I look at I stare at the screen and wonder how it came to this. How did I get here? When did I become this person?
But the screen holds no answers. Just my wishlist. My sad, sad wishlist.
How sad? It consists of gift cards, a calendar, a book, a shower curtain and a workout video.
In my defense, the book and calendar are from the hilarious Hyperbole and a Half blogger. And the shower curtain was just a nerdy whim because… Han Solo in Carbonite shower curtain.
But there’s really no excuse for a workout video. I just couldn’t think of much else that I might want, and I’ve topped out of the current video I use.
I suppose I should have seen this nadir coming. For my 36th birthday, I asked my mother-in-law for ankle weights. I was trying to get in shape for FinCon, and I thought they’d help. (They did.) Plus they were an easy, affordable gift that the in-laws could pick up during their monthly trip to Walmart.
I really thought that was as bad as I could get. Apparently, I was wrong.
I mean, last year I asked for a new wallet — but I at least had the decency to make it a Doctor Who one. I looked through Think Geek this year, but other than the shower curtain, I didn’t find anything that spoke to me.
This isn’t the first time I’ve had trouble with a wish list. And the restrictions I have don’t really help either.
Neither Tim nor his parents like to shop online. Tim worries that the package will come and I’ll accidentally open it. Not to mention that, even with his medication, he can have trouble staying on task on the Internet.
Which means I have to stick to things I know are in stores. I try to stick to things at Walmart for the in-laws. With Tim, it has to be some place he can get to with relative ease — even in the true crush of holiday shopping. He prefers to shop only a few days before Christmas, lest he spend days trying to give me the presents early.
It doesn’t leave me a lot of wiggle room and with not a lot of things I really need.
We don’t go out much, and I work at home. So I don’t really need clothing or jewelry.Tim got me a lovely purse last year, so I’m set on that. One of my old hoodies is dying, but last year I bought an awesome Nightmare Before Christmas cardigan (like this one, but black and gray).
So I guess I guess that leaves me with… gift cards and workout videos.
Don’t get me wrong. Gift cards are awesome. The Sephora ones Mom gets me help me afford my overpriced hair goop, and/or the occasional makeup indulgence. But unwrapping a gift card is a little anti-climactic.
Still, it’s nice to have at least one or two actual presents — not the promise of one — in your hands on Christmas day. Something you can enjoy then and there rather than once the stores open back up.
That’s just a lot easier for the would-be gift givers to get if you actually, ya know, want stuff. Besides a calendar or exercise video.
Do you guys struggle to come up with your wish lists? What items are you hoping for this year?
PS. After some perusing, I did find one other potential item. Our current bathrobe is starting to unravel, so this Doctor Who robe might be good. I have to check it out in store first, though.
Practical Parsimony says
You could always take the inlaws to WM and show them what you want. At your/my age, surprises are not so important. Maybe you could assist them in the online shopping.
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Abigail says
I’ll send them the link, which only has items available at Walmart. That’s as far as the handholding goes, as far as I’m concerned.
Practical Parsimony says
OH! I have wondered where your comments about them were. I had no computer for three months. My library does not allow reading blogs.
Practical Parsimony recently posted…Crying All Night
Abigail says
Ouch, sorry to hear that. I hope you found a good deal on a new one.
Hannah says
I want a waffle iron. I’ve told my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, and my husband (the only people who might buy actual gifts for me). Everything else is either too expensive or so specific that I would prefer to buy it myself.
I love Hyperbole and a half though!
Abigail says
Yeah, the items that I could probably come up with tend to be pricier. I’m not comfortable asking for them in general. They’re things I’ll buy with my fun money if I really want them. I hope you make some tasty waffles Christmas morning!
Kristin says
http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/huik/
Death Star Waffle maker. This might be under our tree this year.
Abigail says
Always awesome. Make sure you use cash back sites!
K says
Haha, this year my mom surprised me, in October, with the news that she is getting me a sewing machine for Christmas. She then asked me to buy it with my Target card to save the extra 5%. The woman cannot keep a secret.
