What I want for Christmas is...?

Well, yes, Christmas is about love, and it is the thought that counts, but say you get a make-up kit for Christmas that you cannot use because you are allergic to that kind of make-up (this has actually happened to me), what do you do? I think that list of things that you want is a good thing because this way, you don't end up with something that you really cannot use. Call it a consideration idea.

I pass some of the gifts I receive. A friend of mine always brings me a blouse when she goes to other places. Sometimes the blouses are beautiful, sometimes they have nothing to do with what I use or like. I have another friend who likes exactly those blouses. She is welcome to them

Okay, so you know the feeling then?

Okay, I kind of thought that people would get this, but it's looking like most people don't. Okay, I know that people are supposed to just accept the gift, and be happy that they got it, but let's facts, not everyone is happy with what they receive. In the past, I have gotten things for people that they didn't like and or want, and they expressed exactly how they felt about getting that gift. My step-father being one of these people. There were several times where I got him something that I though he would love, and he didn't like it at all. Told me that he just couldn't use it, so from that moment on, I asked him what he wanted, and once I knew what he wanted, I never heard a complaint again. You might be the kind of person who is happy with whatever you get, but there are people out there who aren't that way. When it comes to Christmas and that holidays in general, I want it to be pleasant for everyone.

I definitely DO get what you're saying, and I think it's very sad. It shows that there are many many people who have lost or never got that there is a deeper meaning behind Christmas and to them it's all about what they get instead of about appreciating the intention of the givers and celebrating our Lord's birth.

Okay, I think that most people get the meaning of Christmas, which actually is a Pagan holiday, not Christian, and people try to be nice and kind and they do say "thank you" and sound appreciative for the gifts they receive. I can understand if someone doesn't have enough money or no money at all, I get that, and in that case, I know it's just the thought that counts, but when you have relatives who do have money and every year they manage to strike out on the gifts, it's as if they have no clue who you are. Yeah, they see you and they know you exist, but it's like they never talk to you or get to know you. I have gotten several gifts from many of my family members that I am allergic to, this includes make-up, clothes, jewelry, and you name it. It's as if they didn't even care to ask: "Hey, can I get this for you for Christmas because I know you have allergies and I don't know if this would be okay for you to use?" I actually was nice and kind enough to ask people what they wanted this year, even though it now turns out that I might not have the money to buy anyone gifts this year. I care that much to get people what they want because I would expect that they would care as well.

secretbear is here! How are you? I haven't seen you for awhile. Yes, I think that this happens to many people, and I am trying to prevent this from happening to more people. I am trying to make sure that people actually do get what they want because we all know the feeling of not getting what we want. Yeah, an iPhone is pretty expensive. That is something that you are going to want to save up for, or hope that luck will come your way on that one. Honestly, I am not asking for much because I know that times are hard, that's why I tell people to give me gift cards, and I love shop at different places, but since I do have three cats, if they give me Target or PetSmart gift cards, those highly appreciated because I always have to buy them food.

I also want to make sure that I give what people want. But it's hard to choose gifts especially if you can't ask the person because you want it to be a surprise and you don't know much about the person. We had another Christmas party and I had to give a gift to someone I just recently became good friends with but I don't know much about him except that he loves his girlfriend a lot. I wanted to surprise him with a nice gift but any of my co-workers could not give me any idea, too. I ended up giving him a leather coin purse and I could not ask him if he liked it.

Oh, okay, but still, her gifts don't seem to have much meaning because she didn't ask what people would want or like for Christmas. How often do you see the cousin of your aunt? Is this a person who visits often, or who you just talk to online or on the phone? The relatives who live close by or who visit often tend to know you better and know what you like. Take my aunt for example, she comes over at least twice a year, and she talks to us often, but that's enough for her to know what generally like, and for my birthday she got me a JCPenny's gift card. Now this was great because I needed warmer socks because feet get cold easily, so she knew I would need that because she knows me. I also know that she likes to shop at JCPenny's, Target, and Bed, Bath and Beyond because she loves to decorate her house. She also love See's Candy because she doesn't get it where she's from. My grandmother loves Michael's and JoAnn's Fabric store because she makes knitted blankets and she always needs the yarn for her blankets. My mother loves the color blue, the Clippers (I still can't believe she likes this horrible basketball team), JCPenny's (there clothes just seem to fit everyone, and they have a lot to choose from), and she likes PetSmart because she likes shopping for her boy, Lucky. Wow, I just covered 1/10th of my list right there.

