Hello All,

I am planning to visit backhome in near future; however, a really "Stressful" thing is thinking about buying gifts for all relatives and their children.

It is not that I don't want to carry along gifts from Canada; but the issue is if I take for one then I need to take for all (adults and their kids)and people living in Canada can appreciate that a reasonable gift costs on average $75 -$100. So I am looking to an amount of $2K; in addition to the tradition of coupling the gifts with sweets/cakes/cash for children when visiting relatives.

Add the cost of travelling (and cost of preparing for visit to back home --- you know shopping spree of own children/spouse), and the figure keeps shooting...and list is going on and on......

Can you please offer some thoughts that how other Desis have dealt with this issue, because I am visiting backhome first time since I came to Canada about 6 years back.

Can i get any good gift under $10 or any place to visit in GTA to get some good gift as well?

Thanks in anticipation, for any good feedback/experiences.

your input would help me a lot to plan my trip to India.

Regards

RBO,
India has everything & at lower rate too and hence people will not appreciate your gifts as unique. However, people are still jealous and hence they will expect the costliest gifts.
What you can do, if your budget fits is as follows :
1. Buy Camera’s with LCD monitor (Though Sony 4.1 MP was just Rs. 5300 here, I donot see many using it). Ipad’s are a craze here. You can also introduce Ipod’s as I donot see many listening to music on travel.
2. Laptops (price is almost the same in India too but they will appreciate the costly gift). If you buy, then buy the latest one as it gets outdated very fast.
3. $ 1 items – Most of them like chocolates (in nice packing), Kitchen items may be worth it.
4. Tool boxes (for people interested in working)
5. Perfume – I donot see any good ones here in India. Again some offices are against perfumes.
6. Cash gifts may be a good alternative as people can buy what they want here – highly recommended.
7. Sweets from the local Indian sweet shop which is now a delicacy.
8. Good quality (baby) wipes – for people with babies
9. Video games / electronic games like the Nintendo
10. Any gadgets / innovative items that can be kept inside cars (as all have 2 cars). But avoid standard items like car freshener, steering wheel cover etc..
11. Helmets for bike driving ($ 20 in Canada). You never seem to get it here.
12. Small Canada momentos and may be Canada T shirts.
13. Digital photo album (if cheap) – Our office had gifted it to a lot of families here.

Never buy the following from Canada:
1. Cloths, Cloth material
2. Cellphones and the like
3. Ready made soups / tinned items (it is available here even in small towns and for lesser price)
4. Desk top computers
5. Tissue paper, Napkins, Diaper.
6. Torch lights and the like.
7. Toys. Lots are available but inferior from what we get in Canada.

Peace

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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.

Quote:

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Originally posted by tamilkuravan

RBO,
India has everything & at lower rate too and hence people will not appreciate your gifts as unique. However, people are still jealous and hence they will expect the costliest gifts.
What you can do, if your budget fits is as follows :
1. Buy Camera’s with LCD monitor (Though Sony 4.1 MP was just Rs. 5300 here, I donot see many using it). Ipad’s are a craze here. You can also introduce Ipod’s as I donot see many listening to music on travel.
2. Laptops (price is almost the same in India too but they will appreciate the costly gift). If you buy, then buy the latest one as it gets outdated very fast.
3. $ 1 items – Most of them like chocolates (in nice packing), Kitchen items may be worth it.
4. Tool boxes (for people interested in working)
5. Perfume – I donot see any good ones here in India. Again some offices are against perfumes.
6. Cash gifts may be a good alternative as people can buy what they want here – highly recommended.
7. Sweets from the local Indian sweet shop which is now a delicacy.
8. Good quality (baby) wipes – for people with babies
9. Video games / electronic games like the Nintendo
10. Any gadgets / innovative items that can be kept inside cars (as all have 2 cars). But avoid standard items like car freshener, steering wheel cover etc..
11. Helmets for bike driving ($ 20 in Canada). You never seem to get it here.
12. Small Canada momentos and may be Canada T shirts.
13. Digital photo album (if cheap) – Our office had gifted it to a lot of families here.

Never buy the following from Canada:
1. Cloths, Cloth material
2. Cellphones and the like
3. Ready made soups / tinned items (it is available here even in small towns and for lesser price)
4. Desk top computers
5. Tissue paper, Napkins, Diaper.
6. Torch lights and the like.
7. Toys. Lots are available but inferior from what we get in Canada.

Peace

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Since we usually plan such a visit well in advance.... What I usually do is, collect along the months..... Usually after Xmas/Valentines Day/Mothers Day etc..... They sell these wonderful gift packages like perfumes, makeup, toiletries etc for men and women.... You can get good branded stuff with a budget of $10-15..... In India, people are very brand conscious.... Moreover, they judge you/your success upon what you display (be it your own clothes, talks, the money you spend on them).....

Usually, pre-packaged toiletries are great gift ideas.... Though they may add bulk to your packing....try Michaels/Walmart craft section for kids gifts.... They have a lot of wonderful craft sets ( eg. Paint by numbers) within your budget range..... Suitable for kids under 12.... Perfumes are good but avoidable since you won't get good branded perfumes within that range..... Avoid clothes unless they are for small kids under 6....

Hope that helps....

I visit India almost every year . As you are going after 6 -7 years , you will be shocked by prices . However, I will suggest you to go to COSTCO & buy following.
1- Small Packets of Dry fruits
2- Packets of Choccolates
3- Branded Sun Glasses Like Rayban
4- Buy some Medical Stuff- I buy BP Instruments ( It is around 60 Dollars)
5- Most of the relatives, I give them money or take them to Mall for Movies & Dinner.
6- No need to take any DAARU from canada. When you get down in India , buy Liquors from Duty free in Arrival. In India people love new brands like BAILEYS along with Johnie Walker . You can get 2 bootles for each persons.

Another option is to go through dubai , Fly through emirates airlines and stay in dubai 1 or 2 days enjoy dubai trip and buy what ever u want at least 50% less price of canada .This way you will enjoy one more location and can buy good cheap gift items . There are lots of varieties in dubai at very chaep rate

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DSD

Nice info for list of gifts to buy.
For some more ideas see Links removed

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