Abigail says
Wow, this may be my new favorite story. Tell the lady to sign up for her own darn card! But I guess now you can stock up on fabric or patterns and use your present the same day you get it. So… yay?
Tiffany says
Honestly, I prefer money. But, I can never get my mom to give me money. She said it would be horrible and tells me a story about one of her co-workers giving her kids money and how it was a bad Christmas, because nothing was under the tree.
I would prefer to buy my own clothes; especially with jeans. This is the first year that I’ve bought jeans in about 3 years, and it’s been hard to find ones that I like. I always fall back on towels, books, or something like that if I have to. This year, a Crockpot.
I always give my brothers money. A few years ago, I made fortune cookies and hid the money in them along with fortunes. Not all cookies had money, though; some had a picture of the Grinch or the like. Last year, I put money in balloons and made them pop balloons to get their money–not all balloons had money, either. Giving money doesn’t have to be in a boring old card. This year, I know what I’m doing, but I’m not sure how to do it yet.
Abigail says
Wow, that’s awesome. Elaborate, but awesome!
Mandy says
I’m never at a shortage of items because books. Some I’ve already read and want my own copy to reread at my leisure. Some I can’t find at the library. Books are an easy one for me.
I did find myself asking for PENS last Christmas. I like Pilot pens, and I sent the exact info to my brother. Low cost and practical, yet I will nerd out over them:)
It is a good position to be in, I think. Nothing needed, not a lot desired. That’s a frugal living victory, for sure!
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Abigail says
I have to admit pens are a new one on me. But if that’s what you wanted, I suppose. I get a ton of them at FinCon, so I’m always set on that front. One year at my request, Tim got me a bunch of Terry Pratchett books, but he hates how quickly I go through them all. It’s as though the gift doesn’t last, I guess. Plus I generally try to avoid owning most books I read. I don’t like the clutter, and once I have a book, I have a very hard time getting rid of it.
Tina in NJ says
Fun fact:when Terry Pratchett was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, she used a sword that he had forged himself. From a meteorite. Totally awesome.
Abigail says
OMG that’s amazing!
The Roamer says
Same here once its in the house it’s supper hard to let go… Specifically books.
I do have a hard time thinking of things to ask for… But giving gifts is just as hard as I see no real value in the exchange. Plus I very much dislike the fanfare of opening gifts in front of people..
This year I have mentioned 2 books though like you I have. Bunch from FinCon. But what I really want is not something you can put under a tree.
I want a rock climbing punch card or gym membership and it would also be nice to be gifted consistent time off so that I can go.
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Abigail says
Those sound like great, healthy and clutter-free gifts. I’m guessing the consistent time off would be the hardest to fulfill.
Donna Freedman says
I understand about the pens. Last year I asked for mechanical pencils after seeing them as a loss leader during the school supply sale in August: 10 cents per box. They’re great for doing crossword puzzles while on the road because you don’t have to sharpen them.
I received four boxes of the things and am set for quite a while. They were exactly what I wanted and was a nice boost to the giver’s holiday budget because 40 cents.
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Kara @ The Daily Whisk says
Sometimes I struggle to come up with things I really need/want vs. just things…
This year I’m asking for a nice pair of slippers! 🙂
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Abigail says
Slippers are always a good gift. Except for me. My feet always get too hot. I’d rather have cold feet because then I can just tuck them up under me. I’m strange.
SherryH says
I don’t know – the older I get, the less I want and the less I need that I haven’t already bought. My request for Christmas gifts this year is that they be either useful, like slippers (but I’m picky!) or consumable, like a small basket of snacks. KIVA gift cards would be awesome, and I’d love to support some author friends on Amazon.
I don’t think it’s shameful not to have much on your wishlist!
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Abigail says
It’s more about the low number of items on my list — and the sadness of the individual items. Slippers are totally a go-to Christmas present, so I think you’re normal there. And snack baskets or whatever sound awesome!
