The kids are easy, since we only get them a couple of toys/books each. I see no point in flooding them with consumerism before they even understand the word "advertisement."
Last year I gave some family members a stripped-down Get Home Bag for Christmas. (I say "stripped-down," because it was just the basics: food, water, crank flashlight, matches, etc.) Although polite appreciation was expressed, I'm not sure people really understood that I was trying to say "I love you and I want you to survive."
This year most of the families on my list will get a small basket of eggs from my chickens. I think most everyone else will get consumables of some kind, be it food or gift cards.
Hubby's family is much more extended than my own, and the adults draw names. On the slip of paper where we write our name, we usually include a few gift suggestions. On my "wish list," I plan to write:
- Axe
- Tarp
- Dirt Shovel
But my reasoning is this: Although Hubby and I already own a few tarps (not enough, could definitely use more), an axe and a shovel, most of our basic tools are cheapo made-in-China crap that they sell at chain hardware stores. Some day we'd like to invest in some good quality, USA made tools. But until that time, we're stuck with foreign made
I'd love to put "case of canned food" or "25 lb bag of rice" on my wish list, but Hubby's family already thinks I'm crazy. Something like that would probably mark me forever as the family nutcase.
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2 comments:
I ask for preparedness stuff too...although not shovels and tarps. Heavy quilts, snow boots, a down comforter, hand-powered appliances, books, etc. You can have a good Christmas without being marked as a nutcase :)
I am surprised at how quickly Christmas is coming up this year, I like to shop all year long, I got a few things from farm sales, I got a few things from second hand store, everyone will want my homemade chocolate's and jam's/jellies.
Thankfully, I can ask for most anything on my lists, and not get a second look from my own family, last year I asked for and got a new skinning knife, a scope for a rifle, DIY books, hand tools, and bolts of cloth, along with a muskrat fur hat..
Now Dh's family, that's a little different, they are slowly getting better but the best way to explain it would be, I asked for wool socks, and a heavy work leather sheepskin lined gloves, and my MIL got me gold earings..
Break them in slowly, and they will come around..
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