Hinting for gifts.

I think it may have some advantages when we are making a hint as to what kind of gift do we want to receive. It may also have some disadvantages. Whatever it is, it would be good to really understand the person we are dealing with. Nevertheless, you might as well go buy it yourself rather than expecting someone to give it to you. I usually don't give a hint except if they will ask what kind of gift do I want to receive. The problem is that the one asking may not afford what I want to have or receive. He might be embarrassed.

Sometimes husbands and other family members don't have a clue, even if you draw them a picture and a road map of how to get what you want at Christmas. I would just get it myself. Your discussion made me think of my mom and dad one year when they were both alive and well. Mom kept mentioning back in 1988 that she wanted a stereo for Christmas. She mentioned it almost every week from Thanksgiving on. When she got a big box to open, she thought she had her stereo until she opened it. It was a Pyrex Dutch oven baking dish. She said "Shiit" and walked away to her bedroom and cried her eyes out. I ended up buying her one on my next paycheck. My family gives me good gifts. Last year I got a Sony eReader. The year before I got a DVD player/recorder. Anything else I might want during the year I will get for myself.

If I want something I buy it for myself, no hinting necessary. But if I am shopping with somebody and they see me going ape over an item and if they want to buy it form me then I will accept. My good friends know to just take me with them when they shop for me. Then everybody is happy, and I do the same with them. In general I would rather have the perfect gift than a surprise. Last year one of my best friends bought me the greatest pair of shoes and they were on clearance for only $15, but now they would cost $90. I love getting more for less.

I don't have to hint around Bill. He is so great at knowing what to get me. Of course there are times when he does need help, but that isn't too often. What really bothers me is the people who don't bother and don't use their imaginations. My Aunt/Grandmother (that's an interesting story) did that. She would go into the store and grab whatever her eyes lit on and gave it to us. We got size 60 slips, Hello Kitty jewelry sets, and two bottles of cheap cologne. We traveled to Florida to spend Christmas with her and on the way home (we were driving) we gave the jewelry to the girls of one of the motels managers and we came to a nursing home and left the rest there. The nurses were thrilled because there were two really large women who didn't get anything for Christmas and they needed a slip each. The cologne went to two other patients who didn't get anything. When I know Bill needs suggestions on what I would love for Christmas I write "Santa" a letter. As he was leaving tonight he hinted that he needed hints. So I guess I get out pen and paper again this year and ask Santa for some things. I need quilter's pins again...humm....HEY SANTA!

In my family, everyone asks me what I want-- and they usually get it for me. They also will get me other small things they think I'll like. I also ask everyone what they want, and buy that. This year there will be no presents at all, for anyone, other than the gift card I have gotten for going surveys, and they all know that. I also know I'm not getting anything, but since we won't be together Christmas, it's going to be worse for me not seeing them than getting nothing. If I decide to buy something for myself that I asked for, then I let everyone know I got it myself, so they don't spend the money. I'm always depressed when I actually ask for something and then I don't get it, since I only ask for things on my birthday and Christmas-- never any other time, even my anniversary. Everyone used to just get me things, but with what happened to me, and me not knowing them and they not knowing me, it didn't work out well. A lot of my tastes seem to have changed in Amnesiaville, so after the first birthday and Christmas when it didn't work, the other half and the boys decided that it would work better if we just made Christmas and birthday lists.

Hi G...How the heck are you? It seems like light years since I've talked to you...Hope all is well. I am hardly never home anymore. I'm still executive chef on the boat and it's been one charter after another..Not complaining however..been to so many beautiful islands all throughout the Caribbean cooking with local ingredients and loving every minute of it..The hours are VERY long and depending on how many guests my boss has my day can start at 3am and end around 11pm When we are done, my staff goes to bed and I have to start planning the next days menu, get my orders ready, prepare paperwork for customs and write instructions for staff..Needless to say, I do not get too much sleep. The owner is very good to me and the money keeps me motivated...Anyway, I like your post tonight..For me, when i want something I just go get it..If I tried to drop hints about things, it would go right over his head. I show him what I bought, give him the receipt and say "here is what you got me....thanks so very much" While it is so not romantic, it works for both of us and that is the bottom line, yes?

If you hint on something that is due to the fact that you like it,then you have to do something to acquire it with your own money,that is the most practical way because if you just hint it in your prayers that someone would buy it to give you as a gift,that is totally never to be granted even if you prayed to have it.Remember that not all things are granted by God,yet God knows what is best for you instead of that thing, yet you may not receive that thing but you have a good health and happy life.WE must know how to be contented of what we can afford to buy,not to wish to buy luxurious things we can not afford,that is a different thing to wish.

