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Christmas Wish Lists
I am totally procrastinating...
Do you like giving or getting presents from a wish list. I am torn. I like getting people what they want/need but it seems like there is less joy in giving/getting a gift from a list.
Sometimes it is easier to give someone a list to go by - my brother for example who ends up calling me asking what to get people when he is out shopping two days before Christmas. And then part of me feels guilty for "demanding" certain gifts, but then how would they know I really, really do want a potato masher. On the other hand it is priceless when you see someone open a present that is a total surprise and they totally love it. I totally went off list for SIL and she loved everything.
Do you make a list or buy of a list or are totally anti-list?
I think next year I am going anti-list all around (and anti-gift card/money).
Re: Christmas Wish Lists
In general, I prefer lists. But they're not always the lists provided by the gift-getter. Sometimes they're lists I make in my head throughout the year.
For example, this summer my mom mentioned a couple of times how much she wants a specific garden statue. It wasn't on her Christmas list, but she LOVED it and went nuts when she opened it.
Similarly, SIL & her FI are tight on money, and DH wanted to help them out with the honeymoon they're planning. It was the same resort we went to, so he wanted her to enjoy it as much as we did. So, while airfare wasn't on her list, that's what we got her and her FI.
As for getting, not going off of lists bug me. I'm thankful for everything, but I don't get why folks would wing it instead of spend money on things we want/need. The PSU freezer mugs and glass serveware we got are nice, but really, we already have both, so now we're not sure what to do with the gifts.
I guess the bottom line for me is that lists are the way to go, unless you KNOW you have an idea the recipient would really appreciate.
I much prefer using lists too. I'd rather know my money is getting someone something they want or need vs. a duplicate of something or a novelty gift that will get tossed aside and forgotten. Usually I ask for a few ideas and then choose one of two things from things suggested so the person still is suprised by what I chose.
I also prefer that I get gifts off my list too...even though at times I feel like a brat for even making a list. I'm too picky for my own good! I got pretty much everything I asked for this year and then a few more "personal" gifts that just made my day. It was a great Christmas!
I make a list and gve t to DH. It is up to him whether or not to buy from it, or give it to others as suggestions. This year I got things that were on my list and not on my list and I loved everything I got. I like getting gifts that aren't on my list from people who know me well (like DH and my parents) because they pick up on things I say or really know what I like. DH got me a ladder shelf which I have wanted SO BADLY but it wasn't on my list. But people who don't know me well, it really depends on what they give me because sometimes they'll give me things I already have or won't like. I really appreciate any gift anyone gives me, but sometimes I wish some of the people buying gifts would check with DH to see if I have it or would like it.
This year DH pretty much didn't buy anything on my list, except for a few movies, and I LOVED everything he gave me, but he knows me so well and what I want.
That being said, it depends on who I am buying for as to whether or not I want a list. For close family it is easier to come up with gifts, but we had a HARD TIME figuring out what to get DH's uncles this year.
I also HATE buying gift cards. I love getting them from some people, but I HATE buying them for people because I feel like it is a cop out for a gift. Unfortunately, this year we bought gift cards for a few people because we had NO IDEA what to get them otherwise. And one gift card wasn't really a cop out... we got one of DH's uncles a GC to his local bowling alley beacuse he LOVES to bowl. We only got two gift cards for people who we had no idea what else to buy for them and even asking MIL she had no idea what to tell us to get them.
Sorry for the book!
I do some of both. My mom mostly bought off my list this year. I bought a few things that I knew my mom wanted and a few surprises. I didn't have any lists for my dad, brother or SIL so those were surprises.
I can see the advantages of each side.
DH and I make a list each year (as requested) as well as get lists from our family for ideas. That being said, I usually buy most things from the list but also a few smaller things not on the list that I've seen or heard people talk about that they "wish" they'd have, that way its a mix.
Personally, I'd rather buy things that I know the person will like or need then have to guess on everything. As far as gift cards, which always seem less-personal, I don't really like giving them especially for Christmas. However, my IL's gave me three different gift cards this year, plus a few small gifts, which I'm really thankful for given that I'm picky and our shopping tastes really differ.