Alirghty. I'm OK with cutting off godchildren at 21. I mean, it does seem that there needs to be a cutoff sometime, and that's as good as any. As far as this year, really, I would be OK keeping things the way they are, but I totally understand that times are hard, and so I would be OK having people opt-in or out as well. Yes, I am not a good decision maker. If we keep things the same, maybe we can impose a flat, all-around spending limit on gifts? I mean, the idea is, it's nice to gather together and have packages to open. Opening things is fun. But they don't have to be expensive. I mean, even getting a book or a box of ramen or cookies or a Harry Potter calendar...all nice. It could even be a joke gift (though I am not joking that a box of ramen is nice). I'm not really so concerned with the material value of the gift. And if there's a limit all around, then no one has to feel bad about not spending as much as someone else, etc. Budgeting is awesome, but unforseen things do occur that throw off budgets (cough...having to buy a new car after yours gets stolen for the third and final time and you didn't necessarily think you were going to have to deal with that for at least another year or so). If we just do the names, and everyone is responsible for one present of maximum $20 or something, that's not too bad. We have Christmas to spend time together. And eat. If the group present-opening gets stripped down to one each, that seems fine. Most of my friends don't exchange gifts with extended family at all. And ya know, if you really want to buy something big for someone, nifty. Buy it and give it to them at another time. I'm rambling like my mother, and I was going to try not to. OK--Cut off godpresents at 21. This younger family member is fine either keeping things the same or having people opt in/out, but thinks maybe a spending limit of a low amount would be nice in order to a) help budgets and b) remember this is about being together, not about buying fancy things. :):):)