What's on your Xmas/B-day/wish list

[flashpacker]

A stock, that I will buy commission free in my own account. Then at least we can having an ongoing conversation about how their gift is doing!  I find this works for people who will only give money if it is designated for something.

[fb132]

When people ask me for what I want as a gift, at first I tell them I don't want anything, but they keep insisting, so finally I would give in and tell them to just give me cash. Apparently cash is a horrible gift, because they insist that I should get a real gift (aka stuff) instead of money. But I always prefer money over gifts. Gifts just add more crap to my house. At least with mone you can invest.

[C. K.]

But I always prefer money over gifts. Gifts just add more crap to my house.

If they keep insisting, then ask for consumables. They won't clutter your house for long.

[fb132]

Money is the best gift, but whenever I tell them I want money as a gift (after they beg me on what I want), they frown and say "C'mon seriously, what do you really want?".Somehow money is not a good gift according to everyone I know, last thing I want is more stuff to clutter my home. At least with cash, I can choose what I want or even better...just invest it.

[LadyStash]

-Stock pot
-Measuring cup
-Corelle plates
-Mattress pad

Last year I asked for gift cards to Costco and Amazon and no one believed me. I instead received gift cards to Bed, Bath & Beyond and Anthropologie. Needless to say, both of those gift cards are unused and will likely be used to buy Christmas gifts for other people this year. Don't get me wrong, I'm very grateful for my family's generosity, I just wish they'd believe me :)

Thus, I'm taking a different tack and simply asking for the things we would buy at Costco and Amazon :)

Hi Mrs. Frugalwoods (and others who receive unwanted gift cards)! Have you considered selling your unwanted gift cards? I've received a few that left me scratching my head and ended up selling them to cardcash.com or similar. Granted, you only get about 75-85% of the card's value (be it as a check, PayPal, or Amazon gift card in the case of cardcash.com) but at least you'll get something out of it! This holiday season, I'm asking for gift cards to Panera, Red Lobster, and iTunes.

[LadyStash]

Also, http://bdayfreeday.com/ lists offers for free grub and experiences near/on your birthday. Most of the time I'd rather just do something like grab an ice cream with a friend rather than them give me stuff. And if my ice cream is free, well, that's awesome!

[Astatine]

But I always prefer money over gifts. Gifts just add more crap to my house.

If they keep insisting, then ask for consumables. They won't clutter your house for long.

You can't go wrong asking for wine, IMO. Either you're a wine drinker, or you can regift the wine for someone else's birthday or Christmas, or take it to a dinner at a friend's house to contribute to the dinner.

[Rural]

Building supplies, used clothing, shoe inserts, and gift cards for things I'm too cheap to buy for myself (foot massage? Yes, please)

[Pooperman]

My b-day kinda sucked as a kid. It was less than a week before xmas, so shit always got lumped together. I totally envied friends who had summer birthdays or really any time not on xmas 'cause they always got way more than me just because of when they were born. Now, I don't really care, but it seriously wasn't fair growing up! Money, otherwise gift cards (which can be converted to cash at about $0.90 on the dollar) is what I want.

[kaetana]

As much as I love money, I'm a sucker for real gifts that someone has put some thought into, even if I don't end up liking it. For that reason, I never give people a list of things I want. That would be like them buying me groceries. No effort at all!

[Cookie]

My family doesn't like giving money, so I am asking for things we use daily. This year it is coffee, chapstick, and a special brand of soap that isn't available where I live. I also throw in the suggestion of an amazon gift card, but people really don't like giving gift cards either.

[scrubbyfish]

A list of things each person (who feels like gifting me) has released (decluttered) since December 1st.

I drool over these. So exciting to my heart and brain.

I would also like a package of lovely things (chocolates, scented things), but I guess I have no one to give me that. I wonder if there's somewhere I can order a surprise gift package for myself, and not know the contents. I would totally do that, if it were a reputable thing and there were for sure very nice chocolates and "natural" scented products in it. But not for the bath. I no longer have a tub.

[Elderwood17]

My family loves giving gifts and they don't accept the idea of super practical things.  So I try to keep it at least useful and say something to eat or drink. 

This thread has given me some good ideas though.  I do like movies but cannot justify the cost of the tickets so I think I will ask for some movie tickets this year.

[Cookie]

Oh, I also add candles to my list. I don't want to spend money on them, but they are a really nice treat.

[plank]

Currently a pull up bar and eneloop AA batteries.  I need to come up with one more.

I always start making a list of things I would buy around September or so that are around €20 then I tell my wife what I want and she "secretly" tells her family what I want. 

Telling them directly would be weird for them, and asking for anything other than a physical item would also be weird. 

(Each couple spends €20 on each person, so that's why I chose that number.) 

[fb132]

But I always prefer money over gifts. Gifts just add more crap to my house.

If they keep insisting, then ask for consumables. They won't clutter your house for long.

You can't go wrong asking for wine, IMO. Either you're a wine drinker, or you can regift the wine for someone else's birthday or Christmas, or take it to a dinner at a friend's house to contribute to the dinner.

With cash, you can still buy wine if you desire :)

[BlueHouse]

Currently a pull up bar and eneloop AA batteries.  I need to come up with one more.

k
Oh yeah, the batteries!  I'm adding to my list. Thanks for the reminder! 

[mm1970]

books

[tracylayton]

I gave up my gym membership ($38/month) and walk a few miles in my neighborhood everyday. However, it does get very cold and windy during the winter in Texas. My old gym offers a 3 month winter membership every December for a flat fee of $99. The only Christmas present I will likely get is a $100 bill from my mom and stepdad. I am already earmarking it for the gym. My family only buys for kids, and even then we draw names and just buy for one kid. I can't tell you how much I love this!!! I am cross stitching a gift for my mom and stepdad, but they are the only adults that I'll be giving a gift to.

[Melody]

My family doesn't do christmas, but if we did I would ask for underwear, nice work shoes, coffee etc. Stuff I would buy anyway but I would appreciate having nicer versions of than what I may buy for myself. Semi consumables for hobbies are also sensible, even if you don't need it right away (for me this would be skate laces, new strings for my bass etc.)

[Melody]

Also any money saving devices (e.g rechargable batteries, led globes, tuppaware etc) that you may need :)