Cat@BudgetBlonde says
I’ve had trouble putting together a wishlist in past years too. I generally ask for things I want or need but haven’t bought for myself yet. This means I don’t have to pay for them out of my monthly budget, which is good I guess. 🙂
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Abigail says
Yep, anything that shaves off the budget is nice. It just gets depressing when you ask for too many mundane items. Or at least it bothers me anyway. I suppose in the end, though, gifts are generally just things you wanted to get anyway.
middle class says
I’m really bad with wish lists because I am picky and like to buy stuff myself. I bought my own Birthday/Christmas gift this year.
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Abigail says
Haha, well I guess whatever works. At least you know you’ll love it!
Our Next Life says
We can totally relate to this! There’s just no “stuff” we want — last year I literally asked for natural cleaning products, because that was the only thing we remotely needed. Talk about boring gifts!
BUT, we learned about the So Kind registry, and we’ve gotten the whole family to sign on this year. It encourages gifts of experience and secondhand items, so now we’re asking for a lot of experiences we’ll enjoy — a round of bowling, movie tickets, a nice dinner out, a coffee gift card. I highly recommend it!
Our Next Life recently posted…Finding Your Kindling // Lighting Your FIRE with Contagious Flames
Abigail says
Yep, experiences vs clutter can be awfully nice. I’m just trying to think of one or two actual items to be under the tree that aren’t GCs.
Bryan @ Just One More Year says
We exchange very few gifts in our family for Christmas. My wife and I will go out to a nice dinner instead of giving each other gifts.
For the few gifts we do receive, they are typically some cash and gift cards. This works fine for us since we feel we have everything we need in our household and it would be difficult for anyone to buy something for us.
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Abigail says
That sounds nice. But I still like putting stuff under the tree. The tradition of it, I guess. The nice thing is that Tim’s ADD means he’ll forget exactly what I’ve agreed to buy him. So there’s always some surprise still involved.
JoeTaxpayer says
As I get older, what I really want has gone down quite a bit. I was looking forward to the new Star Wars movie and when I saw tickets were already on sale, my wife told me to get tickets to the Thursday night show. So December 17th it is. 10:45 PM.
That’s enough for me for a year. Unless they added a Jar-Jar Binks type character. Then, I’ll just want those 2 hours back.
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Abigail says
Tim’s looking forward to it, but we’re still not sure whether we’re going out of town for his birthday (December 19th). So early tickets weren’t an option. And here’s a funny video that (almost) changed my view of Jar Jar. https://youtu.be/2Z7jq1uCnNU
Mrs. FI says
I’m in the same boat as Cat. I almost always have a few things that we need around the house that I just hadn’t gotten around to buying yet because I was waiting to buy such and such thing with a gift card or some kind of coupon in the future. And call me weird but I get much more excited when I see a gift card then an actual gift for me under the tree. Why? Because I know I’ll take that gift card and use the crap out of it on some seriously good deals 😉 Good luck with your list! It’s looking better than mine!
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Abigail says
That’s a good point about gift cards! Hadn’t thought of that. I feel weird asking for stuff around the house in general. But I think I need to make my peace with it. Even if Tim would get even more out of the Han Solo curtain than I would. I’d just be psyched that we found something nerdy AND silver. I’d wanted something gray/silver from the get-go but settled for an affordable thing at Big Lots.
kay ~ the barefoot minimalist says
Ah, the stress and awkwardness of gift giving. I’m so glad we opted out a long, long time ago. The holidays are so serene now. I wake up on Christmas morning and wish Jesus a VERY Happy Birthday. And then just relax and enjoy it with Him. 🙂
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Abigail says
That sounds like a lovely way to spend the day!
