I'm ashamed to say its my sister.  Background is she's a little grunger.  I know I need to think of something that would mean a lot to her personally and I'm working on it, but if anyone could suggest a some presents that have gone down well that might be a little more 'generic' I'd be grateful.  I love her loads and I'm already making a card but I got so much stress on my plate with exams I haven't had time to think.  Yeah, OK, I've had 18 years but you know.  Oh and student status means financial situation dismal!
206738
Sterling silver jewelry. A charm on a black leather cord, (worn as a necklace) or a bracelet in similar ilk is a good choice. Or a ring. You can get everything from Irish claudahs to skulls. Sterling silver isn't expensive. You should be able to get something for under ten dollars. Present it in a chinese take-out box. You can find them in gift wrap areas sometimes. Or find the instructions for making one. Another great gift is three truffles-the giant ones that run about $3.50 each. These look great in a tissue lined Chinese take-out box. (Or even a mini-gift bag.) Always been a winner for me.
360750
How do you think her friend will take it.? Do you think she will feel bad or ok with it.?  \n\nIf I were you I would give it to your daughter to give to her in a nice card.  If your worried that you daughters friend will feel strange have your daughter just give her the card saying it was from you.  "you know my mom, she loves giving people cards" then have her open it, with the gift card inside.  Depending on how she reacts your daughter could act like she did not know it was in there or how much was on the card  "my mom never knows what to get people, she feels its just best to give them a gift card".  or something like that.  \n\nOr you could mail it to her house and secret gift.  'a secret santa'  I have gotten those sometimes and have never found out who they wre from. I thought it was the cutest thing in the world. \n\nYour a good person for wanting to do this.
486006
You should definitely make her something!  That means more than anything you can buy.  One idea (ok, this is really girly of me, but whatev) would be to make her a picture frame and put a really nice picture of the two of you in it.  I'm doing this for my bf for Christmas.  Basically, I buy a cheap frame, cut out magazine pictures that are relevant to our relationship (i.e. he likes politics, so i've got a little donkey), and then decoupage (special glue) them onto the frame in a sort of collage style.  It always turns out really nice, and they can tell you've put a lot of effort into it.
436564
Find out what she likes that would involve personal time.  Stuff is just stuff, but memories are much more valuable.  Does she like concerts, plays, or other special events?  If so, get tickets, and make a day of it.  You can "story-board" this upcoming day in a creative way (like on a poster board that depicts the various events or has paraphernalia pasted to it), and then wrap it up.  You have to wrap it . . . it's much more fun to unwrap something at Christmas, even if it's a promise for February.  At any rate, be personal, invest yourself, and she'll love it.
395830
ur surely not alone!!\nit feels great being able to give out presents to the people i love and care for. the best part is being able to see their happy faces when they receive the present, it always brings a smile to my face.\nalso, i hate the idea of demanding a present from someone else. no one is required to give anyone anything. it doesn't matter how expensive or how great the present is. its the thought that matters. plus, if you already know what you're gonna get, then that would be so boring. \ni have gotten many really gorgeous and expensive gifts, but nothing can beat what my dad gave me for christmas when i was 1 yr. old. my dad handdrew a series of animals on pieces of cardbaord paper with the correct number beneath each animal(s). like there was 1 blue bird on the first cardboard with the number 1 beneath the bird, two brown cats on the next cardboard with a 2 underneath, 3 yellow chicks with a 3 underneath, etc... he and my mom were both really poor then so they didn't have enough money to buy me anything. so instead my dad drew me these. he wanted me to learn the numbers. being only 1 yr. old, how could i possibly see the beauty of the gift right? but as i got older, everytime i opened up my photo album, i would see those 20 cardboards. that's how i learned to count from 1-20, that's how i learned to draw... and what touches me the most is, he put so much effort and thought into it. and that's what makes it so special to me.
392046
i really hope for your own good that those arent your real details...\n\nim sure your family will understand your broke and cant afford gifts.... same as me this year.
522341
My step-father was dying of cancer and my mother was taking care of him the best she could.  They were really strapped for cash and because he was so sick, they seldom left their modest home.  They lived 650 miles from me, so I couldn't help much.\n\nThe first week of December, I sent a Christmas card and wrote of a happy memory inspired by the picture on the card.  I put a dollar in the card, and on the back of the envelope I wrote,"On the first day of Christmas, my daughter sent to me....".  The next day I did the same thing, using two cards (mailed separately), each with a dollar.  The personal notes were always well thought out, some were funny, some were sappy, but they were always from the heart.  I made sure that every card was different.  By the twelfth day, I had a little extra money and I put fives in each card.  They needed it more than I did.\n\nAlthough the money was needed, it was the personal notes that they liked the best and the joy of being flooded with Christmas cards.  My mother told me that my step-dad looked forward to getting the mail every day to see that days cards.  My mom hung them everywhere!  It was a way of not only making one day special, but rather almost every day for almost a month (it took a while for some of the cards to get there).  Only a few years later, both of them passed away, but I still have the pictures they took of all of the Christmas cards that filled their home that year trying to express how much they meant to me.
