To me it is about the thought behind the present more than the value of the gift. I would much rather have a gift from someone that is really meant for me, ie. they have taken the time to think about what I would like, and either made it or bought it, than a gift that cost lots of money.

I am not a keeping up with the Jones' kinda girl, and so I give what I give because I have thought about it, and I want to give that person a gift. If they choose to spend more on me or my children, then that is their choice, and I take the gift with gratitude but without guilt.

Something DH and I decided a few years ago was to stop buying gifts between ourselves and his brother and sister, and instead a couple of times a year we get together, pick a different cuisine or location and head out for dinner. We love it, and it has become a tradition over the past 3 years, I would much rather do this, something with meaning, then by them a $50 something that they either don't want or could have bought for themselves, as they are both single with disposable incomes.