@shahnm Same. At this point in life, I have accumulated so much stuff that the things I want and don’t already have are very specific. The last few years, I have just bought my own Christmas present, saving my wife the trouble and making me thrilled with the thoughtful gift.
If I want something reasonably priced I buy it. If it is expensive I save up for it and no one is buying me THOSE items.
I am pickey, so if I want something I figure out the brand/model/etc that makes the most sense. I mean I gladly share that info on my list, but my family finds it annoying. I.e. I would not say I want a teapot. I want the Breville one touch tea maker and then I would provide web sites and discount codes (if I know of any). Basically it is not as simple as running to walmart and grabbing something off the shelf
TL:DR I have expensive taste and am particular. Drives my family crazy.
My mom. The situation is often that she’ll ask for something super specific, so I search for said thing, cant find said thing, and then end up buying several versions of thing that arent exactly what she asked for but are close because I cant find exact thing. She’ll be surprised when she opens the several items similar to what she asked for, I’ll explain that I couldnt find the exact thing she wanted so I’ve supplied options and I have receipts for things she wants to return/exchange. It usually turns out that the super specific thing she asked for literally does not exist- the thing she asked for was just like her describing something she’d want in a life where the world was perfect, whereas I thought she knew this thing existed and had just never purchased it herself
@togle Note: It’s not like these are ‘shoot for the moon’ requests, like she’s requesting world peace or a duffel full of diamonds or something. It’ll just be something that happens to be a normal-enough-sounding thing that’s hyper specific (say, a 65-inch level that has magnetic ends), so I imagine this is something that definitely exists and she’s seen it in stores; but then I can only find ones that are 48-inch, 60-inch, or 72-inch, so I just buy one of each. By the time she opens them, she doesnt even remember making the request for “65-inch”, specifically, so she’s thrilled at the variety
My husband’s Dad. He gets a lot of gift cards from all of us, because he is so difficult to find gift ideas for. He doesn’t seem to mind- he saves them up and buys something big every so often.
My dad. Doesn’t want anything, may not like what he gets — and he’s incapable of gift shopping for anyone else either. I have to find gifts for my mom from both of us.
And yes, the gifts I’ve bought from Meh were mostly for my mom. Even Meh can’t figure him out.
My boyfriend. He buys anything he wants throughout the year or when he’s out Christmas shopping for others. And will often tell me not to get him anything but he knows I’m not gonna do that. So stop buying stuff and make a fucking list.
@Star2236 LOL I tell my husband he can’t buy anything for himself starting in September - he has to put it on a christmas list. His list currently has 0 entries
@mcanavino
Depending on breed and the cultural background your pup grew up in, that is either ‘Charcuterie board, restocked daily’ or ‘Bacon. Bacon bacon bacon bacon!’.
There are less common dialects that have other translations but the above probably covers most likely possibilities.
Nobody - my family agreed several years ago to stop officially exchanging presents; we’ve all got way too much stuff. It’s been very freeing! Some gifts are usually given anyway - my sister and I just can’t resist giving stuff that we find if we know someone will like it, but then it’s spontaneous and a surprise, so a lot more fun.
My dad… it’s IMPOSSIBLE. He buys himself anything he could ever want already, even when it’s the holidays. Even then, it’s like what else does he want other than cool tech stuff? … That he already has… Dad pls.
My parents. They have what they want and can buy what they want.
@kjady That’s me! And my whole family.
Me.
@shahnm Same. At this point in life, I have accumulated so much stuff that the things I want and don’t already have are very specific. The last few years, I have just bought my own Christmas present, saving my wife the trouble and making me thrilled with the thoughtful gift.
My nephew’s wife. Way to vague about what she wants.
@yakkoTDI Maybe she’s seen your trunk & is thinking about joining WITSEC…?
The mother-in-law. I never have and probably never will satisfy her.
@hchavers BTDT.
@hchavers Thank god I don’t have one of those. MY SILs are bad enough.
I am told it is me
@tinamarie1974
@chienfou it is true, but there are two reasons
TL:DR I have expensive taste and am particular. Drives my family crazy.