Emily @ JohnJaneDoe says
I will think for weeks to come up with 4 or 5 items I can put on a list that aren’t gift cards. My kid has circled 60% of the Toys R Us pre-Christmas mailing as her list. It was so much easier when I was a little kid and didn’t have to worry about what was affordable or reasonable to ask for (or would fit in the house for that matter)
Good suggestion to do a quick browse through Think Geek though. Jon’s usually willing to indulge my love of Doctor Who and the Whedonverse, so that might generate an idea or 2.
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Abigail says
Yeah, kids (or adults with ADD) tend to be really easy to shop for, I find. And tell Jon to make sure he shops Think Geek through cash back to do his wife proud.
Donna Freedman says
How about a nice batch of peanut butter cookies with Hershey’s Kisses on them? That would definitely be an “experience” gift.
Know what you mean about “what do I really NEED, anyway?” syndrome. DF and I have decided that since we subscribe to the symphony and the opera, the only gifts we’ll give on Christmas will be symbolic and/or have a stirring tale of thrift attached. Not to get too specific, but the FinCon expo hall was a big help this year.
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Abigail says
Yes, the stirring tales of thrift seems like fun. Since Tim isn’t all that great at shopping sales and his parents don’t shop many places, it’s not really something we can do. And yes, I suppose I could be forced to break my streak for some peanut butter drop cookies.
Teresa says
When my sisters and I got to the point we were just exchanging B&N gift cards for birthdays and Christmas, and the family grew exponentially, we realized that none of us really needed anything, so we quite buying birthday gifts at all and started drawing names for Christmas. So I buy and receive just one gift every year — and even then it’s hard to come up with a list, and my list is truly mundane.
When I had a significant other, some years we exchanged gifts and some years we did not. It depended on the budget. Some years we traveled instead or bought something for the house.
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Abigail says
Traveling would definitely be a nice gift in and of itself. And I’m just glad to know that I’m not the only one who’s so damn hard to shop for!
Linda says
My DS has 4 kids and 2 grandchildren. She goes waaaay over the top for Christmas. The last time I was there for the gift opening, I’m sure she had spent at least $2500 on gifts for her hubby, kids, SIL and grandkids. I could not take it any more as she was giving me next to nothing. I opted out of going to her gift openings. I can’t deal with Santa still coming for kids in their 30’s, complete with giant stockings.
We agreed to stop exchanging gifts. Only person I buy for now is my 91 year old father and he loves a gift card to Dairy Queen, where he eats lunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Last year’s Christmas haul of gift cards, following by the ones for his January birthday, kept him not having to buy his own lunch until early June.
So gift cards are great for him and I do the bah humbug bit for everybody else except for the cat. 😀
Abigail says
Haha, nothing wrong with a little carefully chosen bah-humbugdom. And I think that much excessive gift giving would exhaust me. My mom is pretty generous with gifts, but that’s mainly because she saves up rewards points. I don’t feel bad that she spent a bunch of money on us. Just some money.
carrie says
I’ve never been good at asking for stuff. My mom is a GREAT gift-giver. She pays attention – comes up with stuff when you didn’t even realize you were giving hints! My in-laws operate differently. You tell them what you want and you get it. Sometimes a month before Christmas. They aren’t into surprises as much, but they are older so they can do without the hassle.
I have my go-to gifts – things that people always know I love… candles, bath & body works. This year I really want Barnes & Noble gift cards – but I am NOT into books (oh how I wish I was!). I started a new job at a university and the bookstore is Barnes & Noble. I desperately need more school-branded gear so gift cards would be nice.
This is completely random, but this year I’m going to ask for a fresh Satin Hands set from Mary Kay. If you ever get dry hands, this is the ultimate treatment. Last year I saw they have pomegranate. So yummy. Oh, and Thirty-One bags are fund. I have three. They are our grocery bags. And they’re really cute. And I got to spend the weekend with my parents, and my mom was asking (because she doubts her perceptiveness across the miles) – I said I would like to dabble in essential oils and a diffuser and i think hubby would like a water pik (so he can floss the lazy man’s way).
