Deleted
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May 19, 2024 20:05:53 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2015 13:52:36 GMT
I had an aunt as a kid that I only saw a few times a year. She would buy a couple of gifts for me and my cousin (not her child) each year and give them to us at her Christmas party. She would always decide the item type that she would give each of us and then asked for a few suggestions. For example- One year it was a record album and a scarf. She would find out a few names of bands that we liked and colors we liked. So it was a surprise, but something we would like.
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grinningcat
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,663
Jun 26, 2014 13:06:35 GMT
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Post by grinningcat on Dec 1, 2015 14:10:47 GMT
My vent is that if you're going to demand a list, then actually USE the list. This is the second year that I've had to do a list for the inlaws... and this year I started thinking of things early on. It's just stuff that I would buy myself anyway, but it's all over the place: from a Cricut to watercolour pencils... and I don't seriously expect the Cricut (I put it on there because I just copied and pasted my list of things I'm watching prices on to my DH and I guess he included it on the list to them). But if last year was any indication, taking the time to actually send the list will be a waste because it won't even be used as a suggestion or a springboard for ideas. Yes, the gifts my MIL gave me last year were lovely, but they were quite generic (I don't fault her, first Christmas and all that) despite the list I had a hard time making (I've never made a Christmas list before) and not even close.
I probably sound selfish, I just don't like wasting my time doing something that they ask for but then they turn around and don't use it.
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grinningcat
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,663
Jun 26, 2014 13:06:35 GMT
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Post by grinningcat on Dec 1, 2015 14:11:07 GMT
I had an aunt as a kid that I only saw a few times a year. She would buy a couple of gifts for me and my cousin (not her child) each year and give them to us at her Christmas party. She would always decide the item type that she would give each of us and then asked for a few suggestions. For example- One year it was a record album and a scarf. She would find out a few names of bands that we liked and colors we liked. So it was a surprise, but something we would like. That's really cool. I like that.
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MsKnit
Pearl Clutcher
RefuPea #1406
Posts: 2,648
Jun 26, 2014 19:06:42 GMT
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Post by MsKnit on Dec 1, 2015 14:28:41 GMT
My darling grandson who is 8 has a request on his wish list - sticks and stones.
Yes, he want various sticks and stones to play with and to try & build & balance & use with his legos.
I think he will be an engineer when he grows up. The temps are still mild, so I will go out on a hike and find some unusual sticks & stones. One year my son asked for 'rocks, sticks, and dirt' for his birthday. His dad gathered up a small container of said request. Plus, the boy also received his first bike and a swing set. We should have saved our money and just given him the rocks, sticks, and dirt, because that was his favorite gift. He didn't give any more than a cursory few pedals and slide once down the slide. LOL! I assure you, your grandson will be thrilled with that gift.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Dec 1, 2015 15:13:39 GMT
I'm always happy that we don't exchange gifts with extended family when I read these type of posts. Are the people you are buying for so out of touch that they are not aware of what kind of budget you are working with. Do they buy you really expensive gifts? Honestly, I would be tempted to just opt out of these types of gift exchanges. In my case with my sister, their family wouldn't get us anything at all but they expected us to spend $75-150 on EACH of their three kids! This was while DH and I were both in college and supporting ourselves. Sorry, but NO. Oh, and I should add, the only gift their family has ever given our DD was a used garage sale Glow Worm doll when she was an infant and nothing since. Nice. Now that our mom is gone, I'm pretty much just done with them.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Dec 1, 2015 15:17:14 GMT
My vent is that if you're going to demand a list, then actually USE the list. This is the second year that I've had to do a list for the inlaws... and this year I started thinking of things early on. It's just stuff that I would buy myself anyway, but it's all over the place: from a Cricut to watercolour pencils... and I don't seriously expect the Cricut (I put it on there because I just copied and pasted my list of things I'm watching prices on to my DH and I guess he included it on the list to them). But if last year was any indication, taking the time to actually send the list will be a waste because it won't even be used as a suggestion or a springboard for ideas. Yes, the gifts my MIL gave me last year were lovely, but they were quite generic (I don't fault her, first Christmas and all that) despite the list I had a hard time making (I've never made a Christmas list before) and not even close. I probably sound selfish, I just don't like wasting my time doing something that they ask for but then they turn around and don't use it. That's frustrating. My MIL would ask for lists too and then never used them. Drove me nuts.
