@ElizabethD: We bought my brother-in-law and his fiance a few big boxes of diapers, as they've got 2 kiddos in diapers right now. We got the kids some toys/clothes of course, but buying them a stockpile of diapers means they can stretch their money a bit further and that's a gift in itself.

We've got five kids and one of my greatest joys is watching their eyes light up on Christmas morning. We don't generally go overboard - one "big" gift for each child, a few smaller gifts, a stocking, and call it good. This year, we'll again be participating in either Christmas Cheer (a local program for needy families) or the Angel Tree (local program just for kids). We'll also be making a Loaves & Fishes food donation on behalf of my lovely bosswoman, who prefers that we share with others rather than spend money on a gift for her.

UPS and Target must be staffed up for the holidays already.

Thursday I ordered an office chair from Target.com on a free standard shipping offer. Target shipped it and UPS delivered it from Ohio to Boston in less than 24 hours. I checked to see if it had been mismarked as overnight but it wasn't. I can only assume excess capacity at UPS.

Excellent idea. It feels good to do good, I bet.

I really applaud your motivation though, and hope you'll continue trying.

When we quit trading gifts with our siblings and their spouses, it was shortly after my dear MIL had died. She was a devout, generous, and frugal person who gave to many charities. We all agreed to designate a charity Mom would have supported every December and give that charity what we would have spent on each other. We pick a different one every year. It feels good to memorialize Mom that way and to know our $$ isn't simply resulting in more clutter in our homes, but in actual help to people who need it.

Man, this topic has made me really preachy! 8-D

Don't get me wrong: In better economic times, we were big-time into gifts on Christmas. 14 nieces and nephews: purchased gifts for all, plus a group money gift. Four siblings and spouses: Individual gifts for one and all. Parents: same-- and not just one gift, but a gift from us and one from each of our children. (Parents now all deceased.) Friends: yes -- gift exchanges like crazy. Secret Santas at the offices. Neighbors. Let the good times roll!

That was then; this is now. We have kids in college and in a tuition high school. We are still digging out of my husband's two years of unemployment. It has been refreshing and liberating to stop the shopping madness.

I do appreciate that it's fun to select gifts, and I certainly wouldn't prescribe our model for everyone. The few wealthy couples we now always show up with a big gift (or humungous poinsettia or food basket) for us and pricey gifts ($100 worth of stuff apiece from J Crew) for the kids. I give them a plate of my homebaked Christmas cookies -- and happily. It will be our joy this year, now that husband is employed again, to participate for the first time in 3 years in our church's Embrace a Family gift program for low-income, single-parents local families in our city. Whatever works! But I must say, getting off the shopping carousel has allowed me to really DO Advent for a change. It is restorative, contemplative, and humbling. *steps away from pulpit* (LOL)

LoL I start my Hanukkah shopping in July and I finished last month. I only have to buy gifts for my youngest, because my oldest is a teenager and he's quite content on getting money. We're cutting back this year and only giving gifts every other night with the nights that we don't give gifts we do a family activity. (Movies, Go see Xmas lights and then get a hot chocolate and a treat, Thursdays are free admittance to the Airplane museum and they're open late, ect.) We did it last year and it was a big hit. If anyone else is Jewish i would recommend it.

Yes, this is true. I'm Jewish my family celebrates Hanukkah, my boys actually love getting packages DURING Hanukkah. For them its like what did Zaydele send from Israel or what is our Rabbi giving us this year? I love that Hannukah is 8 nights, its alot more fun.

Grammar nazi FTW.

@ElizabethD: We don't do presents anymore, either. Our families are spread out pretty far, so we give household gifts for everyone to share. We buy them online and have them shipped right to their house. Gourmet cheeses, a decadent cake, boxes of chocolate goodies or nuts, stuff like that. It seems to be a hit.

1) Buy gift card.

2) Put in Christmas envelope.

3) Mail first-class one week before Christmas.

4) Enjoy grateful thank-you notes several weeks later.

Just stop giving presents to adults, people. It has gotten *insane*. NO ONE I know really needs anything more in their lives, except the low-income families we buy gifts for through our church's outreach program.

Besides, the gift-opening part of Christmas is for kids. Our kids buy little things to stuff hubby's and my Christmas stockings with, and that's it for us. So nice to sit back and watch the younger people open a few presents and laugh over silly stocking stuffers.

Please...I work for a living... I dont have money to buy anyone Christmas gifts.

If there is no time listed, does that mean one just has to order anytime on the day listed? Just askin' 'cause I'm with El_Fez with the McNuggets as gifts.