But otherwise, it’s HARD. We don’t really need anything. :/
Abigail says
Yeah, I don’t wear many scents, and I get nervous about having candles just burning. Plus the scent is rarely great for Tim’s asthma. He refuses to step foot inside a Body Shop for example. It must be nice to have people who can read your present-wanting mind. Failing that, though, at least my relatives want to make sure it’s something I really want rather than stuff that will clutter up the place.
Kate says
I am AWFUL at coming up with gift lists anymore. Pretty much since I graduated college I buy anything I want (within reason, obviously) when I want it throughout the year. The last few months have been tight on the budget while we save for a house down payment, so I had a couple of ideas (things I refused to buy while saving) – a $20 contraption to hold my iPhone to the car vents (so I can use it as a GPS without having to look down at my lap) and biodegradable straws to encourage green smoothie drinking. It’s a pretty sad list, but those are the only things I’ve been able to come up with. ::shrug:: The husband is TOO good at coming up with Christmas lists. He didn’t experience real Christmas as a child, so he’s making up for it as an adult. I’m happy to indulge. 🙂
Abigail says
Yeah, Tim always has wants. It makes him easy to shop for — though I always end up wanting to buy him more off his list — which makes me look even worse in comparison. If I were more into video games maybe I’d have something like that on the list. But I still have some from a couple of Christmases ago that I haven’t finished.
Tina in NJ says
My list is usually very specific, which drives my SIL nuts. She does Black Friday as a contact sport! Hubby doesn’t want anything, and DS keeps giving me wallets! Last year, DD gave me a vase, but it was only a couple of inches tall! From the picture, we both thought it was much bigger! My siblings and I make donations instead of giving gifts. We don’t need more clutter, and there’s always someone with very real needs to be found.
Abigail says
Donations are always nice, especially for extended family who might know even less what to get you. And apparently you can donate some very gently used wallets too!
Tina in NJ says
Yeah, but you have to actually use what your kid gets you. It’s a mommy rule. If they get you a putrid green hat, you gotta wear it!
May says
Hubby and I no longer exchange gifts. I still get things from my parents – gift cards mostly and socks and underwear, PJ’s, kitchen gadgets – those sorts of things. It is difficult because if I really want or need something – I go buy it and I am picky about just about everything so I am hard to buy for. Really I would rather not exchange gifts and just spend time together….
Abigail says
Well, Tim and I definitely have the “spending time together” thing down. So presents are always nice. But I know what you mean about wanting an exact thing. It can make us tough to shop for.
EL @ Moneywatch101 says
I wish list is 5K in stocks from 5 different dividend paying companies. Sounds boring but that’s what I really want, and since wife wont buy it for me, I guess Ill settle with a gift card to my favorite BBQ joint.
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carrie says
HA!
Revanche says
That’s not boring! I forgot, I have been gifting PiC with a picture of our latest dividend stock purchase and the image of our retirement. It’s a present for both of us.
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Abigail says
Hahaha, that’s awesome. I don’t think Tim would appreciate a picture of a new set of dentures though…
Abigail says
Well, to be fair I don’t think I’d buy my husband $5,000 in anything, even investments. So I guess you better enjoy that BBQ!
Shirria says
I’d like a nice sweat suite, that could come from children’s department to save money, some running shoes, Asics to be specific, full bed day.
I ask for the bed day often but never really get a whole day in the bed, no clothes, food delivered, with absolutely no reason to get out.
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Abigail says
That does sound like a good day. Though if you don’t have any clothes and are in bed, how do you greet the delivery guy?
Revanche says
Maybe it’s my Asian roots but I’ve never found cash to be boring in the least. We dress it up with a pretty envelope but the innards are the best! 😉
My wish list only has a few books on it, and e-books at that because I’ve run out of shelf space. That and an expensive bag that I don’t actually need, I just like to mentally pet. So I’m right there with you! PiC and I don’t do gifts anymore either so that’s a nice non-stressor. Sometimes it seems like it’d be nice to open a wrapped gift or two but my boring self would rather have the gift of time to just sit on the sofa and veg or watch a movie together in peace. The standards, oh how they have dropped.
