This year for Christmas as usuall in our house we drew names(remember my kids are still young and they have grew up with type of living) and a budget of 70.00 each was given to buy for the person you drew the name for, plus we do a secret draw and 15.00 was alloted for that...

Now this season God has certianly blessed me with this store chain that is closing out, so I have decided to start the kids hope chests...althou they are still to young to move out, I am picking up some great deals..

When SHTF and if kids do not need these items they will have them for barter/trades....(and no they are not getting any of my 67 tubes of toothpaste..lol)

If you have people on the fence about it do a search for mainstream media articles..the WSJ did one earlier this year and i believe that even the NYT ( yeah the liberal rag,might be more in line with a DGI's thinking) has published some.

here is a link to the WSJ article.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120881517227532621.html

This is very tough.

One thing that has worked somewhat is giving gifts to my college age children that they would not likely buy or get rid of.
a Ruger 10/22 and/or small amounts of silver (like $50 to $100 spot value) so far, they say they are still holding. After about 5 years of small silver gifts, they have become QUITE interested in following the PM markets..............
Also have sometimes added back-packable water filters, binocs, compasses, rechargeable LED lights, etc.
The idea was that they would have some of the makings for a BOB should they find themselves on foot, and about 100 miles from "home" (the farmstead)

One DS has become VERY much a prepper even unto a career change (and reduced income) to move OUT of a big city and closer to the family boonies area.

Unfortunately, the other DS and DD have become even more entrenched and in MORE debt to their big-city DGI life.

But, they insist they still are holding onto their gear and especially the silver...

Other family members just continue to tread water...