Xmas Gift expextations/traditions
 

I'm curious about how your families do presents. Do you surprise each other with something you know the person wanted but didn't expect? Are you more practical about it, discussing what you want or getting something they need?

Tony has one big interest, videogames. I'm a more personal kind of gift-giver, I don't believe in gift cards or just picking something you've asked for. Idk, maybe its a girl thing? He's the opposite, he'd rather know you want it for sure and hates surprises. He's been stressing over what to get me, despite m saying I could care less how much he spends, or whatever.

Well he had an idea on what to get me, but wasn't sure I'd like it as a Christmas present. I assured him I would love it...but he wanted me to guess what it is. Well, I didn't want to ruin the surprise, but it just popped into my head what he must be talking about. now I don't know whether to tell him I know what it is, or act surprised.

I hate what the holidays have become In terms of all the materialistic gifts and stuff. I'd rather have something we can do together, like a dinner or a show of some sort. That's my little rant for today I guess.

I usually get the person something they really really want and/or need, something they have talked about wanting or needing. Some years I'm practical and some, just off the charts and get them something they have said they wish they could have but are too sensible to buy. I just love buying presents, wrapping and giving them and seeing the look on the person's face when they open it.

We don't really do gifts anymore. Haven't in years. On my dad's side of the family the "adults" give us "kids" :rolleyes: (we're all in our 30s, only one cousin has a kid of his own so far) lucky money envelopes and some kind of chocolate or sweets little gift. No big gifts at all. For me and bf, we hardly ever see anything we want, so if we see something, no matter what time of year, we just get it. But we NEVER see anything we want! LOL

For close friends I usually do a small gift, but with thought behind it. I used to always get gifts from this one friend who just gave whatever she got through work. :rolleyes:

We don't do much on gifts any more either. I buy for my kids, my parents, and my one remaining grandmother. I always try to get items they need. Most of the time they let me know ahead of time. My 15 year old wants money. I guess he thinks mom can't pick out clothes and stuff for him. :p

As far as my DH, he tried one year. It didn't work out to well. :rolleyes: So we usually get something the other one has already picked out. :p

The gift I'm speaking of in particular is a boxed set of all the Harry Potter books. Now, I had a moment earlier this year when I was all sad about the series being over, because I grew up with the books (literally, I read the first one at my grandma's kitchen table when I was seven, and atched the last movie at 18 yrs old so...yeah) I saw the boxed set and really wanted it because I had left my books home when I moved to Tx and my parents donated them to goodwill.

Would I love a boxed set to cherish forever and pass on to my kids? Yes! Do I NEED a fancy boxed set of books I've already read countless times? Not really. It was sweet of him to think of getting it for me but I don't really need it. Idk.

Hmm, gives me an idea for another thread. :D

As for him he wants the new Nintendo game system, the Wii U. Too bad its sold out everywhere from preorders. So I'm stumped. He's a very practical and basic guy. He says he's super easy to buy for but IMO this lakes him impossible to buy for!

Last Christmas I had just moved here and I bought solely for my bf's mom's boyfriend's daughters. They're like sisters to me, but this year they'll be away for christmas. :(

Sometimes getting something we would love can be better than something we need. I usually get something for the house. It would be nice to get something that was for only me. Look at it that way. I think it is very sweet of him.

Run with it girl! :D

:yeahthat:

For my birthday my little brothe got me a book. "Mad Men The illustrated world." I had never heard or it so obviously I could live without it. I LOVE IT SO MUCH! I love the 50's and 60's, I love Mad Men and I love things that are funny. This book is hilarious and I get to learn new things about the 60's. they're useless facts but I'm loving my book. I think he's the only one of my immediate family to even bother getting me something for my bday. It's not so much the gift (retail price~$15) but the thought behind it. He knows me so well and it showed in his thoughtful gift.

I have a thoughtful gift planned for my mom, and one for little bro. I just need 3 more people to shop for and I'm done. I'm stumped at what to get them.

Christmas is my very favorite time of the year, cooking the festive meals, decorating whimsical cookies with the grandchildren, the house decked with gold, glitter, bubble lights, angels and hand made ornaments of our grown children when they were young. The music, memories of Christmas past, the house full of laughter. Finding the "oh so right" present for your family and friends from the clues they give you through the year. Sitting around the Christmas Tree in the evening as Papa read the Christmas Story in Luke. Can you tell........I love Christmas!!! Oh, and I always love getting any thing that I don't need...lol. Merry "Pre-thanksgiving day" Christmas!

My man and dad are carbon copies of each other, they have to have the newest latest and greatest electronic device the day it comes out and both make good money so anytime they want something they go right out and get it so buying for them is hard. My stepmom loves this one artist so I get something custom made each year for her and that's all I have to buy for.
I asked for a WII U but of course we had to get one Sunday to replace the out of date WII.

We do for immediate family obviously, young kids and parents.

Our best friends and cousin's little ones, neices nephews.

The adults draw names at Thanksgiving for eachother's secret santa.

Its too expensive to buy for everyone, and noone wants gloves just for the giving sake.


Our big rule of thumb is useful items.

My parents are fetting a Wolfgang pressure cooker, gift certificates are a huge plus here.

Oh like for my kids everyone collaborates like when Milo got a leapster system everyone got him an acessory or a game off the list.

I actually do a lot more homemade gifts than purchased. That being said, I like to give what people want/need. My brother gives things things that HE would like to get... :rolleyes:

This year, though, Chad and I decided to just get each other a couple of little things and go to as many musicals as we want next year :)

For my family/friends, I will either make them something or get them something they're interested in. IE my girlfriend is a huge Iron Man fan, so she's easy to shop for, lol. She doesn't NEED anything we get her, but it is stuff she wants (she just doesn't know it yet! LOL)

My mom loves to get everyone "real" presents but loves to get gift cards. She always tells us she is not buying much each year and does anyway.
One year i set up a free website and listed about 5 things that each of us wanted. This included me and dh, mom and dad, my sister, my brother, my dd, and my aunt who joins us. We celebrate Christmas eve and the youngest who can read (my dtr who turned 26 yesterday) and after all are handed out, we open them in the order of our age. I admit there is a competition to see who has the most presents each year. Usually dd wins. Only grandchild, go figure!

With dh's family there are now 9 of us. Since his mom died several years ago, we all draw names (again dd is the youngest). We get together on halloween and draw names. We take turns on who get to make plans for the gift exchange. We go to a restrurant usually. This year it is my turn and i picked Perkins. We try to plan it for the closest Sat of thier mom's bday which is the 14th. My only rule is if that sat is the 17th another date is needed as that is our wedding anniversary. We put down 3-4 things on our list and have to choose one of them. the prices have to be a high and a low.

I try to listen to what my family wants, but it is hard. My mom gives dad a pic out of a catalog, or the item name, price, where to get it any other details. Dad then hands list to me, and i shop for him. which mom likes.

She once asked for some Charlie perfume. He bought her the cologne, the perfume, the powder and any other form it came in. gotta love him.

Does everybody else's families also get family pets presents?
I had more pet's on my list last year than people lol my stepmom will bring home any homeless pet she could find as long as it got in the car, well even then I have had to drive her to the hospital for a cat bite of a cat that did not want to go lol but my parents are down to one dog Joey and I think 7 cats yes all inside the house, her parents have 2 dogs, my uncle has a cat and dog, and Ryan's mom has a parrot so everybody gets treats and toys for Christmas.