Holiday Gift Thoughts?

[Callypso]

I wanted to ask you guys what your thoughts were on exchanging gifts (if you do that) for the holiday season?

My family set up a system a long time ago that we essentially write lists of things we would like. Granted, this system originated because one of my parents was notoriously horrible at gift giving and essentially asked us to prepare gift lists, but it seems to have worked so far.

Now, my housemates and bf think that giving someone a list of things you like or would want is totally stupid and defeats the purpose of giving gifts in the first place. I obviously disagree because both the giver and the recipient end up "satisfied", in that the giver knows that what they bought isn't going to go in the "never going to utilize" pile, and the recipient gets a gift that they actually wanted in the first place. I guess I just like knowing that I bought a gift that a friend/family member would actually enjoy getting? I know that "it's the thought that counts", but there are some people that refuse to ask what you'd like or what you're into and then always lament that they didn't know what to get you which just frustrates me. Then again, this frustration might stem from the fact that my family just hands over lists, so I dunno...

So, am I waaaaay too practical about gift giving? Is my family weird in their gift exchange method? How do your friends and family handle holiday gifts?

(This whole discussion is fresh in my mind because I just decorated the house and am in the holiday mood, haha...)

[The Jenn]

My family has always operated on Christmas lists. <3 They blatantly ask us what we want, we tell them, and everyone is happy. My brother's a butt and never gives a straight answer, but that's his personality more than anything. xD Mom likes to give us a good mix of gifts she knows we want and small surprises that she thinks we might enjoy. For example, one year I got a garlic press. Randomly. And I love that damn thing.

So yeah, your family is by no means unusual in that and your housemates would hate our Christmases. xD

[Lauryn de Vampyre]

I grew up writing the longest damn Christmas Wish Lists. XD I kept watching the list grow shorter and shorter as I got older. I never thought I'd run out of things to ask for but it's true, you are harder to shop for the older you get!

As it is now, I love knowing what someone wants to get. I get them that, and as Jenn said, then I look around for smaller things I think they MIGHT like.

So.... lists + thoughts. <3

[Lucca]

Christmas lists are the way to go! In some cases it still doesn't help. For example, my dad will NEVER give a straight answer what he wants for Christmas. Even my mom finds him hard to shop for.

For the last few years, my husband has even made a webpage for my and his Christmas lists!

So no, I don't think it's dumb at all. Certainly better than having a lot of people guess at what you want and you end up getting things like clothes you'll never wear, etc.

[Harpsdesire]

I usually make a short list of some things I really want, since my dad has no interest or ability knowing what I like or could use. He pretty much just buys the top thing on there, or if he doesn't feel like doing that, gives me money. lol. My mom might get something(s) off the list, plus surprise(s). My sister generally makes about a 5-page list (although it's suddenly much shorter in the past 2 years or so), and my parents will tell us a couple things they'd like.

I'm happy to buy something off a list of I don't have any other ideas, but for certain people I have my own ideas of what to get, since I usually try to keep track when my family or friends say "oh, I really want a _____.", even if the holidays are a long way away.

[Callypso]

Ah, thanks so much everybody. I was beginning to feel like some heartless anti-Christmas robot or something for making up lists. It's just, you know, the first year I lived with my gift-giving-disabled parent, I received a 350,000 word dictionary and school supplies as gifts. Useful, but when you're 13 years old? Come on. LOL.

My parent also hates shopping, so if I can give a very specific list (with store names/online resources on where to get said item), the happier they are.

It's also hilarious to me that my bf is so anti-lists, considering that his mother insists on getting me ridiculous things and won't friggin' ask me what I want. The first year I dated her son she bought me a ring (wrong size) and since it was on sale I couldn't really exchange it and it cost more to resize it than it was worth. Needless to say, the box has sat at the back of my underwear drawer for the last two years... >.>;;

On top of that, my bf and housemate (who is bf's cousin, so they're idea of Christmas is biased against me, hahaha) both conceded that their family is notorious for horrible gifts, so I don't understand why they are against lists in the first place??? My opinion is, hey... there's a reaaallllly easy way to remedy this... hahaha.

And yes, I agree with the others that there are certain family or friends who you just really know and they're easier to shop for, but some people it's just better to ask/tell, you know?

Thanks guys! ^_^

[Greenie]

Hahahaha my family's gift giving is... hilarious to most people. We buy our own gifts. Yep, you heard it, I walk into the store (usually with parents in tow) and literally pick out the things I want. It's usually well in advance so in most cases I forget what I bought by the time I actually open them (they get hidden until xmas day and wrapped secretly) so it's almost a surprise. XD On top of it I buy for my xmas and birthday all together since they're a week apart and my Mom randomly splits my stuff. :3 Even better, she tends to purposefully split things that go together so one half is totally useless until my birthday. XDD I usually try to buy my mom and dad stuff anyways, just because it's fun. :3

In terms of my extended family, there's only 6 cousins and we used to randomly exchange names but the past few years we've kind of fallen into permanent pairings that just make sense. I'm the eldest and the 2nd eldest is female - we're a pair. The only two boys are a pair (also the middle kids) and the two youngest girls are a pair. My cousin-pair and I usually straight up tell each other what we want and it's usually gift cards now that we're both in college, but I think the Littles still exchange lists or general concepts of what they want.

In terms of giving for other people... I will probably ignore you if you tell me straight up what you want. I take a lot of pleasure in gift giving and I'm usually pretty good about getting things I know they'll love, assuming I know the person well enough. For me the hunt of finding "the perfect item" is a lot of fun and pretty much the center of my holiday cheer, so try to tell me what to buy and I'll probably bite you.

That said, if you're in desperate need of something... I'll just get you a surprise gift, too!