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Dani B
We have a group of 6 friends...all women & we are planning to do a Christmas gift exchange.
What do you think is the appropriate amount to spend?
I think that $50 is more than sufficient with the current economy & all.
Some people want to spend $100 - but I think this is too much as one of our group has young children & another has been laid off.
Am I being cheap????
Answer
I think $10 is fine. That's enough for a humorous cat book or some spring bulbs or packages of seeds or a small plant or clever bookmarks or cloth grocery bags (or the $1 ones from Trader Joe's that I gave one year) or some kind of ornament, like the one I got made in a Third World country with shiny magazine pages folded up & glued to an ornament or a necklace (like the $1 one I bought) or cat statue ($5) from flea market or thrift shop...You get the idea...something fun that says you care, but also something that's well, cheap. It's truly the thought that counts. Sometimes it really would be easier to spend more, but what for?
Here's another idea: Get a mug from a thrift store--I like the clear glass ones--& fill it with homemade cookies & tie it with a pretty ribbon. Or bake mini-loaves of bread or whatever, just enough for a single gal to slice & enjoy for a couple of days during the holidays.
Or how about a bottle of sparkling juice or flavored water in one of those bottle-sized gift bags, just in time for the New Year. Lots of us, as we get older, are happy if it's not wine or something with alcohol. It may be more welcome as a party gift if it's not, especially with all the crack-downs on drunken driving.
Again, what's that $50-$100 idea? We just never did that. Better to use it on family or 5 toys for needy kids or other charity donation or food for ourselves or just about anything. As you say, it's ridiculous to spend so much in this economy, & you certainly don't want people to feel indebted to spend this much just to maintain the friendship. Better to spend $20 per person & enjoy a special lunch together or pool your money to buy treats for coffee & brunch at someone's house.
Now that I think about it, why not forget the whole gift thing & host a brunch. Find out what a local women's shelter could use: new socks, kids' books, just little gifts, or whatever, & have each person bring that item instead of having an expensive gift exchange. Be the leader & get several friends to agree on that idea, & then you're on to it.
Alternatively, you could host a cookie exchange or a paperback book exchange, or whatever. Let your interests be your guide.
Enjoy!
I think $10 is fine. That's enough for a humorous cat book or some spring bulbs or packages of seeds or a small plant or clever bookmarks or cloth grocery bags (or the $1 ones from Trader Joe's that I gave one year) or some kind of ornament, like the one I got made in a Third World country with shiny magazine pages folded up & glued to an ornament or a necklace (like the $1 one I bought) or cat statue ($5) from flea market or thrift shop...You get the idea...something fun that says you care, but also something that's well, cheap. It's truly the thought that counts. Sometimes it really would be easier to spend more, but what for?
Here's another idea: Get a mug from a thrift store--I like the clear glass ones--& fill it with homemade cookies & tie it with a pretty ribbon. Or bake mini-loaves of bread or whatever, just enough for a single gal to slice & enjoy for a couple of days during the holidays.
Or how about a bottle of sparkling juice or flavored water in one of those bottle-sized gift bags, just in time for the New Year. Lots of us, as we get older, are happy if it's not wine or something with alcohol. It may be more welcome as a party gift if it's not, especially with all the crack-downs on drunken driving.
Again, what's that $50-$100 idea? We just never did that. Better to use it on family or 5 toys for needy kids or other charity donation or food for ourselves or just about anything. As you say, it's ridiculous to spend so much in this economy, & you certainly don't want people to feel indebted to spend this much just to maintain the friendship. Better to spend $20 per person & enjoy a special lunch together or pool your money to buy treats for coffee & brunch at someone's house.
Now that I think about it, why not forget the whole gift thing & host a brunch. Find out what a local women's shelter could use: new socks, kids' books, just little gifts, or whatever, & have each person bring that item instead of having an expensive gift exchange. Be the leader & get several friends to agree on that idea, & then you're on to it.
Alternatively, you could host a cookie exchange or a paperback book exchange, or whatever. Let your interests be your guide.
Enjoy!
How many cans of green beans, how many potatoes?
Brenda
My in laws and husband's brothers are coming over this weekend. I am fixing a 19 lb spiral ham (it was cheaper to get it that size) and green bean casserole with mashed potatoes. I bought 5-6 large baking potatoes so it totaled 6 lbs. For 8 total people ( his brothers are only 13 and 10 and don't eat much) how many lbs of potatoes should I make and how many cans of green beans and cream of mushroom do I need?
Answer
Rule #1 about cooking for groups - always cook too much. If you don't have enough food and folks are still hungry, they will be a little grumpy. If they eat till their stuffed and you have leftovers, they'll be happy.
Figure one large baked potato per person - about a half-pound each, including kids age 10 and up. Trust me - a 10 year old boy eats MORE than most adult women. A 13 year old boy might eat more than a lot of adult men.
For Green Bean Cassorole, figure on 1 can of beans per two people, one can of cr. mushroom per 2 or 3 cans of beans. Don't forget the Frenched Onions on top, you need a big #10 can of those, you can always snack on the extras.
Either make the baked potatoes rich (by adding butter and sour-cream or cream), or make a white-roux gravy. White-roux gravy is made for 8 people by melting about 4 sticks of butter (1lb) in a large saucepan. Stir in one cup of unbleached flour and stir until it just starts to turn brown. Whisk in 4 cans of chicken-broth to make about 6 cups of gravy. My family personally prefers rich potatoes, but gravy is more traditional.
I'd also make a pan of cornbread to go with that, and a platter of crudites. But my family eats big so we need a lot of food, not a single man is under 6'3" and my wife's family is almost as large. 19lb of ham is more than plenty - and a brilliant way to save money with leftovers. Spiral ham sandwiches are a great bag lunch for work.
Rule #1 about cooking for groups - always cook too much. If you don't have enough food and folks are still hungry, they will be a little grumpy. If they eat till their stuffed and you have leftovers, they'll be happy.
Figure one large baked potato per person - about a half-pound each, including kids age 10 and up. Trust me - a 10 year old boy eats MORE than most adult women. A 13 year old boy might eat more than a lot of adult men.
For Green Bean Cassorole, figure on 1 can of beans per two people, one can of cr. mushroom per 2 or 3 cans of beans. Don't forget the Frenched Onions on top, you need a big #10 can of those, you can always snack on the extras.
Either make the baked potatoes rich (by adding butter and sour-cream or cream), or make a white-roux gravy. White-roux gravy is made for 8 people by melting about 4 sticks of butter (1lb) in a large saucepan. Stir in one cup of unbleached flour and stir until it just starts to turn brown. Whisk in 4 cans of chicken-broth to make about 6 cups of gravy. My family personally prefers rich potatoes, but gravy is more traditional.
I'd also make a pan of cornbread to go with that, and a platter of crudites. But my family eats big so we need a lot of food, not a single man is under 6'3" and my wife's family is almost as large. 19lb of ham is more than plenty - and a brilliant way to save money with leftovers. Spiral ham sandwiches are a great bag lunch for work.
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Title Post: How much do you think is appropriate to spend on Christmas presents amongst women friends?
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