Family always unsatisfied with gifts regardless of price —- what did you give your parents/aunts/uncles this year? Did they like it?

Do a secret Santa with the fam. Limits the number of presents. Increase the value per person. And everyone knows the rules

Grandma’s always love pics. Two pics, two frames, prolly spent less than $10 each and they loved it!

I decided last year I won’t buy a gift unless they responded to my: what do you want/give me ideas email or text. Can’t complain if they responded and got something from that list and certainly can’t complain if they didn’t respond 🤷🏼‍♂️. I also like the secret Santa idea and we did that for my SO and his family and siblings. Worked great.

People who get gifts in my life:

Siblings under the age of 5: savings bonds in their name, not a parents
Close friends kids under 7: savings bonds in their name, not a parents
Above groups of kids under 18: relevant toy for their age, or potential career related thing. (One of them wants to be a vet, so i setup a tour of a vet hospital for a weekend in the spring.)
Kids between 18 and 21: nothing
Adults: Bottle of booze or wine of their preference, up to a price point determined by how close we are.

Moral of the story, I avoid having people dislike things by being consistent about what i provide. If you dont like what you got, then you dont get anything next time.

I have a parent that always would complain about the gift(s) the day after receiving it. So I stopped giving gifts and give cash and also take her out to eat with family. No longer complains about the gift 🙂 Complains about the food no matter how highly rated or expensive of a restaurant-the next day. 🙃 LMAO

We (siblings and I) gifted my late 60s parents a generational photo session with all of us + their grandkids, to be redeemed in spring - they were thrilled!
I also always make them a photo calendar in Shutterfly, which is always very well received (and now, expected...)

I usually take them out shopping, and they choose to buy what they want. It usually ends up to be clothes/jewelry.

No. My mom got me pearl earrings fit for an 80-year old, and I didn’t like them either

I wish my kids even thought to get me something for Christmas.

Aunts and uncles don’t get gifts in my family. thankfully I know what my mom likes and wants every year, so that’s an easy (albeit expensive) purchase

Give them the book “F**k Feelings”, with a smile.

I buy something they can easily exchange later. It’s more about choosing the shop than the gift. I also sometimes ask, but in a relaxed way (is there something you need/ or have your eyes on?). If I don’t know them v well, I buy food or fancy soaps, something that can be quickly consumed.

Anything family related on Etsy is usually a win. My buy this year was a wooden Family Celebrations handing with tags to hang birthdays under each month.

This year I gifted a $75 skincare set from Sephora and was later told “I already have so much skincare....i don’t know what to do with this.” She also made her niece return the shirts she got because she didn’t like the neckline. Last year my mom made me return the gift I got her the morning after because she “doesn’t like kitchen items”. Anything <$40 and I’m “cheap”. I guess “don’t get me anything” should be taken at face value now, even when they’re disappointed. My mom is recommending I give her money in addition to my gift so “she at least has something”. I’ll be giving money from now on!