Telling people what you want for birthdays and/or xmas as an adult is weird

I make an amazon wishlist, for the most part.

Yeah i just ask for gift cards for dinner, warm clothes, socks... basic shit

Id rather my family didnt buy me anything but they refuse to listen lol

I just want pants and socks.

We stopped with christmas gifs long ago. We only get together to eat delicious christmas food.

Meh. Rather that than shit surprises or boring gift cards tbh.

I tell people to not buy me anything.

I hate the whole gift obligation thing stressing people out and making them go broke. Its needless.

I specifically ask for socks, I freakin love getting socks for christmas

I've been asking for nothing from my parents, siblings and other family since I was like 16. I buy them a gift card, they buy me a gift card and it's kinda just a waste of time. Instead, now we just buy ourselves something fun during Christmas as a present to ourselves, which is great if you'd prefer one particular expensive item instead of a bunch of less expensive items.

Still buy presents for my sister and some family who otherwise wouldn't buy something for themselves, though.

I know that might not work in every household or with every family dynamic, but it works for us and that's what matters.

Yeah I'm not a fan of getting stuff anymore.

However, my parents got me a dental cleaning kit to clean my dogs teeth this year. Actually pretty stoked about that

I never have to because nobody gets me anything for my birthday anymore.

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I'm 33 and my family still make me create an Amazon wishlist to share with them so they know what to get me.

My wife always asks me, she knows I'm not easy to please. But this year, she surpassed her fear and decided to follow her instincts. I got a wallet (i got robbed this year and since I was just using a spare one that I had). It was very thoughtful of her.

Sometimes you also just say the gift you are buying, to avoid double buying the same stuff (I just did for RD2), I told my friend don't jump on the guns. I got you covered.
He was already planning to buy it.

I'm the opposite.

Whenever I get something I didn't want, when there are things that I do want, my thought just goes to "now I'm going to buy that thing for myself, and my parents will have spent money on something in vain".

But my parents don't really ask me anymore, and I don't really expect anything. Both of them have been mostly terrible at buying me presents, so they just kind of gave up.

(They were the kind of people who would buy presents they wanted me to have, rather than things I would enjoy. I can't forget when my mom bought me a vintage grooming kit for hair and beard, when I was 14 and couldn't even get peach fuzz. My mom then said "Oh I always wanted you to look like your friend who's super stylish (dude dressed every day like he was in Mad Men.

My mom is also guilty of buying me stuff for football, when she knew I hated playing football. But she did it because she hated seeing my play video games, and did her utmost best to make me not play them.)

I'd rather get nothing, if I want something I'll generally buy it, but I still get gifts, even though I say I don't want anything.

Also, receiving gifts makes me feel anxious for some reason.

I have an Amazon wish list with random books, games and such that I can't prioritize buying myself.

I wouldn't really ask for a large item for Christmas, because yeah I would just buy that myself.

well i don't want axe/lynx body spray or the saw movies on bluray

Strafer said:

We stopped with christmas gifs long ago. We only get together to eat delicious christmas food.

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Well I got some for you this year. Enjoy!

I tell my family not to get me anything. Not that I don't appreciate the gesture it just, yeah, feels a bit weird.

Even if all I want for Christmas is you?

Shugga said:

Meh. Rather that than shit surprises or boring gift cards tbh.

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Exactly

I'm firmly in Camp Don't Get Me Anything.

Family probably hates it. But I know they're just going to end up giving me like a jacket and some pants just to have something under the tree.

I feel weird asking for gaming or computer stuff from them.

FloatOn said:

This time of year is when my parents typically start asking me what I want for xmas and it's just such a weird experience as an adult. I'm 35 and if I want something I'll just buy it. Most of the stuff I need I already have so it's always such a weird thing to talk about. I also know as parents it must make them feel good to get their kids something so at the last minute I'll just tell them some inexpensive trinket to get me so they can check that box.

How do you handle it?

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Honestly the best christmas gifts are unexpected. That's why i dont really wish for stuff.

get me a gift

get me some chocolate

no coconut pls

Been doing it like this since I was like 11. What's hard about it?

