Should there be an age limit on holiday gifts?

Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
So the radio this morning was talking about whether or not there should be an age limit on gifts received for holidays, mostly from parents to children. I heard some people say that they thought kids should stop getting presents when they started high school, some others thought that college should be the cut off, yet a few more said to go ahead and keep getting your kids something small as long as you can.

What do you all think?
12/02/2010
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Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
I personally think that out of high school and into college you should still get some little things, mostly stuff you need more than stuff you want. And then out of college it's cards from there out.
12/02/2010
Contributor: Alicia Alicia
Wow really? I still get something from my parents for Christmas, and I still get them something, same for my in laws. I'm 29 with three kids of my own too. It's nothing major like it used to be, that ended when I moved out of the house. Up until then though it was just as much as it was when I was a kid, I always just assumed that was the norm!
12/02/2010
Contributor: ToyGeek ToyGeek
Quote:
Originally posted by Alicia
Wow really? I still get something from my parents for Christmas, and I still get them something, same for my in laws. I'm 29 with three kids of my own too. It's nothing major like it used to be, that ended when I moved out of the house. Up ... more
Me too! It seems like if it's expected that you give to cousins and coworkers and the mailman, you'd remember your own parents!
12/02/2010
Contributor: ToyTimeTim ToyTimeTim
I still get stuff from mom and dad and give as well. To me it is about giving, do not really think about the age.
12/02/2010
Contributor: SexyTabby SexyTabby
I don't think anyone should put any limits on giving to someone you care about. That's just silly. I doubt I'd ever stop giving to my children.

That being said for nieces and nephews I stop giving them presents when they are 18yrs old or if they have a lil one. Christmas is for the children so yes I do more for children but even adults get cards and cookies not to mention holiday dinner and family get together.
12/02/2010
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
I suppose I should rephrase my statement. Cards are always awesome, but I was thinking about it, and realized that I would probably do the same thing for my kids that my mom is doing for me, which is still getting stuff you might actually need, and a stocking full of little goodies.
12/02/2010
Contributor: Alicia Alicia
Quote:
Originally posted by SexyTabby
I don't think anyone should put any limits on giving to someone you care about. That's just silly. I doubt I'd ever stop giving to my children.

That being said for nieces and nephews I stop giving them presents when they are ... more
I do this for some people too. In my husband's family we only give to the children, and then we get something for his parents too. We don't do anything for his brothers and their wives though, just their kids. He has two nephews and one is an adult now, but we still get him something..but when he has kids it'll then be for them rather than for him.

In my family everyone insists on giving everyone gifts..so I get something small for my brother and his long time girlfriend, and then something for their kids too. Then I give something a bit larger for my parents and something for my grandma too. At this point we don't get much for my grandma though because she always puts things away in a drawer and won't use anything..and last year she opened the same gift for us like three times, she kept folding the wrapping paper back up and then opened it again..
12/02/2010
Contributor: Alicia Alicia
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
I suppose I should rephrase my statement. Cards are always awesome, but I was thinking about it, and realized that I would probably do the same thing for my kids that my mom is doing for me, which is still getting stuff you might actually need, and ... more
I wish my mom or my MIL would get me stuff I need! They always insist that things like vacuums aren't gifts, but really that's what I NEED this year and it'd be awesome if someone would gift me one rather than me having to go out and buy one!
12/02/2010
Contributor: Porfiriato Porfiriato
Instead of major gifts, the adults in my family make donations to charities in each others names. It's a great idea, and you can still give some smaller things.
12/02/2010
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by Alicia
I wish my mom or my MIL would get me stuff I need! They always insist that things like vacuums aren't gifts, but really that's what I NEED this year and it'd be awesome if someone would gift me one rather than me having to go out and buy one!
I think this year I'm getting wedding stuff for Christmas, but that's the stuff I need, so it works out, lol

And if I had an extra vacuum to gift you, it'd be on its way right now.
12/02/2010
Contributor: Vally Vally
I am 42 and my parents still give gifts and I give them gifts. It really brings me a lot of joy when I watch my dad open a gift and get excited over it like he was a kid again and the same for mom too. My sister and I exchange gifts as well still.

