We are doing "Santa" for DP's family again this year.

I'd like to cut it back a *bit*. Because there are so many of them, it gets expensive quickly.

This is who we have to buy for:

GrannyE (84)
GrandpaL (81)
GrandpaB (81)
FIL (57)
MIL (57)
BIL (34)
SIL (35)
DP (31)
Me (30)
BIL (26)
SIL (24)
DD (7)
DS (5)

Then, we don't know about: (these are actually older BIL's best friend from college, later DP's roommate & his family. I'm not sure if they are celebrating at the In-Laws this year or what)
"B"IL (33)
"S"IL (34)
DN (10)
DN (5 months)

Ideas?

Last year we did the "Page A Day" calendars for everyone, but w/only like 1/2 of them even kinda using them I don't think I want to go that way again.

So:
Kleenex (decorated kind in the mini packs)
Toothbrushes
Candy
Bookmarks

Any other ideas?
Crafts? (last year we did keychains and decorated socks. DD & DS each need a craft)

TIA

I'm such a nerd, but I love funny magnets, personalized pens, 5/10 dollar gift certificates...I can't think of more...

We made these last year, they were a huge hit!:

Coffee Filter Angel Craft - These little angels are very simple to make and very inexpensive.

What you will need: Three coffee filters for each angel, one large bead for the head, a pipe cleaner, doll hair, and paint.

What to do:

Cut the pipe cleaner in half. Gather up one coffee filter across the width and wind one of the halves of pipe cleaners around it to make the wings.
Cut about 10 strings of doll hair about 6 inches long. Wrap the other half of the pipe cleaner around the middle of the doll hair lengths leaving about 1 1/2" of pipe cleaner at one end.
Wind the 1 1/2" length around to form a halo. Insert the other end of the pipe cleaner through the center of a coffee filter and then through the center of the bead and then through the center of another coffee filter. Bend a loop in the end of the pipe cleaner so the coffee filters and bead don't fall off.
Bring the top coffee filter down around the bead and gather it around the bottom of the bead to form the neck of the angel. Attach the wings to the body just below the bottom of the bead. Wind the ends of the pipe cleaner from the wings around to form the arm.
Paint the angel with watercolors or glitter glue and draw on a face.

Food??? My first thought anyway. You could make individual pound cakes or make some apple butter and put it in little decorative jars. Some magnets you make with the kiddos or ones with family pics in them? In my felting book, I've found some cute little gift bags that are easy to make. You could put the magnets or whatever else in these... I have a *thing* for special wrapping, especially, if I can reuse for something else.:thumb

Don't know what your stance is on this, but DH's grandpa gives everyone a scratch-off lottery ticket for Christmas.

Magnets are a GREAT idea! I'll see if DD wants to do that (I think DS wants to make ornaments out of candy).

The other ideas are great too! Keep them coming. Lottery tickets could be totally fun--- see if anyone wins something. And definately some food, just need to figure out *what*. Maybe even hot cocoa mix?

How about one of those layerd cookie mixes or brownie mixes in a mason jar?

Its real easy to make apple butter and can it. All you need is a box of jars and a large pot. There isn't any special equipment needed. My MIL made us some of the most tasty apple butter and pear butter....I don't think it lasted a week.

bump.

any other ideas?

Lip gloss for the girls/ladies!

Maybe a cheap pocket knife for the guys? Or a mini flashlight?

Candy, either loose or done up in a little decorated bag or something.
Homemade fudge, wrapped in 'single serving' size packages
crafty personilized Christmas ornament
home-made photo albums
flashlights, batteries

for kids:
little tubs (or small batches of home-made) play-do
stickers

My family always puts an orange in the toe of our stockings.

Moved to Frugality & Finances. :)

Yeah, fruit.

These are not necessarily frugal, but here are some of the things we do:

Sometimes we got things like a kitchen spatula or wooden spoon

magazine

an orange (at the bottom)

chapstick

a candycane

pens/stationary

crossword puzzle book (sudoku)

Nuts (loose, still in shells)

mug

small bag of coffee.

gloves/hat/mittens

socks

small candle

for the little ones, coloring book and crayons (or something similar)

hairbrush & ponytail holders

little bath bomb or trial size shower gel
maybe the older ones would like a home made GC for dinner at your house, a day of housecleaning, wash the car, etc
movie tickets (Costco sells them for cheaper here)

17 stockings?? did i count that correctly? thats ALOT... is it possible to give 'couples' gifts.. where dh/dw just get ONE thing... i love the family tradition but it sounds soooo expensive.... plus dont forget you have to get your kids stuff??

what price limit did you decide on? you could probably find small jarred candles for $3 for the ladies... kids... hummmm sunglasses? its still sunny even in the snow.... we did that one year growing up.. had a 'beach' party during the winter inside of course.. it was a hoot... grass skirts... flowered lei's... just a thought and it would be cheap...

for the men... SHARPIES... all men love sharpies

you could also do office supplies.... ( i have stock from back to school sales) a little box of paper clips pens push pins etc....

good luck and go get the sales

Lip gloss for the girls/ladies!
Or chapstick/lip balm for anyone.