Each of us celebrate the holidays in our own special ways. I, being alone, celebrate my Christmas at my Brother's Home with his family. I give presents to not only my Brother and my Sister-in-law, but also my Niece and Nephews. The challenge is to give all presents and not bust my budget. This year I have come up with not only a way to stay within my budget, but also be creative too.

Scented Candles are a favorite with the ladies, so this year they are all getting scented candles.
My nephews are both in their twenties, but do not go in for carpentry or plumbing. However all of us have a need for everyday tools. A hammer or a screwdriver or a pair of pliers are something we all need from timr to time. They are both getting a small toolbox with some basic tools. Again not a budget buster.

Each present will also contain a small sampler bottle of liquor, they like the small bottles.

What good ideas do you have ? Please share your Christmas ideas/thoughts .

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They're pricier (~$20 for 40-60 hour burn candles) but if strong-scented candles are their thing, Archipelago Botanicals has some great candles.

Tools, I'm always a big fan of quality and would suggest getting a smaller number of higher quality tools. Until my dog chewed the handles on a couple up as a puppy, I had a set of screwdrivers that just said "CHINA" on them that lasted moderate to heavy use for a good 20 years. The better the tool, the easier for the job it'll be and the longer it'll last. And if you want to get people interested in home improvement and fixing things themselves - make it easy for them. Nothing's more frustrating than a shitty screwdriver that starts stripping on you after a few uses.

Liquor, no real suggestions beyond pairing some liquors that make a cocktail. I've been all about Negronis lately - not sure if Campari comes in the sampler bottles though. If beer would work too though, I'm a big fan of Innis & Gunn (In order, the rum aged, original, wheat, bourbon aged, IPA, and scotch barrel aged). Lakefront Brewery has a Winter Lager that's brandy barrel aged that's pretty fantastic, tastes almost like a really thick tripel. Not sure if you can get it outside of WI though. I've personally spotted it in Wausau at a few places and in Milwaukee (Consumer Beverage in Hales Corners). Careful though, it's 13.9%

As much as I appreciate comments on my post, I was however hoping to read some original Christmas ideas. Ideas about decorating, or special holiday foods, or even family traditions.

Lots of coffee with a specialty baked pastry is the traditional Christmas morning fare. Ham/Biscuits are also regularly available too.

Aside from clothing, I've seen gifts given that ranged from musical instruments, to kitchen appliances, to just fun toys.

Merry Christmas

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It's gotten easier over the years as we have gotten older. Opening at our house, then having to make it to my parents, two sets of inlaws houses, plus grandparents made it so we had to rush all day long. Now we are down to just opening with the kids at home and my parents as the in-laws are all out of the state now during Christmas.

The old staples of gifts for my parents don't work any more. Pa has about every tool or can get them from one of us kids if he needs something. Ma now has more candles and yard and house decorations than she knows what to do with. If we keep getting them more all that is going to happen is some day, us kids will need to haul it all out of the house, helped my parents when they had to clean our my grand parents house a few years ago. So the past few years we have been getting them gift certificates for restaurants they would never go to on their own. this year I'm thinking about gift certificates to subscription like BlueAprin, so they can eat something out of the ordinary for them without having to go do all the shopping.

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Do your Christmas traditions include :

baking cookies
hanging candy canes on the Christmas Tree
a special trip to the liquor store
donating to the Salvation Army Kettle
putting up a display on the fireplace mantle
placing a wreath on the front door
making that special cheese dip for the Christmas party

Merry Christmas

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Politics be damned, Christmas will not take a back seat ! [boxing]

Children's smiles, that great smell when you walk into the house, the guy at the store that said hello and wished you a happy holiday, wrapping paper covering the bed, wondering what gift to get Grandma.

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It's all about the kids... and the birth of the one who changed the course of human history.

Seeing the looks on mine...priceless. The stuff Christmas conjures... sitting down in the basement at Uncle Bob's, RIP, while the fire was crackling while upstairs the place was rocking with family members galore and a huge tree in a big living room with more presents than I ever thought possible. A total sideshow my Aunt Dee would put on for everyone. Table with so many chairs that I don't think I've seen one that big since. Multiple kids tables. Games of all kinds. Mistletoe to avoid... hot cider, eggnog...the smell the sounds the faces the spirit. All gone from future holidays but will live with me forever.

Now, it's just me my wife and 3 kids down here in Texas where we're far from any family. It's just us, but it's still nice. Will never match what it used to be but can only hope the kids fondly remember these times as I do mine.

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My kids are grown. There are no grandkids. Nieces and nephews are adults doing their own thing. Both moms are too old to hostess any gettogethers.

My son and d-i-l live out of state. My daughter is in the middle of a divorce. Damn if I have only listened to smokey last year and not given them cash, she would probably still be married.

We will probably meet up with out kids after Christmas is over. Looks like it will be a nice quiet day for my wife and I.

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Please don't draw me into any family dramas. I express what I believe to be good ideas, but not all ideas apply to all occasions. I wish all a happy and safe holiday season. Cash gifts can serve well as gifts for some, but others need a more personal gift to satisfy them.

As a great gift, put together an artificial flower arrangement (silk), it's a big hit with the ladies.

Happy Holidays

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