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grinningcat
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,663
Jun 26, 2014 13:06:35 GMT
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Post by grinningcat on Dec 1, 2015 15:18:57 GMT
My vent is that if you're going to demand a list, then actually USE the list. This is the second year that I've had to do a list for the inlaws... and this year I started thinking of things early on. It's just stuff that I would buy myself anyway, but it's all over the place: from a Cricut to watercolour pencils... and I don't seriously expect the Cricut (I put it on there because I just copied and pasted my list of things I'm watching prices on to my DH and I guess he included it on the list to them). But if last year was any indication, taking the time to actually send the list will be a waste because it won't even be used as a suggestion or a springboard for ideas. Yes, the gifts my MIL gave me last year were lovely, but they were quite generic (I don't fault her, first Christmas and all that) despite the list I had a hard time making (I've never made a Christmas list before) and not even close. I probably sound selfish, I just don't like wasting my time doing something that they ask for but then they turn around and don't use it. That's frustrating. My MIL would ask for lists too and then never used them. Drove me nuts. When the whole list request (demand?) came up this year, I got a deer in the headlights look and said "why do we bother?" to DH. Of course we did it, so we'll see. But yes, frustrating. I just don't like wasting my time.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Dec 1, 2015 17:46:28 GMT
Every year when I'm shopping I think about the Peas and how much I would annoy them as the MIL I ask for lists and then don't always follow them exactly. This year my 33 yr old ds asked for a dresser and I got him and his gf a couch instead. It made me laugh and think of the Peas and how they hate it when people - especially MIL's go off list
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grinningcat
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,663
Jun 26, 2014 13:06:35 GMT
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Post by grinningcat on Dec 1, 2015 17:50:49 GMT
Every year when I'm shopping I think about the Peas and how much I would annoy them as the MIL I ask for lists and then don't always follow them exactly. This year my 33 yr old ds asked for a dresser and I got him and his gf a couch instead. It made me laugh and think of the Peas and how they hate it when people - especially MIL's go off list For me, it's not that she goes off list... she can buy whatever she wants. It's that she demands the lists as an idea of what to get me and then turns around and doesn't even use the list as the guide she apparently wanted. It's like why bother? She'll get what she wants with or without the list, why waste my time? My only thought about you buying a couch instead of a dresser is whether or not he has the room or even needs a couch. But again, you can buy whatever you want.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Dec 1, 2015 17:51:46 GMT
That's frustrating. My MIL would ask for lists too and then never used them. Drove me nuts. When the whole list request (demand?) came up this year, I got a deer in the headlights look and said "why do we bother?" to DH. Of course we did it, so we'll see. But yes, frustrating. I just don't like wasting my time. My post is NOT a passive aggressive reply to you two!!! It just happened to be the end of the thread and I posted before reading the whole thing since I'm on my break at work!! I just did think of the Peas as I was going off list. My kids always thank me for what a got even if it's not exactly on their list and they still give me lists with little to no prodding so hopefully it works well in their minds
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Post by gmcwife1 on Dec 1, 2015 17:56:11 GMT
Every year when I'm shopping I think about the Peas and how much I would annoy them as the MIL I ask for lists and then don't always follow them exactly. This year my 33 yr old ds asked for a dresser and I got him and his gf a couch instead. It made me laugh and think of the Peas and how they hate it when people - especially MIL's go off list For me, it's not that she goes off list... she can buy whatever she wants. It's that she demands the lists as an idea of what to get me and then turns around and doesn't even use the list as the guide she apparently wanted. It's like why bother? She'll get what she wants with or without the list, why waste my time? My only thought about you buying a couch instead of a dresser is whether or not he has the room or even needs a couch. But again, you can buy whatever you want. When we bought our house we gave a lot of our oversized furniture to them. They have recently bought a house themselves and I felt bad that their living room was like walking into my old living room. I've wanted to buy them a red couch for a couple of years and this year I found one I liked, had the $$ for and it was on sale for a great price. So everything just fell into place. I will probably get my son a dresser for his birthday in February. And his gf is thrilled with her red couch
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Post by marysue63 on Dec 1, 2015 17:57:18 GMT
I would be thrilled with a list of three items! My steps will only list one thing! This year we had to say no to DSD one item - a $400 Coach purse. Um... no
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grinningcat
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,663
Jun 26, 2014 13:06:35 GMT
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Post by grinningcat on Dec 1, 2015 17:56:59 GMT
For me, it's not that she goes off list... she can buy whatever she wants. It's that she demands the lists as an idea of what to get me and then turns around and doesn't even use the list as the guide she apparently wanted. It's like why bother? She'll get what she wants with or without the list, why waste my time? My only thought about you buying a couch instead of a dresser is whether or not he has the room or even needs a couch. But again, you can buy whatever you want. When we bought our house we gave a lot of our oversized furniture to them. They have recently bought a house themselves and I felt bad that their living room was like walking into my old living room. I've wanted to buy them a red couch for a couple of years and this year I found one I liked, had the $$ for and it was on sale for a great price. So everything just fell into place. I will probably get my son a dresser for his birthday in February. And his gf is thrilled with her red couch Red couches are pretty awesome, I do have to say! That makes sense. It just sounded a little weird to me, but now it makes sense!
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Post by RiverIsis on Dec 1, 2015 18:11:44 GMT
My Wish List vent. My MIL and SIL would demand a Wish List. I would consult with DH and write out a DH list, Me List and an Us list (normally house stuff). They would get him stuff from his list and me stuff from the Us list. I remember getting excited seeing him open stuff from his list and thinking oh yeah, I got stuff from mine. Nope. Oh well, our house was happy!
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happymomma
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,078
Aug 6, 2014 23:57:56 GMT
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Post by happymomma on Dec 1, 2015 18:20:22 GMT
I'm always happy that we don't exchange gifts with extended family when I read these type of posts. Are the people you are buying for so out of touch that they are not aware of what kind of budget you are working with. Do they buy you really expensive gifts? Honestly, I would be tempted to just opt out of these types of gift exchanges. In my case, it's just the way my goofy son is. He knows I won't be getting him those things. It truly is more of a joke. In reality though, when he was growing up, he did get big things for Christmas. His dad and I didn't buy him crap every day of the year so at Christmas we spoiled. He was our only child. Throughout the year, he never asked for much of anything. If he wanted big things, we would have him earn half and buy the rest or work out some kind of deal where he paid off part of it. I know not everyone approves of that but that boy has a work ethic like I have never seen. But at Christmas...we went hog wild! Now at Christmas he knows to ask for the bigger things that he wants but just can't take from his family budget. And I am cool with that, once we get into the reality range.
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The Birdhouse Lady
Drama Llama
Moose. It's what's for dinner.
Posts: 7,175
Location: Alaska -The Last Frontier
Jun 30, 2014 17:15:19 GMT
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Post by The Birdhouse Lady on Dec 1, 2015 19:38:52 GMT
My vent is that your Christmas List is a WISH list not a SHOPPING list. I cannot and will not be expected to buy EVERYTHING on your list.
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