped up a candle and put a roll of stamps, and two supermarket gift cards (one for each of them) in a nice gift bag. It was such a huge hit, I am doing very similar this year, except I am giving them some pretty kitchen towels along with the stamps and supermarket cards.

They are on a very limited budget, and so helping them with the "needs" makes me feel like maybe they can take some and do something they really want to do for themselves.

[mrsmaup]

These are the flowers I ordered for my grannie

http://products.proflowers.com/produ...lectionTypeID=

Arent they perty?LOL!!

I like your ideas. I may steal some of them next year. I also like the idea of movie passes. Movies are SOOO expensive nowadays, especially if you have a family. It cost us 40.00 to go to a matinee and get a bag of popcorn and 4 drinks.

2 years ago when we lived on base, my neighbor got stuck in Grand Forks because of a blizzard(they have gates on the interstates and highways that they will close during a blizzard so you dont get stuck out of town and freeze to death. We were stuck in Fargo once because they gated the interstate). He was very concerned about his cats and called me to see if we could check on them. The door was locked and I couldnt get in the tiny laundry room window. My dh boosted our son who then ran to unlock the door. We checked on kitties and left for the night(although cats dont really need to be checked on for an overnight stay, but I guess they were their fur children).

The next day when he got back to base, he brought us a coupon book from the local movie theater. We told him that was totally unnecessary but he insisted. It was a lovely thought, as we got into 2 movies with popcorn, pop and candy for FREE, then had about 10 other coupons for free food and free children's tickets, etc.

I think practical gifts get a bad rap. Who wouldnt love a large supply of something they use on a daily basis over another picture frame or stuffed toy?

My brother's family and ours only give adults food. Nuts or somethign that is expensive and we wouldnt normally buy on our own.

I sent my bil and his wife(the one I am not particularly fond of because of her condesending attitude) a biscotti jar filled w/treats. I thought she would appreciate this, as she is Italian and sticks close to her heritage, but apparently she thinks it is tacky to send food. Last time I send anything for her that is for sure! My dh dosent make alot of money(which she knows PERFECTLY well since her dh is in the Navy not making any money!LOL!!) and I refuse to go into debt to buy her a 100.00 gift cert or something like that. Forget it. Its the thought that counts and if you dont like it then your thinking isnt very thoughtful!

Keep the ideas coming!!

[kadterp]

Fruitcake.

[mrsmaup]

[ QUOTE ]
Fruitcake.

[/ QUOTE ]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!LOL!! I dont want to torture people, I want them to speak to me after Christmas!LOL!!

[TINKN]

We do supermarket gift certificates for my grandparents too. They appreciate it and I can order them online and they send them in the mail (free postage) and one more gift is crossed off the list. We get the same thing for FIL because he loves to cook and make beef jerky etc.

The funny thing is that my mom called the other night and asked if I thought it was tacky to give a super market gift certificate as a Christmas present. I said that's what I get Gramma and Grampa everyyear. She asked if it was something we would use. I told her she does enough by watching our kids while we work and won't take any money, but she insists so we'll be going and buying some groceries for her after we get it, since she's on a limited budget.

[Belle*]

We bought our grandparents VISA gift cards this year. That way they can use them for food or clothes or even the co-pay at the Doctor's office! We did it last year as well and it was a big hit.