If I don't know what I want, then I'll say surprise me.

If you know your loved ones are bent on getting you something but you think you are going to buy it, why dont you

A. Purposely not buy the thing so the family could get it for you? Saved money is still a damn good gift and that could go back into a better gift for them


B. Puropsely lowball with small gifts so it is special but they dont have too spend much.

Like for example, one year I'd ask for the Palomino Blackwing Pencils(its like writing with silk), which are absurdly priced as far as pencils go, but are very cheap as far as gift pricing.

(Its like $21 for a box of 12 pencils)


I usually do one of these things each year and things turn out great!

I don't like accumulating clutter / trinkets / stuff.

I tell family and everyone in my small circle to not get me anything. Visiting / hanging-out is enough. They'll bring food, which is okay.

I default to easy-to-get things, like funky socks, candles, or seasonal decorations which can usually be found anywhere. It's not that hard to find a snowman figurine or winter throw pillow this time of year.

As a parent, the joy of giving my kids something they'd enjoy far outweighs getting something for myself. None of my kids are grown but I don't see that feeling changing when they become adults. I'd much rather know what they'd appreciate than take a random guess and get the polite thank you.

I maintain an Amazon list for shit that someone has told me is a good movie/book/game/etc that I might not be all about buying with my money, or that I want to get to eventually. When my mom bugs me for stuff, I just point her to the list. She likes doing real presents still.

My dad just gives everyone money.

I'm from a family where only kids get presents. Adults can buy stuff they want themselves. It's the best

I don't mind getting asked, though sometimes I might just ask for cash if I can't think of anything.

I prefer money of gift cards

I just ask for things I wouldn't normally buy myself... or things for my apartment.

yea, especially when the only thing on my list are sex toys

no its not. I just save some things i would normally buy throughout the year and they surprise me later. Or i just give them like 20 things and ill be surprised at what 5 ill get.

My parents just get me weird things plus some cash. If people ask me what I want I usually just say I don't need anything.

The gift is less about you than the person who gets joy from giving it to you. Make them feel as though you got exactly what you wanted without making the act strange or boring (gift cards etc)

My family usually just does gift cards or cash money. I feel a bit bad taking the money but I usually spend about what I get or more so it's more just token gestures outside of the parents--they're definitely losing out so far.

I've been getting into a habit of trying to find out what people actually want for Christmas instead of something they need. While I don't mind handing out gift cards to friends, I'd rather get them something they'd enjoy with a little thought as opposed to just some money on a card.

Agreed, I would prefer to get nothing but you otherwise end up getting wasteful gifts you won't use. Increasingly I hate increasing the amount of "things" on earth, so I've started just directly asking for gift cards, software etc.

It's the the thought that counts, friendo. I can definitely buy my own stuff and I pretty much have to since no one ever gets me anything. But having someone care enough to get you something feels nice.

Glad my gift to my parents is me flying home this year. Also means they can't really get me anything as it'll have to fit back in my suitcase for the flight home.

I tell my parents what I want and get some free stuff, I ain't gonna knock it if it's what they want to do. Not that I expect it or anything, but they ask every year, so...

garfield hat

get me a garfield hat

29 here. My mom asked me a few things I want and I tell her. I build an Amazon wishlist through the year and also hold off buying video games from Oct-Dec.

It helps build the excitement again for Christmas. I'm so excited to get my hands on Spyro and Pokemon Let's Go on Christmas morning. You feel like a kid again.

It may be weird for you but different people live in different situations, there are plenty of instances where this is fine. I'm 29 and dirt poor and if my mother says she wants to do something nice for me and asks what I need for christmas, etc, I'm not going to say no. I'm going to be thankful and let her help me. I do the same for others, what's wrong with that?

I just make an Amazon wish list full of expensive things to send them. Then they will go and buy something not on the list.

Get with the seasonal festivities.

The real true meaning of the holidays is hidden somewhere within pretending you actually like the gifts you receive.