But I don't want a Sherbet Dab.......

Any

Ames wrote: »

Wow, I like party rings, but a whole box of them?

I think I'm in the minority here, it drives me mad having to give a list of what I want. I can't help thinking that my family should know me well enough to know what I'd like - even if it's just book tokens!

No one says that you 'have' to. Just that it's not rude or odd to do so.
Sorry, sometimes it is just impossible. My brother live 350 miles away, I see him twice a year and I have no idea what he does have and doesn't have most of the time. So saying 'family should know' is not as easy as it sounds. We live apart for 15 years and his interests in that time had changed greatly!

Person_one

Any wrote: »

Yes, I am soo excited!
It's different with kids, but with adults I find it's more difficult to judge what they would like most, especially as you have few to buy for.
So why waste money on a 'guess', why not ensure they are happy.

Why not just pass the cash around then? Or give bank transfers as Christmas presents to save the trip to the cash machine.

Any

Person_one wrote: »

Why not just pass the cash around then? Or give bank transfers as Christmas presents to save the trip to the cash machine.

Or not exchange at all? I spend my money on myself, you spend your money on yourself..
Sorry, but somehow I take christmas spirit as being about generosity (that does not mean a lot of money before you jump on your bone) and thinking and caring for others.
That never translated to me that gift has to be a 'surprise'.
Why not exchange money-you know, if I had the resources and my bro or sis were in a great need I would even do that. They give me bottle perfume for £10 and I would send them £500, if that meant they for example keep their house.
I just don't see the need for lot of useless tat. Just my opinion.

aliasojo

Any wrote: »

No one says that you 'have' to. Just that it's not rude or odd to do so.
Sorry, sometimes it is just impossible. My brother live 350 miles away, I see him twice a year and I have no idea what he does have and doesn't have most of the time. So saying 'family should know' is not as easy as it sounds. We live apart for 15 years and his interests in that time had changed greatly!

I agree with this.

I don't see my son very often these days and although I know generally what his tastes are, I have no idea what he has or hasn't got.

He also has other family and a girlfriend who buy him similar things. It wouldn't be the first time that he'd ended up with 3 copies of the same DVD for example.

It's a nice intent to want to give a surprise gift of your own choosing, but after many years on this planet, it's my opinion that Christmas gift giving that is simply not the warm and fluffy experience that the adverts would have you believe and it's often much more fitting to ask for guidelines or suggestions.

However, I do have to add that I did not feel the same when I was younger. Perhaps years worth of forced smiles or false assertions of 'I love it' have finally taken their toll. :rotfl: I'd rather not waste my money now and just give what is desired.

Person_one

How thoroughly depressing.

Well, everyone I buy for is getting a surprise that I've put some thought into and that I hope shows that I care. If they don't like it, I expect them to be polite and pretend, and I shall do the same!

aliasojo

Person_one wrote: »

How thoroughly depressing.

In your opinion.

Judging by the replies, it's not something some/most people feel is an issue.

Personally I would be upset if I bought something for someone and they didn't like it and they pretended to.

They object is to give a gift to please the recipient surely? I want them to be happy, I don't want them to have to humour me.

Of course some people will have the ability to just *know* what 'so and so' would love and their gift giving is always a success.

Needless to say I'm not in that camp. I can spend hours trying to find something I think someone will like, still only to get it wrong.:rotfl:

Callie22

Person_one wrote: »

How thoroughly depressing.

Well, everyone I buy for is getting a surprise that I've put some thought into and that I hope shows that I care. If they don't like it, I expect them to be polite and pretend, and I shall do the same!

It's harder with some things though ... like the year OH bought me a ladyshave. A practical gift, no doubt, but it was very hard to express delight and joy when all that someone had noticed about me was that I'm apparently more hairy than a yeti

Person_one

Callie22 wrote: »

It's harder with some things though ... like the year OH bought me a ladyshave. A practical gift, no doubt, but it was very hard to express delight and joy when all that someone had noticed about me was that I'm apparently more hairy than a yeti

Well, deliberately passive aggressive presents are an entirely different subject!

When things are well meant though, I find it really sad that its become about the thing rather than the thought.

Bennifred

Ah yes - it's that time of year again. I have three sons and an OH who all moan that I am the most difficult person to buy for. Hello! I'm a girl! The world is full of jewellery/scarves/books etc etc!
But boys! - easy to buy for if you can afford the latest electronic gizmo and know EXACTLY which make/model but otherwise -aargh!

By the way - the micro-pedi is fantastic! I bought myself one a while ago, after much umming and aahing and I'm a bit addicted to it now - so easy and effective.

kelfen

I give the OH ideas or he'd be stuck for what to get me.


Everyone else knows I'd like books or DVDs or just book tokens or Amazon vouchers