Hubby and I just like getting money for Christmas. For one thing, we don't need any more posessions. We have everything we need, and anything we want, we can buy ourselves, when we have the money. We like to go on a vacation in December, so what people give us for Christmas is combined into our vacation account, and goes towards our travel plans.

I used to hint around and say thing like "if you are getting me anything for my birthday or Christmas, you could get me one of these" and it never seemed to work out very well. I made lists, used pictures and eventually decided that I would just get what I wanted and now I tell everyone that gift cards are fine. I like it that way because the best sales on everything are after the holidays.

I first tell what I want and then find it on ebay and put it in our watch list and of course my husband didn't realize I have been doing that for years until the day before my birthday this year and so he said, "well too late now" But what about for next time???He'll forget... Then if it is something I really want, I save up for it and if not that important, I forget about it.

Aww, I hope you get what you want GG. I don't know why they're not listening to you. If anything, that would be the simplest way to do the shopping when you KNOW what the person already wants. My kids always ask me and vice versa. Then we all get what we want or need. I needed new pots and pans this year and a vegie chopper. I'm sure they'll get it for me. I do remember years ago when I wanted a blow dryer when they first came out. No one got it for me and that was "all" I wanted. I was very disappointed but didn't show it of course. That's when I exchanged gifts with my sister and her family, but we don't do that anymore. Everyone's too broke to do that.

I hint at things all the time but I don't always 'get' lol. The hardest person to shop for is my Mum because not even SHE knows what she wants. Last year I asked her what she wanted and, straight away, she said, 'that film Meryl Streep is in about Margaret Thatcher.' I knew which film she meant so bought the DVD and Mum watched it a few weeks later and told me she was a bit disappointed. 'It's not your fault,' she said. 'I should've thought a bit more about what I wanted. I went off some review in the paper and that was it.' I'm now dreading asking her what she wants..because I know she won't have a clue. I'd love it if she did! I found out something interesting about the Kindle the other day. I was going to buy one for my brother, Danny and was a bit cheesed off (at the time) when he told Mum he didn't want one after all. Well, now I'm glad because someone working with Mum has ended up selling her new one on ebay as she's a bookworm but doesn't like the Kindle at all as she's 'so used to having a book in my hand.' Mmm, I'm glad I didn't order one out of spite now lol. I've also found out that the screens tend to pack in after the warranty has run out so people have to buy new ones as they can't get the broken ones mended. Basically, Kindles are a money-making scam for Amazon. I'd love to know if the Nooks and other rivals break down in the same way.

I approve of the way you hinting for gifts occasionally,because Usually people who present gifts tend to measure another's corn by one's own bushel.I think the gifts that receivers don't like is a waste of money.However I never hint for gifts,though one that will presents a gift is my son.Perhaps this is just cultural differences.

Hi friend, i am not interested in giving this kind of hints, always i will accept all the gifts which is given with love and care. I don't have more expectations, so i never disappointed with the gifts.

I think the reaso0n hints fall on deaf ears is because none of us are mind readers. I'm afraid that means that you have to be blatant about it GG. Write him a letter explaining everything if you can't be totally up front. This way, both of you will be happy, hopefully.

I seldom hint, I will ask tho, especially if there is something that someone has a talent for and I know they can do it - like Maggiepie drawing me something.

I don't hint, either. If I would like to get something as a gift I am usually asked what I want and I suggest things according to that person's budget. In fact, I keep a list of such things as I think of them. My boys are adults but barely getting by so I have accumulated some very inexpensive things for when they ask me what I want for Christmas or my birthday. I wish people would hint or ask. For instance, my dad and stepmother had just about everything and I would have to listen very closely all year for things they wanted but did not buy for themselves. Now that dad is gone, it's doubly hard to deduce what my stepmother would like for Christmas--but I'll find out!

I won't be getting any gifts this year. We can't afford it. We're going to focus on the kids only, and hopefully we'll have enough to get them a few things.

With Randy I can drop hints until I am blue in the face and he still does not get me what I want. I remember our first Christmas together (2004) I made a list of things I had wanted thinking that he would have picked out one or two items, but he ended up buying me everything I wanted. Never again will I do that. I make a list of things I am buying for the family and a separate list of things I am going to buy Randy. I need to figure out where to hide it so Randy cannot read it.

I never hint for things. If I want something real bad I will get it myself. My standard answer is always the same. I don't want anything.