Gifts for nieces and nephews?

My brother and I are not close and live in different states. Typically, I have shopped for thoughtful gifts for my niece and nephew, wrapped them and sent them along with homemade cards etc. My brothers wife sends my kids Amazon gifts. I’m just finding it’s getting expensive and I wonder if others shop for extended family? When we were growing up we didn’t send cousins, aunts and uncles gifts but it seems like in today’s culture it’s different/expected??