So what is your opinion......

I only buy gifts for people who have a list I can go by. That is one way I do it. If I don't have a list I will buy people things I know they want or use. I never buy anything a person will not like! My mom,sometimes,bought things for people they hated! Like for my dad for example! So I learned long again to be aware of other people's likes and dislikes when it comes to gifts. Wether if it is for a birthday ot for Christmas. With my neices and nephews,I give the younger ones money. Like 5 or 10 dollors each which I know goes in their college funds. This is what I do.

i usually get them what i know they like but if i dont have any idea i ask someones opinion that spends a lot of time with them. this year, its going to have to be just my youngest 3 grandkids cause im pretty broke. hopeing others understand and get them something later.

no one has ever asked me for something, I have often asked friends or family of the person what they think the person would want, or I would get something based on what they would want or go the opposite, I know so and so would never buy this for themselves but it is something they could use and so I buy it.

hi celticeagle thats just way too much and is sort of insulting as it takes the element of surprise away from gift giving.one thing to ask for an idea of what a person might like but not a long list at all.this is the celebration of the birth of Christ and gift giving should be from the heart and not from avarice at all. I can only afford to buy gifts for my son, others will have to do with a Christmas card as I am really pressed for money this year.I will never take lists from anyone.if they do not like what I bought them I leaVE store receipts in so they can exchange it.

I agree with you, I like to know what a person likes. But, I like to be the one who makes the decision of what to get them. With things as difficult as they are with the economy the only ones we get gifts for is my mother-in-law and our 2 grandchildren. We don't even get gifts for each other as we just can't afford it. I like to put together some homemade goodies if I am able for the adult children and there spouses.

Hi celticeagle, I only purchase gifts for the holiday for my daughter, son, and 2 grandsons...and a couple of my friends. But because my grandson are older now(teenagers) its hard to pick things for them...and my friends, I know them well enough to know their taste and style. So I pretty much can but for them also...I think gift giving should be something you want to give the person providing you know them well enough to know their likes and dislike. Happy Holidays.

For the immediate family, mate, children, grand kids, parents, and for my siblings back home we exchange gifts. We do use lists for one another for kids, grand kids and each other. But for my mother (the only parent we both have left) and my siblings there is no list unless I ask them over the phone what they might want. Even the list for the immediate family is only suggestions, not expectations.. though I do have to admit our oldest grand child does her list as expectations from her mom mostly, with us as back up! Past years we did get specific things our kids asked for. We exchange names with our family here in state, which is my sisters in laws and their children and children's children. We began this a few years ago when it just got too expensive for us all to buy for every one of us.

SOme years we just buy for kids my mom and dad got os many in the family with grand kids we drew names now I am jus down to mostly my family BUt I never ask I do the surprize thing if they dont like it I relally dont care as I have gave it to them they can do what ever. This year my one son said cant buy for grandson for he acts like he is to get every thing so I talked son into letting me get a savings bond for him the money grows in 13 years and he will get it then.

Family...and a specific group of friends (like my neighbor of 32 years) I do buy for...but I do tend to listen, throughout the year..for something that they mention they would like to have! But, I also think that it is person specific...as my Mother-in-law (passed) the dearest sweetest soul in the world, would over-run you with gadgets...I think at one time, I had everything that "starfrit" ever made..spilling out of my cupboards! Finally I had to very gently and diplomatically tell her...I was NOT the testing ground for "Starfrit" and other kitchen gadgetry! Memory as sharp as a tack...when she came to visit, she would ask me how I liked the latest item...LOL! So, I could not "re-gift" them either! As they say, it's the thought that counts! Cheers!

I buy gifts for the people closest to me. I haven't been able to buy in the past for friends but I have tried to at least get them cards or something little. I ask my kids for a list so that I could choose out of it but there were times when I didn't need it and knew what they wanted. I bought my b/f a surprise gift once and he hated it! I was a musical instrument that was a bit uncommon. It was a Martin backpacker guitar..it looks like a toy I guess but after he had it a couple of months...he told me he had grown to love it..LOL...I promised from his initial reaction that I would never try to buy him something like that on my own again...and I haven't so far. I love the surprise factor of the whole thing really though.

hi dear celticeagle, the thing I do is copy my Christmas List from the last year cause there I see whom I wrote to and who got which gifts. I do that no later than in August so there is plenty of time to find stuff. Its only small gifts here anyways cause I am the main breadwinner and my husband is disabled. His check covers food and insurances and phone connection basically. I have a list where I jot down ideas during the year and check this plus some flyers from book stores etc. Most of our friends are not in this area here so that means it should be something we can send without problems, like books or calendars or sweets etc. I only ask my husband what he wants for Christmas. See he already has tons of computer games, is well stocked with clothes and the like and as he has developed heart problems and needs to lose more weight I cant give his favorite sweet and savory snacks to him any more. So he gets asked what he wants. By the way wishlists are great. I dont see them as negative as you do. He asked me for a few ideas and noted down these small things I mentioned. He knows he should not go and buy everything on that small list cause I dont want him to be broke, but its still a surprise as I dont know what he will be getting me.

I think giving gift from your heart is the greatest gift they'll received. Even if that thing is not the gift they want, but that was the gift they was supposed to received. Things come according to its destiny.

It's as simple as paying attention when you are with people. A lot of times in casual conversation things come up if you are listening. They might mention a book, utensil, tool, style of shirt, etc that they've been eyeing or wanting. It's a matter of being observant, and you won't need a list.