Age cut-offs for Christmas gifts?

In our families, we only buy for the children, not adults. One of DH's nieces is married and 24 years old. Her brother is 22. I kind of think that they aren't kids anymore but how do you stop giving gifts all of a sudden? I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings but we have alot of young nieces/nephews to buy for and we were going to TRY to cut back our spending. I don't want to sound cheap but do we buy for them forever?

It's so awkward, you know?

Re: Age cut-offs for Christmas gifts?

Its tough.... I'm 25 and married and the next youngest cousin is 22. The youngest is in elementary school and we all still get presents from the adults. But we have a small family...

Can you ask if other people in the family are buying for the older family members? Maybe see what the majority is doing and go from there?

Message edited 11/13/2008 12:20:27 PM.

Re: Age cut-offs for Christmas gifts?

Message edited 8/24/2013 3:03:37 PM.

Re: Age cut-offs for Christmas gifts?

MY Family is huge, so we have a strict rule once you are over 18 you no longer get an x-mas gift.

Re: Age cut-offs for Christmas gifts?

We went through this a few yrs ago.
When my daughter turned 20 my sister thought she was too old to still receive gifts. Since she felt she was no longer a child. Well can I just tell you it caused so many issues with other members of the family.
I told them all it's fine with us. And I actually agreed with her. But nobody wanted to hear it. They continued to buy her gifts till she moved out.

My niece is now 20 and I haven't brought it up. To afraid everyone will jump all over me this year

But I honestly feel once they are no longer a teenager, it's a good cut off age for buying gifts.

Re: Age cut-offs for Christmas gifts?

I think once you are out of college and working you don't get a "kid" gift anymore.

Good luck!

Re: Age cut-offs for Christmas gifts?

Re: Age cut-offs for Christmas gifts?

I don't really think you get too old for Christmas gifts but I can see things getting out of hand. Maybe suggest a Kris Kringle for the adults or go by generation or something (all the cousins, all the aunts & uncles, that sort of thing).

Re: Age cut-offs for Christmas gifts?

Dh family i believes stops at 15 or 16

Re: Age cut-offs for Christmas gifts?

We all had the talk a few years ago and decided once someone was out of college, no more gifts.

Re: Age cut-offs for Christmas gifts?

we haven't cut anyone off yet really.

we have a big family, so we have spending caps. we try not to go over $25 per person

it's funny b/c I actually stopped buying gifts for the kids. they get so many, so we have started a new tradition of taking them somewhere and doing something fun/different with them instead.

If you dont' want to cut off your family completely, they are old enough for a bottle of wine.

Re: Age cut-offs for Christmas gifts?

In my family, all of the cousins ages are very well spaced out (14-38) and none of us have children yet ---I'm expecting my first in February. What we do is everybody who's on their own (usually 18 and up) draws a name of an adult and a name of a "kid" and buy a gift or two for each of them. So, even though I'm almost 31, I'm still in the "kid" list, so I get a present from at least one uncle or aunt, plus my parents and grandparents. In turn, I draw a name and buy for one other "kid" and an "adult" in the family (one of the cousins parents, usually).

It's worked well for years now. However, the rules may change a little next year since I'll have a baby around for XMas.

Re: Age cut-offs for Christmas gifts?

I have cut off anyone over 18, my DH is one of 7 kids, so we kind of have to or we'd be buying gifts for an army of people!

Re: Age cut-offs for Christmas gifts?

We decided as a family to stop exchanging with adults a few yers ago. At the point there was a clear cut-off so we only gave gifts to the youngest two, who were 13 & 17. We didn't set an age limit for when they are adults. I recoved gifts untill I was 29, but all the adults were exhanging back then.

The "kids" are 16 & 20 now--I'm not sure when to stop. Maybe when the oldest graduates college? But then I would it be weird to still buy for her younger brother?

Re: Age cut-offs for Christmas gifts?

We eased into it a little last year ... 20 yr old niece said she didn't want any gifts so we donated to Little Shelter in her name and I think we have a Starbucks card to her older sister.

This year I think will be the last we do the 17 yr old nephews (so that'll be four next year we cut out).

The next oldest will be 15 by then and the youngest will be 11.




ETA: I also wanted to cut out the adult Secret Santa this year because I feel like it's a waste (and that was before I got laid off).

Message edited 11/13/2008 1:00:06 PM.

Re: Age cut-offs for Christmas gifts?

Re: Age cut-offs for Christmas gifts?

I think the cut-off should be somwhere clsoe to 18... or when they stop appreciating the gifts you give them. Whichever comes first.

I got a 16 yo nephew that doesn't even say 'thank you' to anything we give him anymore. He doesn't even bother opening them. We've decided this is the year to stop giving him anything.

Re: Age cut-offs for Christmas gifts?

Re: Age cut-offs for Christmas gifts?

Posted by Ophelia

we haven't cut anyone off yet really.

we have a big family, so we have spending caps. we try not to go over $25 per person

it's funny b/c I actually stopped buying gifts for the kids. they get so many, so we have started a new tradition of taking them somewhere and doing something fun/different with them instead.

If you dont' want to cut off your family completely, they are old enough for a bottle of wine.