What gifts do you ask for?

[MBot]

My family (both sides) loves to do gifts for Christmas.
 
Although we do pretty well at cutting costs, trading names, making gifts and finding what they like, I often draw a blank when they ask what I'd like.

Sometimes I've had an idea. Eg replacement running shirts/shorts which I've then been given.

I also have family that always gives bath items, which I usually can't use. But since I mentioned my skin was sensitive and I do use some brands of hypoallergenic lotion, I've started getting hand cream and lip balm I will actually use!

This year I decided to start keeping a list of "wants, or not needs but eventual needs" So far they are mostly durable versions of what I already have. Eg a watch or coat or consumable items like candles.

I'm curious - Does your family ask for gift requests? If so, what do you ask for? Is it consumable things, durable things, enjoyable/silly things you wouldn't normally purchase?

[resy]

Although at the beginning I didnt like it because I thought it felt kinda pushy, my SO and I have been telling each other a (very) small list of things to choose from(we choose one only) for chirstmas and birthdays. I actually really like it now! We always get stuff we want and by having various items to choose from its still a surprise.
We tend to ask for useful things, mostly electronics, that we otherwise wouldnt get. (Tablet, phone, power tools, etc) this year we have agreed on items below a certain price which is even better.

[Goldielocks]

My mom, I usually ask for work related conservative dress items.  She is good at bargains and her conservative style is fine for me at work.  So, clothing or last year, I needed a laptop bag.

My husband is forbidden to buy me anything that plugs in or anything related to home or car cleaning.  You would be amazed at what he over spends on in the name of Christmas presents.  I have almost never received jewellery from him, so last year I asked for gold bracelet, and we picked out a nice quality costume jewelry one together.

I usually ask for a new coffee travel mug ( nice one) or french coffee press.  I like coffee.

Kids I may ask for PJs or slippers or for my DD to make something artsy.  Movie passes to go out with my son, that sort of thing.

You could ask for tickets to a show.  A bike or bike accessories? New rug or end table or??  Maybe make it a group gift so you don't have to worry about getting too many things.?

My sister and I don't formally exchange, and I prefer it when MIL gives a joint gift to hubby and i.  Whatever he would like works great.

[sandyvanburen]

My family does this too and we always get together at Christmas and have a really great time unwrapping, eating (pot luck) and laughing.

We try to include short poems to make the experience extra fun. And those who can't rhyme always manage to include a little note with a memory or a funny observance they have/made of the recipient of their gift (we do secret Santa, so no more than 1 gift to buy for each and we have a firm limit of € 15 -about $ 20- per gift).

Over the years Christmas gift giving became more about the notes and the fun than it was about the presents. Stil... presents are bought...

I usually ask for something I will use: a family calendar, a desk planner, new cartridges for my pen. My DH usually includes on his wish list a book he would have bought for himself anyway or a bottle or 2 of some specialty beer he wants to sample. Or specialty coffee, tea or some other consumable.

Our rule is 'no more stuff' so consumables are a great way to go! Good luck.

[theadvicist]

Second (or third?) the 'consumables' recommendation. I mentioned it once when my mum asked what I would like. I said 'Things that I use up, since this flat is so small!'. She totally understood, and I love the crazy assortment of things I get now: colourful post-it notes, bath products, interesting varieties of pasta, rice, tea, fancy crackers etc. She's very imaginative and my pantry is always well stocked after Christmas with new things I wouldn't normally buy. I love it!

I also try to practise what I preach by buying consumables for her, but focussing on things I know she really loves - perfumes, fancy body lotions etc. I'm not into those (they give me a headache), but you have to remember that giving is about what -they- would like to receive, not what -you- would like to receive (or give).

Also, this sounds kind of manipulative? Childish? But I really gush about the things I receive that I would like to encourage more of in the future. Everyone loves seeing a gift recipient enjoy what they have been bought!

[anotherAlias]

My family has always given wish lists to shop from.  When I was first out on my own, i asked for things that I either didn't already have or something that I wanted to replace with a better quality....kitchen gadgets, pans, towels, sheets, etc.

Now I've pretty much got my household set up so there isn't a whole lot of stuff that I need unless something breaks or wears out.  Now I ask for consumables, books and blu rays are always loved, and tools/supply's for whatever hobby I'm working on.  This year my list looks like it will be heavy on  woodworking tools. 

