What Are You Asking for For Christmas?

[doodles44]

What are you asking for for Christmas? Is it rude to ask for cash/gift cards?

I'm asking because family members are asking me what I want for gifts this year, and I'm not sure how to answer. Many of the items I asked for last year, I learned that I can obtain more cheaply than those giving the gifts (books: library or used; clothes: only on sale; candles, body lotions, etc.: don't really buy anymore).

I requested and received cash for my birthday this year and I don't know if it's tacky to ask for it again. I know some people in my family really enjoy shopping for others. I would like to receive cash or gift cards but don't know if I'm being a scrooge! I think I am going to ask for a combination of gifts/gift cards because that is most likely to please everyone.

What does everyone else do?

[rduell]

I asked for clothes from my parents. My mother took me shopping and I picked out what I liked, she bought them, and by the time I unwrap them on Christmas Eve I will have forgotten what I picked out. LOL!

I asked DH to get me the Time Life 70s music collection, a DVD player, mixing bowls, etc. I gave him several items to choose from.

I would really like cash to put into my emergency fund and challenge accounts, but don't know if I'll get that!

[lrjohnson]

I know what you mean, in some areas. I have a strong aversion to new books. Not only are they expensive, but I'm just always nervous about "messing them up." People seem to get me patterned things a lot; I have never liked anything patterned in my kitchcen.

I have a few items that if someone asked, I could offer as a want. Sometimes these are items that aren't actually expensive, but I won't spring for them, like a nice $7 silicon rubber scraper. Look around your house and you might see a few items you might like to replace but won't yet. Pick out a couple of cd's you want, or other items.

If some one asked me for cash they'd be guaranteed to not only get
nothing but to offend me as well. If someone is not doing so well economically I can help buy buying needs more than wants. But to ask for
cash? Just beyond tacky. And if someone is being thrifty, they might be getting you a $20 gift for $3, by shopping exremely well or finding an amazing item at a garage sale. I'd rather have the nice gift that the $3.

So yes, it is rude to ask for cash or gift cards.

[scfr]

The adults in my family all agreed to stop exchanging gifts a couple years back. My husband & I stopped exchanging gifts about 10 years ago, and some people don't understand it but we are really happy to just save our money instead.
My mom still likes to get us gifts, and I asked for a Starbucks gift card since I consider an occasional latte a real indulgence and because we plan to move cross country within the next year and so I am trying to reduce the number of my possesions.

[jodi]

DH thinks my list is too practical: canning supplies, a new pair of bowling shoes, brown dress socks, dress pants for work, a new memory stick for my camera.
But I also have a few indulgences on my list that I would not normally get for myself: really good dark chocolate, g.c. for massage or restaurants (I don't feel inappropriate putting these on my list as they are for "services" that I would not typically buy for myself).
(I would not ask for cash, though,

[rusty@saving]

i would only ask for cash from close family members, like my parents or my wifes parents, no one else.
the other way i look at it is this....i think it is WAY MORE RUDE to get something from someone and exchange it every year for cash. they never see it again, they KNOW you did it, and on top of that, i cannot spend time in the stupid exchange line, i have no patience for it.
i say make everyone happy, if someone wants cash, i will give them cash, no biggie to me, and i would not be offended. now i do not have to fight off the mall crowds....early present for me!!

[Thrifty Ray]

I asked for a blanket for our travel trailer. We always have to cart ours in and out of the house when we go camping. This way we can leave the blanket in the trailer and have it ready when we go.

I love candles and always enjoy those.

The dollar store carries some almond oatmeal soap that I really like!

I asked for my SIL who is a dee-jay to burn me a CD of reggae/carribean type music.

Family pictures.

My DH and I each receive cash from the other....I will use mine to buy a few new clothes.

Now, what I DONT want for Christmas: anything that has to be dusted. Clutter, clutter, clutter.

I am pretty simple and easy to please anymore.

[PrincessPerky]

What are you planning to do with the cash? is it something you can let them do?

I asked for a curtain from my mother, a blanket from my MIL, and a curtain rod from my husband.