354248
Don't worry about it and don't lower yourself to their level.  Get something small for the grandparents from your kids. Stick to your budget or what you can afford.  If someone doesn't want to get you a present chances are if they were made to pick something out it would be crap anyway.
381701
Ahoy my fellow Canadian.  There are many unique and wonderful gift shops in whatever province you subside.  They may appreciate something of an artistic nature that neither of them has or a gift certificate to a store that you think they might like to shop at.  It's hard when people are going through the second or third marriage and don't really need anything.  Myself I'm in Northern Ontario and know for a fact that there are a lot of artisan spots that have different gifts for affordable prices (well within your budget). Good luck shopping and to your landlord in his new life.
73969
WOW...sounds like your daughter and son-in-law are very selfish people. I would give them a dose of their own medicine. You don't have to take that kind of disrespect from ANYONE. I would send your G-daughter a nice birthday card and leave it at that. They will surely run to you when they need something, but don't give in. Let them FEEL how they have made you feel.
399817
don't get her anything stupid! my children have known me their entire lives and every year they buy me things i will never use, don't know what it is, or they buy things they can borrow, {actually my son is getting better}  but get her something she will use and that is just for her, do you know what perfume she loves but would never buy for herself? {it costs to much} or does she like to read? what authors? {it's important to know} doe's she cook, travel,wear earings?, what kind hoop or post? i know you kids have a way of waiting till the last minute then rushing out to get something that she will look at and say "it's the thought that counts"---sit down and write her a note telling her a memory of a time when you felt so much appreciation for her, or what you wish for her, something personal that will hit her in the heart put it in the card and send a check lol!
652202
I would say that 25.00 in a nice card would be suitable. I assume she is a relative--it just might bring the ties together for the next function.
193149
yeah.. I am an architect too,, in my previous birthday i was doing a major project and there was a lot of problems in the design ,, so I was talking all the time about the design issues "functional design" so my friends send me a card on my birthday and they wrote on it: " even if you did not finish the design before the deadline,, even if facades was not as you wish,, even if you have a problems in leveling the site,, WE LOVE YOU,, WE CARE FOR YOU and will be always here for you":) I think if you mentioned some details about her " things that shows how much you care for her and what she do" it will be nice and your card will be unique:) can you please send us what you decide to write at the end,, I would love to read it:) wish you all the best:),
540949
No, he doesn't deserve presents. A card is more than generous. A gift is a gift, it's not mandatory and for your sister to even insist that he get one is not only rude, but down right a poor show of manners. If she is insistent that you get him a gift, then perhaps she can share hers. Whatever you get her, just stick his name on it too. Someone who can't make an effort to get to know the family of the girl he *loves* doesn't deserve anything more.
13148
I still send them...and it's amazing the impact it has on people.  I'm normally the one in my family that is pretty consistant about it.  My birthday was back in September, and I was very busy with a new job so was delayed in sending out cards.  People were actually shocked in not receiving a thank you.  It's a nice gesture and lost art.
7255
I would continue sending the cards (as long as there is nothing hateful nor taunting written in 'em...).  \n\nRegardless of whether they bring a warm feeling in her heart or make her cringe, I'm guessing either reaction would bring a smile on your face - so, why not?  ;)
111992
Hi; I do appreciation baskets quite often.  I start with a pretty basket I find at Michaels/Hobby Lobby/or any Craft store; know your budget.  Fill with lotion, candles, gift certificate to dinner or movie, nice card telling how much that person means to you.  Add anything special that they collect ... I know our pastor's wife loves pretty journals and pens; anything personal that shows you "thought" about them -- that's the trick.  I recently did this and included the other ladies by having them "donate" to her -- like a money tree -- we gave her the money and it really blessed her.  Also, I had the ladies write down a blessing or special note of appreciation to her and included that in a beautiful china cup for her to read later.  I didn't just use one poem, I used a bunch of blessings -- a basket full of blessings.  Have fun!  She will be blessed just because you thought of her!