Christmas Gift Ideas

[Bo Diddley]

I knew the PAC's lived a higher law, but had no idea they role-played the endowment with their family. At least fil-de-pac is the "good looking Satan" (my wife's term)

[old_gregg]

go buy all-clad (costco has a good set) and real le creuset or staub, you cheap asses

[Art Vandelay]

"Hey kids, you don't need to bother getting us a gift, but we are going to give you an assignment and you have to submit a report."

Haha.

I knew the PAC's lived a higher law, but had no idea they role-played the endowment with their family. At least fil-de-pac is the "good looking Satan" (my wife's term)

[Jeff Lebowski]

True for us, too. I think I've mentioned this before, and apologies for the "look at us!" element to this, but for several years now (after all of our kids were out of the house), the standing instruction is that in lieu of a tangible gift, we ask everyone, including the grandkids, to perform a meaningful act of service or gifting to others, and then provide us with a brief written summary. Over the years, we've added the summaries to a binder that the missus and I read each Christmas night. It provides a great (and pretty emotional) end to a nice day as we read of the dozens, hundreds really, of people in need whom our kids and grandkids have helped.

An early example: our youngest son, then an impoverished college student, got some friends together and took their gaming platorms (xBox, PS3s, Nintendo whatever, etc.) and having gained prior permission (this was pre-COVID) set up their rigs at Childrens Hospital and played video games with the patients for hours. Many of our grandchildren love buying something they really want for themselves, and then giving it to a similarly aged kid in need (found through the Church or a local charity).

I'm already looking forward to our presents this year.

"Hey kids, you don't need to bother getting us a gift, but we are going to give you an assignment and you have to submit a report."

Haha.

[beefytee]

This one?

https://www.costco.com/kirkland-sign...100494015.html

My wife got me a set of Kirkland frying pans that look like they are the same ones as in this set. I see this set says "hand wash recommended" which is consistent with what I got. My kids have put them in there a few times.

[Art Vandelay]

i guess thats cool, but pro v1s are cooler

[Donuthole]

This one?

https://www.costco.com/kirkland-sign...100494015.html

Yup. That's the one. I didn't use either of the frying pans, so I can't vouch for the quality of the non-stick coating. But I used the pots and the saute pan, and they were great. Good heft, and cleaned up easy. I see there that they are "recommended hand wash" which is lame, and I wonder if dishwasher use will impact the non-stick coating long term? But at that price, they are practically disposable. That's less than you would pay if you were putting together a set of decent pans at clearance prices.

[BigPiney]

I'm always trying to think of small inexpensive things that I can tell my kids to give me. They hate my suggestions of socks or a sleeve of golf balls.

1) I have most everything I need
2) When I think of something I want, I usually buy it
3) I'm super uncomfortable receiving gifts from kids, employees or others who I know money is tight for. My wife always reminds me that gift giving is some peoples love language (its on of hers). It absolutely is not not mine. I appreciate the thought and effort, but mainly just want to spend time with family. I don't need anything from them.

Same. There is a lady I know at work that I have known for years. She was recently hired and is a few levels under me. I know she makes significantly less than me, but since my daughter's injuries, when she goes out on break she will often bring me back a Dr Pepper (that is my love language). It is so kind. I tell her thank you.

I started looking at a new cookware set for the Mrs. on Monday. Consumer Reports rates cookware sets along with food network and other places. The Le Crueset stuff is very highly rated but also very expensive. They also jabber about Le Crueset on America's Test Kitchen, which is one of Mrs' favorite shows.

But the Blue Diamond Ceramic line is rated 1 point lower than Le Crueset by Consumer Reports, also rated high and recommended in the Food Network ratings, and is vastly cheaper than Le Crueset ($99 vs $900 for the same configuration of pots and pans and stuff). I showed the Mrs. all my research and said, "Take your pick - I'll get you whatever one you want". I could tell she really liked Le Crueset but I could also tell she felt guilty about spending the money. So she said, "Let's get the Blue Diamond and if I end up not liking it we can give it to DI and get the Le Crueset". That's my girl.

She'll of course wrap it up and put it under the tree for herself.

Link?

[old_gregg]

True for us, too. I think I've mentioned this before, and apologies for the "look at us!" element to this, but for several years now (after all of our kids were out of the house), the standing instruction is that in lieu of a tangible gift, we ask everyone, including the grandkids, to perform a meaningful act of service or gifting to others, and then provide us with a brief written summary. Over the years, we've added the summaries to a binder that the missus and I read each Christmas night. It provides a great (and pretty emotional) end to a nice day as we read of the dozens, hundreds really, of people in need whom our kids and grandkids have helped.

An early example: our youngest son, then an impoverished college student, got some friends together and took their gaming platorms (xBox, PS3s, Nintendo whatever, etc.) and having gained prior permission (this was pre-COVID) set up their rigs at Childrens Hospital and played video games with the patients for hours. Many of our grandchildren love buying something they really want for themselves, and then giving it to a similarly aged kid in need (found through the Church or a local charity).