I could understand this if you had a huge family and a lot of grandkids, maybe you couldn't afford to get gifts for the adults, but I don't understand getting gift cards instead unless that is what they want.

My parents always get me a couple of things that I need. This is going to sound silly but I always get underwear LOL. Nothing fancy or frilly, but I think it is great. One less thing I have to worry about buying. Now the sexy and fancy stuff I buy for myself, I am not comfortable with the parents being that aware of my sex life.

We always get each other something fun too though. Once when we were young my dad got my mom a very nice vacuum for Christmas and she almost killed him for it. She said she did not want things that made more work for her on Christmas LOL. Since that time dad makes sure to get mom something she will enjoy.
12/02/2010
Contributor: ~LaUr3n~ ~LaUr3n~
I think putting age restrictions on giving gifts is ridiculous. I'm 23...I got a birthday present this year (and every year before that). My grandma gave my mother and father gifts this year and they turned 50...she has given them gifts EVERY year.

Same with Christmas...we all get gifts every year and age has never come up.

The only thing I have been knocked out of is the pre-xmas my family does. The kids up to 18 get an early gift from a santa that dresses up and comes to the pre xmas party.

My parents have a set amount of money they spend on each of us kids at xmas and so does my oma and so does my ext. family. That's the only way numbers come into our equation.

I also give my parents, brother, and sister gifts every xmas and birthday. I'll do this til I die.
12/02/2010
Contributor: J's Alley J's Alley
At 18 NO GIFTS (in our family). Each family is different. But, my sisters and I still get each other gifts, just has to be stuff we need.

Of course our kids only get 2 gifts from us and one from St Nicholas (we don't do Santa), we keep the holidays religious.
12/03/2010
Contributor: Shellz31 Shellz31
Nah, I don't think there SHOULD be age restrictions. Personal choice really. My immediated family don't give each other gifts. We kinda thought it pointless (so we're not giving the other something they don't want) so we haven't done that since I was around 18 or 19. Not having gifts doesn't bother me in the slightest. I usually end up buying myself something .. but it's more that it just seems to happen that way - not deliberate.

I am getting/got my two close family members a xmas present this year but only cause I want to introduce them to the wonderful world of toys!
12/03/2010
Contributor: Anne Ardeur Anne Ardeur
This is something that seems to vary a lot from family to family. In my husband's family virtually no one gives gifts after about 16 (or at least not to my husband and his brother - his aunts seem to feel differently now that THEIR children are about to be 'cut off'!), but in my family (and there are a lot of us) everyone gives token gifts to everyone else, even if it's just a box of Maltesers or a Terry's Chocolate Orange or something.

So we give gifts for Christmas and birthdays to my parents, my parents-in-law, husband's brother and sister-in-law, the two siblings of mine I'm in contact with, my two small nephews, and a couple of friends we share. We receive gifts from everyone on our list except my sister and her children. And my grandmothers in the UK will occasionally send things through the mail if my parents are mailing anything.
12/03/2010
Contributor: darthkitt3n darthkitt3n
I don't think there should be an age limit. In my family, everyone gives gifts, regardless of age. My mom still gives me weird kid's toys, which makes me think I should have a kid already so she has someone else to lavish Peeps and foam swords upon.
12/03/2010
Contributor: Tori Rebel Tori Rebel
I don't think there should be requirements. I still get presents and a stocking from my mom every year, as does my 42-year old boyfriend. We also both still buy presents for our parents.
12/03/2010
Contributor: Kindred Kindred
On my side of the family, there is no age restrictions. I still get my mom something for Christmas, although its not usually much. I can't afford anything she really wants! But it's the sentiment that counts.