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Abigail says
I think once you have a lil ‘un running around, “peace” becomes the gold standard. I always work on Christmas — might as well paid for work on a day with very little actual work to do. But since it’s so quiet, we can still veg and watch stuff for the most part.
Revanche says
I kind of miss that, a little bit. Now that I don’t punch a clock, it feels like it’s not worth working the holiday since it’s not like I get paid any differently or get overtime.
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Abigail says
I don’t get paid a higher rate, but it’s pretty quiet that day. And it’s not as though we have a ton of activities or any travel. So might as well get paid.
Kristi @ Femme Frugality says
I can totally relate. I have a hard time come up with a list of wants. I usually just ask for something we genuinely need. I’m pretty boring during the holidays.
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Abigail says
Yeah, I should probably give up and just find things I need around the house. Tim hates that, though, because he doesn’t count that as an actual gift. Hence the difficulty.
Lance @ Healthy Wealthy Income says
I just can’t think of anything new. I pretty much have everything I need so I just told my wife to count our vacation to Hawaii in June as my Christmas present. I thought she would fight back and say, “that doesn’t count,” but she said, “Awesome, done!” No reason to just get something to get something because of the time of the year. I’ll wait until I truly can come up with something I need. Ugh….so boring.
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Abigail says
That does seem like a good present. And the worse Christmastime shopping gets, the more I think people are relieved to avoid presents or at least shop online.
Prudence Debtfree says
I don’t think of your wish-list as a problem at all! It’s great that you can’t think of what you want. It means you probably have it already. The marketing machines out there want to instill a sense of dissatisfaction in you so that you’ll want more and more and more. Somehow, you have become impervious to their efforts. That’s a victory in my eyes.
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Abigail says
That’s a great way to look at it. It just sucks when it frustrates the people in your life who want to show appreciation. Which I guess is why GCs to places you already go is a go-to for people like me. Eventually, I’ll run out of my overpriced shampoo, and a Sephora GC will mean that I can get more without feeling guilty.
Impossible Girl says
AMAZON!!!! Seriously, if you pressure me a month before Xmas for a list, you will get nothing but frustrated sighs… maybe some stores for gift cards but I can never think of things when I am asked. So I have started, throughout the year, if I see something I want on Amazon but don’t need right away, I will file it to a wish list. Soooo, easy, I can just forward that list to all my family and friends. Sometimes, there will be something on there that I don’t even remember and it really will be a surprise.
Also my BFF owns that shower curtain and his favorite thing to do is the whole “I love you, I know” thing with his wife as he is getting in the shower and then dramatically close the curtain while making the “freezing Carbonite” sound. I’m sure he’d be cool (heh) with you stealing that tradition…
Abigail says
I have an Amazon wish list, but it only has that sad stuff on there. You’re right, though, that I just need to add to it throughout the year. I reinstalled the button on my browser, which should help.
Your BFF sounds pretty hilarious. I had actually already shown Tim rings that say “I love you” and “I know.” I told him that I found our next anniversary gifts.
Brock @cleverdude.com says
I’m not a fan of wishlists…..people buying me gifts should be in my life such that they don’t need a wishlist from me, they know what I like, what I do, and find an appropriate gift. If someone has to ask me what I would like for birthday/christmas/whatever, then we don’t have the kind of relationship that warrants them buying me a present.
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Abigail says
Yeah, that’s my ideal too. But these days everyone wants to make sure they know what I want or what kinds of stuff. I think my mom checks in because she uses credit card points and Swagbucks to buy a lot of presents. So she needs to make sure she’s cashing in at the right stores — either to give gift cards or to buy items I want.
heidi says
My birthday is in three weeks and I have no ideas. I asked Hubby to replace the batteries in two of my Swatches (yes, Swatches) and when he complained that wasn’t much of a gift I told him to wrap them up after he had the batteries replaced.