My mom. The situation is often that she’ll ask for something super specific, so I search for said thing, cant find said thing, and then end up buying several versions of thing that arent exactly what she asked for but are close because I cant find exact thing. She’ll be surprised when she opens the several items similar to what she asked for, I’ll explain that I couldnt find the exact thing she wanted so I’ve supplied options and I have receipts for things she wants to return/exchange. It usually turns out that the super specific thing she asked for literally does not exist- the thing she asked for was just like her describing something she’d want in a life where the world was perfect, whereas I thought she knew this thing existed and had just never purchased it herself
@togle Note: It’s not like these are ‘shoot for the moon’ requests, like she’s requesting world peace or a duffel full of diamonds or something. It’ll just be something that happens to be a normal-enough-sounding thing that’s hyper specific (say, a 65-inch level that has magnetic ends), so I imagine this is something that definitely exists and she’s seen it in stores; but then I can only find ones that are 48-inch, 60-inch, or 72-inch, so I just buy one of each. By the time she opens them, she doesnt even remember making the request for “65-inch”, specifically, so she’s thrilled at the variety
@togle
Money always fits and never has to be returned! And what mom wouldn’t love a handmade card with a drawing of said gift?
@togle Sounds like Shart Tank ideas.
@togle I bet she wouldn’t mind a duffel full of diamonds
@hchavers @togle “Shart Tank”
That is easily the most appropriate typo of the season.
Why are “best friend” and “dog” both in the list of options? I suppose for people who don’t have a dog…or any friends.
My husband’s Dad. He gets a lot of gift cards from all of us, because he is so difficult to find gift ideas for. He doesn’t seem to mind- he saves them up and buys something big every so often.
Estranged family members who may or may not come to Christmas festivities… it’s complicated.
@Weboh Chocolate boxes?
Me. There’s history. I dread the season.
The fluffy jabroni who lives in my backyard but refuses pets. Don’t be so fluffy then, tease
My dad. Doesn’t want anything, may not like what he gets — and he’s incapable of gift shopping for anyone else either. I have to find gifts for my mom from both of us.
And yes, the gifts I’ve bought from Meh were mostly for my mom. Even Meh can’t figure him out.
@TheFLP My father was like that. It’s just one of the many reasons I’d prefer to skip December, and not even one of the bigger ones.
My boyfriend. He buys anything he wants throughout the year or when he’s out Christmas shopping for others. And will often tell me not to get him anything but he knows I’m not gonna do that. So stop buying stuff and make a fucking list.
@Star2236 LOL I tell my husband he can’t buy anything for himself starting in September - he has to put it on a christmas list. His list currently has 0 entries
I simply don’t believe in adults buying each other gifts.
Buy the kids gifts. Buy your wife a gift. Leave me out.
The dog.
I asked him, and he’s just like “bark”. I can’t just wrap up a piece of bark, and even if I did, what kind of tree?
That seems so lame. So instead I get him a toy he’ll rip apart in a week.
Then he says his Christmas was “rough”.
@mcanavino
Depending on breed and the cultural background your pup grew up in, that is either ‘Charcuterie board, restocked daily’ or ‘Bacon. Bacon bacon bacon bacon!’.
There are less common dialects that have other translations but the above probably covers most likely possibilities.
@mcanavino
Dogwood, duh…
those folks that “don’t do Christmas” (or Hanukah or Kwanza or Festivus or…)
Nobody - my family agreed several years ago to stop officially exchanging presents; we’ve all got way too much stuff. It’s been very freeing! Some gifts are usually given anyway - my sister and I just can’t resist giving stuff that we find if we know someone will like it, but then it’s spontaneous and a surprise, so a lot more fun.
Yeah, at some point they have to admit that we’re not the “kids” anymore. Now that the cousin had a baby, maybe we can all spoil the little one.
My dad… it’s IMPOSSIBLE. He buys himself anything he could ever want already, even when it’s the holidays. Even then, it’s like what else does he want other than cool tech stuff? … That he already has… Dad pls.