All things I want, all things I would not buy myself..all things I think the giver will 'get right'..and if they do not..well mom will never know if I don't hang it in my bedroom, any blanket will be nice in my bedroom and DH always gets it right (I will be there when we get it too...My husband will also fill a stocking for me)

[Ima saver]

I would like something that collects dust , like an air purifier!

[nanamom]

I gave up asking for things years ago. My DIL asked for ideas and I told her to go to the dollar store and pick out a candle and a potholder from the kids (or rather let them pick out) since I understand the importance of teaching them to give. I have never given cash for Christmas or birthdays and I doubt I ever will. I want the person to know I shopped and agonized over the gift. My DD asks for what she wants and my DS never says a word. DIL will tell me for her birthday. 2 years ago she called and told me she really wanted silicone bakeware and no one else will get her the right thing. I felt highly complimented and went out and got all kinds of bakeware and put a mix in each one to use with it. For my family we do a chinese auction every Christmas and that is alot of fun. I think there is a price limit on the items but don't really remember we live far enough away that we rarely make it although we are hosting (at a hotel) this year so will be there. My DD made a wish list from a company once and I picked things from there for her birthday. At least I felt like I was doing something right.

mom will never know if I don't hang it in my bedroom, are you sure Perky?

[tinapbeana]

only person who asked what i wanted this year was DH. since i had made the budget as to what the 'house' could cover for our gifts, i printed out a list of camera lenses and accessories i wanted, including S&H, right on target

[vishenda]

safety and good health for the family

[aurielle]

I asked for

new bed pillows
a coin purse
a black zip-up hoodie
an item from Bath & Body Works

I asked DH what he wanted for Xmas, he said he didn't care.
So I got him a couple cool gadgets and I just ordered some wool socks, house slippers and casual pants from Lands End. I can't go wrong ordering things for him from Lands End.

We also fill stockings for each other.

[frugalmomof1]

Whenever someone asked us what we wanted for Christmas we told them that we need a new refrigerator so a gift card to Sears would be nice!

[Hez]

I've asked for a wallet, and I've been eyeing a really cute chair. I asked my mom for these things, I'll probably get the wallet but I'm not so sure about the chair. My family is usually pretty good at getting gifts for me. I love practical things but also have a huge sweet tooth, so I love getting any type of Christmas chocolate or candy!

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I really need a GPS. Born on an island does not give someone a sense of direction. However, unfortunately DH says no, because I agreed to split a Wii I didn't want.

[fairy74]

I asked DH for the new John Legend CD (I'm a big, big fan!) and a cute sweater I saw at Walmart.

Dream Gifts (if Santa has a few extra): new Mazda or Nissan, new sofa for living room and pub set for kitchen, a week's vacation in a tricked out cabin at Big Bear Lake

[PrincessPerky]

Nana, try looking at the who from, not just the who too.
Asking for gifts is an art..no one wants to give you a gift against their nature..so no asking an anti clutter fanatic for clutter..no asking a teetolar for wine......no asking a catholic for condoms...you get the picture, whatever you ask for has to be something the giver will enjoy..which means cash is out for most frugalites, and crafty things is out for most anti artsy types.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Had a discussion with kids. Told them that if they had time, I'd love it if they could build me an inversion table. I'd like electric warming socks, and one kid would try to make those if he wanted to give them.
There is a dietary supplement I'd like to try, but have never bought it because it is so stinkin' expensive. Plus it takes months to measure whether it has had effect. But I'd be pleased as punch to get a big bottle of it--- Right-isomer alpha lipoic acid. And then there are some paintings by a Pakistani artist that I've been wishing for for three years. Truly, what would really please me is some physical labor with some stuff around the house--stuff that I am normally the only one to do, but which takes hours to do alone. Non glamorous stuff like scrubbing the grout between the one inch tiles on the bathroom floor, or washing the double hung tilt-in windows, inside and out, or washing the kitchen walls, or cutting up the tree limb that fell in the ice storm.

[vishenda]

But materially I would love to receive that dream digicam, although Ive been saving for it, there's more appreciation if someone from the family gives it as a gift. haha