With my wife's family, we do Secret Santas. That way it's easier to focus on one person, and really try to make it a meaningful gift.
12/03/2010
Contributor: Misfit Momma Misfit Momma
Thats ridiculous. My family also does an early Santa visit/gift for the little kids when we have our family dinner. The adults get gifts too, but on a bring a gift get a gift basis. We even have to sit on Santa's lap for a photo with our gift! I wonder if Santa will be my cousin's sexy fiance again this year?
12/03/2010
Contributor: ScottA ScottA
Depends on the family. Gifts definitely change as people grow, but many families still give something.

I do think that the "gift card" phenomenon is kind of odd. You're pretty much giving money, so why not just give money (in that case) and let the people buy what they want at any store.
12/03/2010
Contributor: Alicia Alicia
Quote:
Originally posted by ScottA
Depends on the family. Gifts definitely change as people grow, but many families still give something.

I do think that the "gift card" phenomenon is kind of odd. You're pretty much giving money, so why not just give money (in ... more
The only reason I can really see to give gift cards is if you want the person to spend it on something fun rather than using it for bills. My MIL has done that for us a few times, usually for our Birthdays. Still though..I can see why cash would often be more helpful for the person if they really need it.
12/03/2010
Contributor: Bunnycups Bunnycups
No way, Christmas is a time for giving. It doesn't matter what age you are.
12/03/2010
Contributor: firekitten firekitten
It's a GIFT...you get gifts for your parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, etc (or at least we do in my family) so why would there be an age limit?
It's not about getting something materialistic, it's about the thought behind it.

Though this year my father did decide to not send me anything for my birthday without a word about it. *grumble*
12/03/2010
Contributor: Jobthingy Jobthingy
I still get stuff from my mom. In fact she still asks for a list from me. Of course I ask for stuff for the house now but still. I even still get a stocking at her house. My daughter has the fun stuff, I have the grown up stuff.

In fact 2 years ago for xmas my dad bought be a brand new couch cause I needed one.
12/03/2010
Contributor: Beth D Beth D
I thinks that, depending on the family dynamics of course because some families aren't like mine, you should always give something to your nuclear family; your parents and siblings. Beyond that, I pretty much think only kids should get stuff. My grandma (dad's mom) has banned presents altogether at Christmas where she's concerned. For my mother's side of the family, aside from getting something cute for my second cousins from my folks and myself, we each buy a non-specific (not meant for any particular person) gift that costs $5 and play a dice game called 'Snoop'. Each gift goes in a paper bag and there is 'stealing' of other people's gifts and stuff. It's kind of fun and everybody ends up with a gift. When I was a kid, it was ridiculous and everyone bought everyone something and I even thought then that it must cost an arm and a leg. I like the game and the cheap $5 gifts better

Long story short, I think the only real gift giving that should go on should be to a person's nuclear family and there's no age restrictions on that.
12/04/2010
Contributor: Miss Morphine Miss Morphine
We still exchange gifts (I'm 24 and my sister is 20.). I know my mum sets a limit for how much she spends on my sister and I. We also exchange gifts with our grandparents. I like taking the time to pick things out or making things for my family. I also exchange small gifts with a a few of my closest friends, but my gifting list is relatively short.
12/07/2010
Contributor: mariah mariah
WHAT! no way not in my family during chismas EVERYONE gets gifts. and my sibbiings are 30.. i guess there is a a limit like the younger kids get more gifts then the olders.. but we never just not give gifts
12/07/2010
Contributor: AU AU
Heheh, I don't put much thought into the kids in my family. I don't know them so well, there are so many. I like shopping for adults more (Well, very young children are sometimes fun...). An age limit might mean no gifts? 0_0 I'd probably do what I do now and try for a family gift?

I wish there was less of a gift gathering day to feel guilty about the presentation of gifts. I wish we could exchange gifts a little more discreetly. I get people very little, and they do so nicely for me. I am absolutely terrible at gift shopping.
12/21/2010
Contributor: Beaners Beaners
I'm 22 and just graduated from college, and my parents still get me stuff for Christmas, although it's usually stuff I need. I figure when I move out of the house next month, they'll start getting me one or two little things.
12/25/2010