Yeah, with your aunt sending you that box of stuff that she doesn't want, that can be taken as an insult because it's as if she just didn't care to ask you what your children are into. My grandmother makes knitted blankets, and she always ask people what color would you like your blanket to be and how big would you want it to be. She made several of my friends, family members and myself these knitted blankets and it always looks like it was done by a professional. Also, they are super warm. I always like getting those blankets from her because it can get really cold at my place at night, so those blankets come in handy. You didn't finish part of that "Sadly we are in the ________", but I think I get what you are trying to say... I want to get my family members what they want for Christmas and I am trying to make this a great Christmas for everyone because this might be the last year that my step-father and grandmother will be alive. Both of them are ill, and I want the holidays to be as nice as possible for everyone, but I don't know if I will have the money for it this year because of the news that I received last night. I am hoping that things turn around before Christmas, but at this point, I am beginning to wonder?

It was the Cousin of my Aunt not my Aunt. I think she thinks she's being helpful in sharing her good fortune, which she is but not asking what they need or like.... leaves her gifts hit or miss. I ment to finish it and say something about being in the same boat as last year. I don't know seems lately bad news comes hand in hand with some sort of good news but still not as good as I wish it would be. It's just hard this time of year holidays and heating bills ontop of regular bills and my hours will get cut next month so what's a girl to do? Wait and pray on the tax refund.

Good one, and I'm sure that if any friends and family are reading this that they will see that this is what you want, and that this is all that you want.

Well, that's great that you aren't a material person, and you really don't care what you get for Christmas, but what about your family? What do they want for Christmas? Are they like you and they don't care what they get? Do they care a little? What happens if you do get that one person who wasn't happy with what they got and they felt like you didn't care or bother to ask them what they wanted?

See, there's always one. There is always that one person that isn't happy.

Other family members are also not materialistic except for my brother.He always tells me what he wants to have during Christmas or his birthday. Others know that i will give them expensive ones if i have money but cheaper if i have less. :-)

That's great, but say you do get that gift that, well, you can't do anything with, what do you do with? I'm just thinking that if others know what we want it can eliminate return lines a little bit and re-gifting.

Actually, gift cards are a very good idea. I highly recommend gift cards, and they aren't impersonal if it is to a place that that person likes to go to.

Exactly, buying gifts cost money, and if you know what that person wants, it's makes life and shopping for that person a little easier. I cam up with this because with how hectic the holidays are nowadays, I would like to make it as easy as possible and eliminate the need to go to return lines, sell the thing online or somewhere else, or re-gift it. You can also donate it to charity, that's great too. The thing is it really does make the holidays easier on everyone when everyone knows what everyone wants.

It's not being ungrateful because I am not ungrateful for the gifts I get, but I have a lot of health problems, and my skin is a major problem. There are actually some clothes and some cosmetics that I cannot use because it makes my skin break out, and so many of my friends will forget this. Also, I have a step-father who complains whenever people get him things that he doesn't like or cannot use, so I have taken the liberty of asking what he wants for Christmas to prevent this from happening. You can say that it's ungrateful, but face it, I'm sure that you've gotten gifts that you could use or that didn't really want, and you weren't sure what to do with them, and you were wishing that someone knew what you wanted?

Okay, pawning then and giving them to Charity is a good thing, and I have done that myself too, I have also sold them to other people or returned them to the place where they bought it from. I agree with you, that people should know the person well enough to know what they want, or have the decency to ask. I actually ask people what they want because I want to make sure that I know what to get them so that they don't have to return it, and we all know how those return lines can be.

Okay, so what would make your family happy? Everyone is together, that's great, but what do they want that you can give them, and what would you like them to get you if they can? Again, I have been coming up with this to eliminate the guessing game that goes on at Christmas. The "I don't know what to get my relative" guessing game or the "well, it's the thought that counts, but boy, would I have loved to have had this..." See what I mean? Every Christmas this happens. People get things for others, but they are just guessing, they really don't know what to get that person, and it can make shopping difficult, and it can make things impersonal for the people you are shopping for.