I want nothing. I need even less. No, I take that back – I want someone to buy our house but that’s not going to happen in December in Pittsburgh. I keep trying to tell my parents I want nothing but would like to do stuff with them. They don’t listen, but I want memories more than things anymore.
Abigail says
I tell Tim not to buy me stuff for my birthday. I’d rather just go out and have a nice day out with him. And I’m pretty sure Swatches are making a comeback. I swear I saw that (or at least a reference to Swatch) somewhere.
DC @ Young Adult Money says
First of all, congrats on all the comments on this post! It’s impressive for any blog to get more than 50 these days without putting in a lot of effort, so kudos to you. There’s quite a few things I want but most of it is house stuff that isn’t exactly cheap. It makes it difficult to ask for gifts and I don’t like exchanging gifts for insane amounts of money. My wife and I really want a DSLR (okay she wants one and I want her to have one, she would be the one using it!) but it’s not something you ask for haha. Like I said, most of what I want is house stuff that really isn’t affordable.
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Tina in NJ says
When I was first on my own, I asked for money toward a big gift, a fancy sewing machine. Still have it 20years later.
I do think this topic struck a cord with a lot of people.
Abigail says
Yeah, apparently it did! It’s always great when a present is a) so useful and b) so long-lived. And if I were saving toward some big item, I’d totally ask for that. But for right now, I’ve got plenty of fun money in my account.
Abigail says
Yeah, I’m a little shocked by the number of comments too. (Though half of them are my responses of course.) And yeah, it seems like the trouble with frugal people is that the only items we don’t buy for ourselves are the ones we don’t want to pay so much for. And therefore wouldn’t ask others to pay for either. I guess you could ask for Best Buy (or wherever) gift cards to help you save up toward a DSLR?
Kalie @ Pretend to Be Poor says
Wow, this is a lot of comments! I too have trouble with the wish list, and have requested and received some really boring stuff for Christmas. I often joke about how boring I must be if I’m asking for things like a meat thermometer and cloth napkins. But when you decide to put a cap on your lifestyle, you realize how much you don’t need, and I don’t want to ask others to buy overpriced stuff that I could get used, or books I could get at the library. So I’m with you!
Kalie @ Pretend to Be Poor recently posted…Is Minimalism the New Materialism?
Abigail says
That’s a good way to look at it. Whenever I ask for books or music, I always make a note that used is fine. Not that anyone seems to pay attention to that detail.
Kat says
I have been told by many friends and family members that I am hard to shop for. I don’t like a lot of clutter, and I’m pretty particular about what I do let stay in my space. Between that, my habit of preordering books as soon as they’re announced, and having everything I could ever use in my kitchen? I don’t tend to have a lot of stuff I want/need. There have been a few work around a that have been established over the years.
– Since I was a toddler, my mother has been giving me these little porcelain boxes that are really just little bits of whimsy. She thought she would taper off giving them as gifts in my teen years, but it’s a really reliable gift. Since they’re usually about the size of a nickel or quarter, they don’t take up a lot of room.
– Special editions/first editions/annotated anthologies- this is something my fiancé started, and it’s really special to me. A few years ago, he surprised me with the complete run of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman comic. This was a favorite of mine, and that he had remembered that and found a way to turn it into a gift was just really touching,
– Ancient Egyptian stuff- books, prints of the famous photographs of the Tut items, my favorite messenger bag (12 years, looks like new, it will probably make it into my will), and a few pieces of jewelry. It’s a reliable go to gift. As are similar things regarding the imperial eggs, Chihuly, and various other museum collections. A print can be as little as $5, but it’s something fun that I love. I actually end up rotating the art on the walls depending on my mood due to this.
Abigail says
Those all sound like pretty cool/fun items. Tim actually bought the two-volume Sandman Omnibus last year. It’s gorgeous, despite being incredibly heavy. I still need to read volume 2, as Tim reminds me quite often.