[kealina]

we try to use our best judgement... some people, like us, don't mind practical gifts... in fact, we were kinda stoked to get a gc to the local drugstore last christmas from an aunt... and yes, cash is great but at least she didn't give us something we didn't want/can't use... my dad is like that and so is my FIL...
then there is semi-practical.... my SIL doesn't mind getting non-neccessities that she would buy anyways... then she can spend her own money on something else she wanted... my mom, sister, brother are also like that...
and then there are the non-practical sorts... my MIL is like that and usually for her we try to find luxuries or treats... things she wouldn't buy for herself normally... dinner at a fancy restaurant, godiva chocolates, flowers are the kinds of things she loves...

and of course in all gift giving we try to be as frugal to stretch our money as far as possible... we keep our eyes open at yard sales, clearance sales and also keep in mind any store credit or gc we may have received... we returned some christmas gifts to macy's one year and used that credit to buy MIL her godiva chocolates for mother's day... we basically try to stretch our money as far as it will go without shortchanging others...