One present for a whole household?!!!

[sunnysaturdaymorn]

A relative has decided that we should buy one present per household. This is stressing me out no end! They have children aged 3, 6 and 10 and the mum and dad. Does anyone have any idea of a family game or something else that would work please?

A ticket for a trip to the zoo, or similar.

I’d buy a family game that is suitable for the older children, and then buy all the children some chocolate or something.

Definitely a family game and then a tub of chocolate or box of biscuits

I was about to say that we did this for ourselves last year (we got a 3d printer instead of a main present for anyone) - BUT - then I saw the ages...

I remember my aunt doing this when we were kids - she got us a mini trampoline I seem to remember - which was great for the younger ones, not so hot for the older ones - which is the problem you have here..

It's basically a present for the toddlers, because what on earth can work for a 3 year old, and a 10 year old (and how many families are doing this? how many people are trying to think of single presents for this family?)

I think it's a terrible idea personally as a wide spread thing. Like the whole secret santa idea, which in my experience results in people getting very cross because they gave up to the budget, but there's always someone who spends 2 quid and receives a 30 quid present.

A family board game.

Cinema gift voucher.

A hamper with things like mugs, hot chocolate, treats etc.

A Lego set
board games
card games
experince vouchers
treats hamper
matching pjs

Why does the relative get to decide? Give what you want.

What is the budget?
-I'd do a hamper with something to everyone- bottle wine, chocs, biscuits, colouring book/craft kit, boardgame, books?
-zoo ticket, cinema tickets, theme park like thorpe park, legoland?

I would get Carcassonne for the family (my daughter started playing aged five and it is a fiem favourite still) plus a simpler game (magnetic snakes and ladders?) for the 3 year old to join in with.

DH's brothers always send household gifts.

We have had board games, jigsaws, blankets for the living room, food hampers.

We are always blown away at how thoughtful these gifts are. It's a challenge for the giver!

What’s the budget?
I think a board game or cinema voucher are good ideas,
and you can add box of chocolates or fancy biscuits.
You can buy a travel variant of popular games e.g snake and ladders, Chinese checkers etc.
We have one like this and it’s very handy if we are going away somewhere.

I wouldn’t buy Lego set unless you are absolutely sure that they will play together.

We used to get a box of Peek Freans every single year from my aunts. Christmas wouldn’t have been the same without it.

i would keep it focused on the kids given the ages, so I’d just go with what they like food treats wise as you can’t really go wrong with that, like a nice box of kid focused fancy Christmas chocolates (giant Santa etc, the type of stuff that you wouldn’t really buy lots of yourself as it’s a bit of a waste of money!), or if budget allows a hamper with adult stuff also but they are not that cheap.

Get them this.
Although isn't Old Maid and Donkey the same game?

Popcorn machine, big popcorn bowl (you can order bespoke ones from Not On The High Street etc), kernels and flavourings. A waffle maker, velvetiser etc?

I'd get a selection of card games, things like Dobble, Uno, Rat-a-Tat-Cat, Monopoly Deal, one of the Usborne Snap games. There's something for everyone there and most of them they can all play together, it doesn't take up too much space, and it won't cost too much.

Or a food and drinks hamper with stuff for everyone in.

Or a selection of Christmas books. One for each of them.

Some lovely gift suggestions on here.
I did wonder if they have asked to do this because they are feeling squeezed financially?
I know we were when the kids were small. We had to ask DH's wider family to stop buying because we couldn't reciprocate. There were so many of them! BIL & SIL never really forgave us but they earned so much more than we did.

Not everyone likes to admit they are strapped for money, it's very difficult when other people don't always think about that.

Agree with this - it’s just all so joyless.

BILs gf has tried to suggest this for DHs side of the family 2 years running now. I find this particularly egregious because it’s not even “her” family and we keep saying no. If you don’t want to get me a present then don’t get me one but you won’t stop me from buying what I want for who I want. Choosing presents and wrapping them nicely is part of the joy for me and I like receiving gifts from people who have thought about what I might like (regardless of price) rather than making a list of suggestions for the secret Santa to choose from as has been suggested.

Vouchers for an event/day out, we do this with one of our friends and it works really well, both families go on both days out

Logo Christmas game and a tub of celebrations.

Voucher or boardgame, I think this is far easier than buying individually!

Could you get a few board games as a present and put them inside 1 box, like pictionary, cards and connect 4 or twister maybe? Covers all the ages

One of those day out gift packages

A friend suggested this to us many years ago....total nightmare....never the same again and no contact for a number of years now sadly...🙁. Totally changed the dynamic of the what I felt was a friendship...x

My brother and SIL between them have 8 children. It's always a family gift from me.

Some I've given - family membership to a local zoo, cinema passes, board game hidden in a Costco crate of crisps and pop for games nights, escape room puzzles to do at home, hamper from a chocolate company, subscriptions...

There are lots of options