A couple years ago our family started doing like a grab bag with family for gifts. Must spend $30, wrap it up, and then we all drew straws and you could pick which one you wanted from the pile. I always just get a bottle of booze and a gift card to starbucks to make up the shortage. You are only out a small amount of money, everyone gets something, and it's kind of fun to watch people open weird gifts.
Last year my sister decided that the immediate family should pull names and whoever's name you pulled you got a gift for and that was it. I was not a fan, but we decided to try it. I didn't like it. Not sure what we are doing this year. I like getting my parents some gifts during the holidays. My mom didn't like it either because she couldn't get us anything. Granted we are all adults now, it's still fun to get a little something for everyone. It was nice not having to worry about getting a bunch of stuff for people too though. Will see what the group decides to do this year.