I'm already looking forward to our presents this year.

i guess thats cool, but pro v1s are cooler

[Jeff Lebowski]

We stayed at an Air BnB in St. George for TG, and they had a Kirkland set of pans. I was totally impressed, and made a mental note to price out a set next time i'm at Costco. They were heavy, cleaned up easily, and the handles were very well secured to the pans/pots (this is a huge deficiency in many pots and pans, IMO, especially if you are running them through the dishwasher.) I'll admit I'm intrigued at the prospect of a highly-rated pan set for $100, but that seems too good to be true. I have a feeling the construction is going to be cheap and they are going to end up at the DI. But even if you get a year out of them, $99 is worth a try.

This one?

https://www.costco.com/kirkland-sign...100494015.html

[Donuthole]

I started looking at a new cookware set for the Mrs. on Monday. Consumer Reports rates cookware sets along with food network and other places. The Le Crueset stuff is very highly rated but also very expensive. They also jabber about Le Crueset on America's Test Kitchen, which is one of Mrs' favorite shows.

But the Blue Diamond Ceramic line is rated 1 point lower than Le Crueset by Consumer Reports, also rated high and recommended in the Food Network ratings, and is vastly cheaper than Le Crueset ($99 vs $900 for the same configuration of pots and pans and stuff). I showed the Mrs. all my research and said, "Take your pick - I'll get you whatever one you want". I could tell she really liked Le Crueset but I could also tell she felt guilty about spending the money. So she said, "Let's get the Blue Diamond and if I end up not liking it we can give it to DI and get the Le Crueset". That's my girl.

She'll of course wrap it up and put it under the tree for herself.

We stayed at an Air BnB in St. George for TG, and they had a Kirkland set of pans. I was totally impressed, and made a mental note to price out a set next time i'm at Costco. They were heavy, cleaned up easily, and the handles were very well secured to the pans/pots (this is a huge deficiency in many pots and pans, IMO, especially if you are running them through the dishwasher.) I'll admit I'm intrigued at the prospect of a highly-rated pan set for $100, but that seems too good to be true. I have a feeling the construction is going to be cheap and they are going to end up at the DI. But even if you get a year out of them, $99 is worth a try.

[PaloAltoCougar]

I'm always trying to think of small inexpensive things that I can tell my kids to give me. They hate my suggestions of socks or a sleeve of golf balls.

1) I have most everything I need
2) When I think of something I want, I usually buy it
3) I'm super uncomfortable receiving gifts from kids, employees or others who I know money is tight for. My wife always reminds me that gift giving is some peoples love language (its on of hers). It absolutely is not not mine. I appreciate the thought and effort, but mainly just want to spend time with family. I don't need anything from them.

True for us, too. I think I've mentioned this before, and apologies for the "look at us!" element to this, but for several years now (after all of our kids were out of the house), the standing instruction is that in lieu of a tangible gift, we ask everyone, including the grandkids, to perform a meaningful act of service or gifting to others, and then provide us with a brief written summary. Over the years, we've added the summaries to a binder that the missus and I read each Christmas night. It provides a great (and pretty emotional) end to a nice day as we read of the dozens, hundreds really, of people in need whom our kids and grandkids have helped.

An early example: our youngest son, then an impoverished college student, got some friends together and took their gaming platorms (xBox, PS3s, Nintendo whatever, etc.) and having gained prior permission (this was pre-COVID) set up their rigs at Childrens Hospital and played video games with the patients for hours. Many of our grandchildren love buying something they really want for themselves, and then giving it to a similarly aged kid in need (found through the Church or a local charity).

I'm already looking forward to our presents this year.

[beefytee]

I got wordle in 1 today!

[BigFatMeanie]

I started looking at a new cookware set for the Mrs. on Monday. Consumer Reports rates cookware sets along with food network and other places. The Le Crueset stuff is very highly rated but also very expensive. They also jabber about Le Crueset on America's Test Kitchen, which is one of Mrs' favorite shows.

But the Blue Diamond Ceramic line is rated 1 point lower than Le Crueset by Consumer Reports, also rated high and recommended in the Food Network ratings, and is vastly cheaper than Le Crueset ($99 vs $900 for the same configuration of pots and pans and stuff). I showed the Mrs. all my research and said, "Take your pick - I'll get you whatever one you want". I could tell she really liked Le Crueset but I could also tell she felt guilty about spending the money. So she said, "Let's get the Blue Diamond and if I end up not liking it we can give it to DI and get the Le Crueset". That's my girl.

She'll of course wrap it up and put it under the tree for herself.

[Art Vandelay]

I'm always trying to think of small inexpensive things that I can tell my kids to give me. They hate my suggestions of socks or a sleeve of golf balls.

1) I have most everything I need
2) When I think of something I want, I usually buy it
3) I'm super uncomfortable receiving gifts from kids, employees or others who I know money is tight for. My wife always reminds me that gift giving is some peoples love language (its on of hers). It absolutely is not not mine. I appreciate the thought and effort, but mainly just want to spend time with family. I don't need anything from them.