[Moonwaves]

I try to keep a lit of things that it occurs to me I want/need. I used to do this so that when I got paid my annual bonus, I wouldn't just fritter the money away - most of it went to debt but I would always allow myself one thing from my list. Don't get a bonus anymore (lowly admin staff are no longer considered worthy) and very annoyingly lost my list but I just started a new one and put this one on Amazon (no more losing it!). I have a big birthday coming up so anyone who insists on buying me something will get directed there, too. Mostly it's to keep a reminder for myself. And it's useful because often I'll find that when I go back to the list a year later, something I was sure I really wanted to have no longer interest me. Some of the things I have gotten from my list include a steam juicer, water bath canner, canning jars, dehydrator, books, theatre tickets, slow cooker, Tupperware, hiking boots, hiking poles, artwork (more like posters from allposters and frames from Ikea than priceless family heirlooms though). 

[Write Thyme]

My side of the family makes Amazon wish lists. I use rewards websites, and I'll be paying for most of Christmas this way. :)

On my list I have things like vanilla beans (so I can make vanilla extract for gifts next year), LED bulbs, books, and I'll be putting some blackout curtains on there soon to help with energy costs. Oh, and white hot chocolate because that's expensive, and I don't want to buy it myself.

[Gerard]

Consumables, ideally small treat-y things that I probably wouldn't buy for myself. I get and give things like posh tea, interesting sauces and chutneys, ice wine, bizarre snacks.

[Mrs. PoP]

One side of the family insists on Amazon wish lists, the other I have converted to "give to charity instead". 

With the Amazon wish lists, there's usually something every year that I want but wouldn't realistically buy for myself (or at least not at that price).  So sometimes the wish list has a somewhat pricey item on it with a note saying, I want this - Amazon gift cards received as gifts will go to its purchase... 

[MBot]

I usually ask for a new coffee travel mug ( nice one) or french coffee press.  I like coffee.

Now that I think of it, these have been some of my favorite presents!

Great suggestions, everyone! I like hearing the variety

[Doaner19]

Straight cash homey!

[iris lily]

Because I am old and buy whatever I want for myself, I hate gifting obligations. I live with a DH who never gets rid of anything. I hate clutter and crap lying around.

So some years, for a birthday, I will ask for an "un-gift" which means: could we please get rid of this ugly thing X that's I hate?. Sometimes it works.

[pachnik]

I like things like coffee beans from Starbucks and body lotions from The Body Shop. 

[Widget]

I usually ask for "eventual needs" (I like that term), like a pair of jeans. Or I'll ask for things I would normally just buy myself, like coffee.  People know I love coffee and it's a reasonably priced gift, so while it is just a simply grocery item it can still be fun to pick out and give.

This year for Christmas my mom paid for my stay at our family reunion.  I wouldn't have missed it regardless, but it was  a perfect gift! 

[Jane]

My mom insists on buying us a lot for Christmas. I have tried for years to get her to stop, but every time I try it ends with her being upset that I'm ruining Christmas for her.

I'm normally kind of a grinch about it and tell her I want gift cards. Most years I give her stores where we would shop anyway like Amazon, Home Depot, or Target, although last year I suggested a couple of restaurant gift cards we would like, since we do enjoy the occasional restaurant meal but just don't often go because of the expense. It let her feel like she was treating us, and we enjoy the meal out. We are obligated to get them something too (she'd be very upset otherwise)...so I give them gift cards. My dad just goes along with whatever my mom wants in this case. He doesn't care about gifts.

It's dumb. I'm hoping one of these years my mom will see the ridiculousness of exchanging gift cards, but until then this at least minimizes the waste. I hate asking for actual gifts, because I tend to shop sales or Craigslist for larger items, and my mom will not do that so she would end up spending full price on something that can easily be bought for so much less.

[isbjshaffer]

Straight cash homey!

I like this idea - I feel kind of selfish for asking but I wonder if it wouldn't be a good idea to ask for some sort of investment as a gift. My inlaws usually always give us money. Any ideas? We're still several years from retirement but I'd just rather never see that money and maybe see if they have any kind of awesome deals/interest rates that we could piggy back off of in their name?

[mozar]

I always ask for amazon gift cards, and I always buy books. Last year I got a Wusthoff knife, and a hand mixer. I once got my mom white pepper kernels. She hates the way black pepper looks in her food...

I kind of want to ask my family to forgo two years of gift giving and buy me a Vitamix.

[Exhale]

I kind of want to ask my family to forgo two years of gift giving and buy me a Vitamix.

Do it! I was able to snag one and it's fantastic. Especially helpful for weight loss, drinking your greens and making delish healthy treats.

[Exhale]

Massages, top-quality olive oil and tea, magazine subscriptions...

[Ambergris]

My family are all very poor, so I mostly have to buy myself birthday and Christmas presents. (God that's sad. That's like Eeyore sad).

Since my family ask anyway what I usually ask for is simple, useful things like socks and gardening gloves.

