We started a scholarship after my folks died because we are all "set" in life and don't need more STUFF!

Rather than buy each other junk that none of us need, we donate anywhere from $100-$1,000 to the scholarship. It's not a huge amount, but probably enough to buy a college kid's books for the year!

Good reminder Sleeve : ) I'm looking at an electronic item for DH's b-day, which falls just before the December holiday, but am putting off ordering it 'til nearer time. He'd see me 'testing' it.

I'm commenting mostly because I love the idea of recycled gifts, as well as scholarships or charities. Some years ago I suggested my family give a small token gift, or something homemade (something cooked, typically), and instead of shopping, spend that time with one another. Included in our shared time was a trip to the local orphanage (Children's Home), car filled with wrapped gifts, furniture we didn't need, etc. We much preferred those times spent together (no young children by that time). When I married, my in-laws believed in mass quantity giving - mostly prank gifts. I just can't fathom spending money on things no one will ever use when it could be put to better use. We traded off holidays for a while, and they did not like my ideas one bit. They are all adults. I don't think it scroog-ish to want to spend time with each other and limit gift giving, but they disagreed. To each their own.

In our families we only get gifts for the kids, the adults do not exchange gifts other than things like homemade fudge or home canned jam or the kids will make something like Christmas ornaments for every one.

Elery's family used to have a "white elephant" exchange, where everyone bought prank gifts or something recycled, but even then, what do you do with that stuff? Store it away to re-gift next year, I suppose. Too bad they stopped, I have one of those motion activated singing fish somewhere, sang Jingle Bells and flopped his tail, I always put it up at the office because it drove my secretary batty, LOL.

I always make sure that if I give a gift that requires batteries, I get the batteries too, otherwise the kids make me crazy removing the batteries from flashlights and lanterns. (grin)

Elery's birthday is just after Christmas, so I use that as an excuse to buy larger items like chain saws, chains for the tractor tires, last year it was an iPad. We don't buy a lot of gifts for each other, usually we'll agree that we want to have a bigger item and we buy that as our "gift" to each other. This year I think he's "hinting" about an Air Fryer though.....

Annie

I have bitter memories about getting a camera, with....wonder of wonders! a flash attachment, which took batteries. That was before the days of something always open all day and night.....and we hunted down a convenience store soda fountain type of place owned by a Jewish family....who were mobbed by others who needed something.
Yes always check a gift for batteries...
And speaking of giving....what's with the use of the word "gifting"? When did a noun become a verb? I am seeing and hearing it more and more....TV ads "For your Holiday gifting"...what happened to "giving"?

Linda - I first saw the word “gifting” here on CF years ago, and it’s still the primary place I see it though it is becoming more common. I looked it up a while back to find it’s an accepted word. I wonder if it devolved from the term regifting? It’s nails on a chalkboard for me.

But more on topic, I always thought the battery idea was very thoughtful. I’ve never thought to open and test gifts. Probably not a bad idea as returns are a pain. Especially now with so much online ordering, returns have become relatively painless for the purchaser but what about the recipient?

Annie (1992) like you, gifts in my family are primarily for the kids. Except for my MIL. Unfortunately she’s a certifiable shopaholic and loads everyone up with gifts. Aside from the fact that most of it is stuff we don’t want or need, knowing that there’s an underlying mental condition takes away any joy and appreciation the recipient should have. Even the kids get it. To her credit she’s a big returner (QVC actually banned her!) so my M.O. has been to pick a gift to be overly appreciative of, and say no thank you to the rest.

Gifted, gifting...Old English. It's been a verb for hundreds of years.

Redneck American grammar police....bugger off. (kidding : )