1- managed to find a gift for my cousin on her wedding day and she was so happy she cried.
2- Managed to skip her brother's wedding the year after.
Here we go:
1- Something handmade. I know it sounds cheesy, but a quilt, oven mitts, a basket of pampering stuff.. all works. Because it's not the cost that's important at this point, it's the feeling behind it. (My cousin's words)
2- Work. I'm not saying you should lie, but I often manage to accidentally have a emergency shift when there are family functions.