[Fi(re) on the Farm]

I keep lists on the computer and add to them throughout the year. The lists for dh and me are usually things that I wouldn't spend the money on but would love to have, expensive body lotion, a tortilla press for me, hiking guides for him. My daughter is disabled and doesn't need more stuff so for her I ask for things to do, not to have,  movie tickets, mini-golf, tourist sites. My mom didn't have money when I was growing up so now that she's comfortable she enjoys getting things for us.

[OSUBearCub]

My family are all very poor, so I mostly have to buy myself birthday and Christmas presents. (God that's sad. That's like Eeyore sad).

Since my family ask anyway what I usually ask for is simple, useful things like socks and gardening gloves.

Remember, it's about family (biological or chosen) and not gifts.  You've got one to spend time with at the holidays, I'd call that a blessing. :-)

My mom taught me that however humble the gift, spring on a good wrapping job.  She also taught me that love is the gift, the "thing" is just a token representation of the love you share.

[Zikoris]

Useful things that I really need. In the past this has included:

- Easily-recognizable luggage for our frequent travels (Their names are Bubbles and Giraffe for reasons obvious when you see them)
- Quick-drying socks for travel
- Gift cards for the one clothing store that sells jeans that fit me properly, that I shop at about once every 2-3 years
- Gift cards to any practical store that I could use regularly, like drug stores or department stores
- Annual Spongebob Squarepants calendar
- Magazine subscription to something cooking related

I'm also always a fan of non-stuff presents - opera tickets, classes, etc. I bought one of my ex-boyfriends a few private kickboxing classes once and he was SUPER thrilled.

[Ambergris]

My family are all very poor, so I mostly have to buy myself birthday and Christmas presents. (God that's sad. That's like Eeyore sad).

Since my family ask anyway what I usually ask for is simple, useful things like socks and gardening gloves.

Remember, it's about family (biological or chosen) and not gifts.  You've got one to spend time with at the holidays, I'd call that a blessing. :-)

My mom taught me that however humble the gift, spring on a good wrapping job.  She also taught me that love is the gift, the "thing" is just a token representation of the love you share.

Oh, I quite agree. The sad Eeyore-y part of it was buying presents for myself... I do manage to avoid sending myself birthday cards and valentines.

[OSUBearCub]

My family are all very poor, so I mostly have to buy myself birthday and Christmas presents. (God that's sad. That's like Eeyore sad).

Since my family ask anyway what I usually ask for is simple, useful things like socks and gardening gloves.

Remember, it's about family (biological or chosen) and not gifts.  You've got one to spend time with at the holidays, I'd call that a blessing. :-)

My mom taught me that however humble the gift, spring on a good wrapping job.  She also taught me that love is the gift, the "thing" is just a token representation of the love you share.

Oh, I quite agree. The sad Eeyore-y part of it was buying presents for myself... I do manage to avoid sending myself birthday cards and valentines.

I buy myself chocolates for Valentines, but the day after when the store has slashed the price in half (or more)! I'm my own cheap date lol

[Mrs. Frugalwoods]

We've tried different strategies over the years to encourage our families NOT to buy us stuff since we don't need anything, but, they are loving, generous people and they always buy us tons of stuff. We're grateful to them and we love them, so, I compile a list throughout the year of things we really need. I've found that if we don't give them a list, they will buy us odd and random knick knacks that we really don't need. O

Our Christmas list right now is: mattress pad, tennis shoes for me, stock pot, measuring cup, hiking pants for Mr. Frugalwoods

[Davids]

I don't really ask for gifts but if someone wants to get me a gift I will now tell them (since I have a 4 month old son) to make a donation to his 529 plan instead if you want to give me a gift.

[gimp]

Whisky. Or nothing. Preferably nothing.

[BigBigote]

I think it's a great gift for someone to pay for my registration to a race I'd like to do! (i.e. 10k, half marathon, etc).  Then you can send them photos from the race as a thank you and it's more fun than just exchanging money.

[RichLife]

Gift cards for places I know I will shop at in the coming year. Food or drinks that I enjoy, I'm ok with others giving me a more expensive brand than I'd normally buy for myself and it helps keep it special. Sometimes I suggest I will buy something large myself and everyone chips in a bit for it. I do keep a wishlist with things I'd want eventually, so sometimes that works too. Worst case I tell them if they must give something to just deposit some money into my account.

[Stlbroke]

When my girlfriend asks me I started telling her I want to see her savings account and for there to be money in there! But that never works.

 A month ago for my birthday she bought me a secret cooler for my golf bag.  It hangs on the outside of my golf bag and in big letters it disguises itself as a "SHOE BAG". So now I can bring my own cold beers instead of paying $18 a six pack.  It's perfect. 

[lizzzi]

This year I asked for some foot cream from Bath and Body Works. I will ask for some good tea, too. I like modest gifts that I can use up and not clutter up the house.

[Mega]

Beef and pork jerky. Delicious... And so good Christmas morning.