What do you do when during X-mas shopping...

[Dark Angel]

I think the world would be a better place if people would stop putting the emphasis on WHAT they're getting for Christmas and just enjoy the fact that people care enough to give them gifts at all. Personally I have always felt a little guilty telling people 'what I want' for Christmas

I feel the same way. The only people I tell what I want are my parents. And I know that they can't afford everything I want. And that's ok. It just means its something I have to work for myself.

My Grandma used to get me some of the strangest things. Things I didn't want at all, but you know what? I freaking LOVE everything she has gotten me, because she got it for me. This is my second Christmas without her. I miss all the wacky little trinkets.

[catshem]

I buy only for the kids in the family now, if any adults get anything it's because I was compelled to do something for them. My husband actually hates Christmas because of all the gifting agony. He'd rather just we buy the things we ourselves want and not worry about others. Which is thankfully what's happening this year. A few months ago I was bummed that Christmas at his family's house was cancelled since they decided to take their money and have a vacation (which I don't begrudge them at all, it's just bummed me because it was my husband's constant complaining about Christmas that spurred them to the decision lol) but it turned out okay because we just spent the money we saved from not buying all these presents and bought ourselves things.

Like my Dana. Precious Dana... with her aurora colbat eyes and ash blond wig... sooon my pretty... you'll be in my hands...*cough* uhhh

All in all though, this holiday is for kids now. We adults are just happy for the sales.

[KatyaR]

Christmas isn't supposed to be about presents. It certainly isn't about demanding presents. It sounds like your friend needs a different book for Christmas. One with gold colored edging on the pages . . . .

[innocent]Maybe one of those that has four versions side-by-side in case the first one didn't get the point across? [/innocent]

Mark's dad *wants* McD's certificates for Christmas, since he eats there every day.

Our niece isn't old enough to get the 'you didn't buy me enough' attitude yet, but her brother often has some fairly expensive wants. The oldest kids either get gift certificates, or join in the adult white elephant exchange. Overall, we see very little of the gimmes.

[Trethowan]

My entire family (my parents, sibling, inlaws, etc) set limits, one gift per person, no more than a certain dollar amount. It's about us being together, not about getting loads of stuff. It creates such a financial hardship for folks sometimes. If people are asking and asking and asking... GEE. It's just so rude. Hard to fathom. I'm all for the tough-love answer. Or the McD card. hahaha...

[AlmySidaKay]

Oddly as my siblings and have gotten older, our budget for each other has gone down. We are now to "only spend $10 a piece" now, where as we used to go all out on siblings. But I'm ok with this, more dollieh money!

[kurosu.chan]

Yeah, Christmas lists...ugh. My dad doesn't do too well in that area, so every year I tell him "Make a list so I can shop for you, or I'll buy you a Utili-kilt." That usually gets him in gear. XD
My brother and I made our Christmas lists...the only thing on his is a helicopter with a camera that you control from your phone. Mom looked it up:

Mom; "Um, honey, do you know how much this costs? It's 300 pounds..."
Bro; "Uh..."
Mom; "$$$"
Bro; "Ohhhh...um, well...I don't want anything then."

I guess he means it, he still hasn't thought of anything else.

Same thing happened to me. I put doll stuff (hands, eyes, wigs...) on my list, because I don't like to ask for things I won't use, and mom said "That's only one thing. Pick more." So I added a couple dresses, and mom said "Okay, that's two things..."
I'm out of ideas, so now she won't stop bothering me about lengthening my list. Lengthening?! My parents' don't even have theirs yet! How am I supposed to know what to get them?! Grrr... [/rant]