We’ve seen the thread about our parents wanting to give us stuff; we know our kids value experiences over stuff. Many of us have kids in high school, university, or beyond. We likely have a home & it has stuff in it.
How do you make a Christmas list? What do you want?
A coffeecake (gooey with pecans & cinnamon) from my hometown bakery. My dad has started mailing them for occasions for the past year, and they are GREAT! Zingerman’s gift boxes, too. (Can you see a theme? 
) College swag is good for my brother & kids, too – and I would not mind it, either.
I’d like a cd of music from D off the Internet of music she thinks we’d like (she has great taste and finds music we aren’t familiar with). We’d love a meal prepared by each kiddo as well. If S would make us a music cd that would be great too!
Someone to come over and do chores around my house! My front, side and garage doors need to be oiled/ varnished; I have some lightbulbs in high ceilings that need to be changed; there’s some paint that needs touching up; and I still have lots of pictures to hang. That would be the ideal Christmas present!
What I DON’T want is stuff. No more objects!! Don’t want stuff.
Well, except a new iPad. But I don’t have any high rollers that I’m expecting gifts from.
Last year, S gave me a new iPhone 6s–that was most appreciated and still in heavy use! My brother gave me a backup battery for my phone that is also used daily, for Pokémon Go! 
Last year I got 2 Athleta gift cards (among other things) and would be happy to repeat.
Just bought myself a running jacket at Lululemon and am buying a full year yoga pass next week (good discount on small business Saturday), so H says those are my gifts. Ha, ha. Fine with me.
Guess I have a theme going too…
New golf irons. Might even get them.
Other than that, lululemon gift card or Jo Malone cologne, those I probably won’t get.
Intersting. I’m a things person while at the same time having little extra stuff. I have zero problem giving away stuff, When my mom offered me my grandmothers China I was firm. No don’t need that.
But I like really nice things. This year for my birthday I got a diamond necklace ( I wear it every single day). Last year an MZ Wallace bag to use as a briefcase. It still brings me pleasure every day.
I don’t celebrate Christmas but my mom buys still buys me something for Hannukah and hubby and I exchange a gift.
On my wish list this year:
Thermapen Instant Read cooking thermometer.
Tumi makeup case
Hamilton Tickets. ( once in a while I go for the experience)
That’s it.
Christmas is not my religion’s holiday, but it is the birthday of a family member. Enjoy spending the time together and my wish is that his company does not expect them do to computer maintenance work that day, like they often try to.
I just looked up Hanukkah dates for 2016 since part of my family celebrates this holiday - it’s so late this year! December 24 - January 1 - I don’t think I’ve ever seen it that late!
I’m not much for gifts for myself. I’m weird that way. BUT, I would not turn down gift cards from Athleta or Zappos and I really would love a new iPad and some updating done in my kitchen…
I don’t want my kids to get us gift this year. One is in college, one began her career and is doing well , but the harsh reality of student loans has hit her ( her goal is to pay them off as quickly as possible ) the other is in a transition of sorts and is really cash strapped because of it.
My husband however just bought me the only thing I really wanted ( okay, it was me and I am going to wrap it up and put it under the tree )
A pair of pajamas from Garnet Hill
I often ask my daughter to buy me accessories – like costume jewelry or scarves – because she has much better taste than I do. This year, I need a new everyday purse, and I would like to have her select it, but a purse may be too pricey a gift to ask for.
For my husband, it would be a wonderful gift if he would just shut up about the election. (We supported different candidates. His candidate won.)
For everybody else, I’m perfectly happy with your gift cards. Keep them coming, especially Amazon. My Kindle has an insatiable appetite, and I enjoy satisfying it without feeling guilty.
A 2016 do-over?
Seriously, no stuff except a gift certificate from my local bookstore, and my annual CD from D of her favorite new music.
Time with my kids, a walk on the beach with my H, and some quiet to sit and read and write.
I could use some new socks. And some soft, comfy sweaters for house lounging.
Amazon and i-tune gift cards so I can buy books for my kindle and audio books for my i-phone!
Maybe a good low carb cook book.
That’s all for me!
Oh, actually, I asked my DH for a simple, smallish gas grill. I want to grill more, and his big green egg takes too long.
I’m with Garland, I’d like time with my kids and DH. I would love for all of us to go on a trip together this year. S has been on his own for 2 years now and hasn’t vacationed with us since.
I want the family to go get a Penney’s portrait. We did it every year from DD’s first Christmas until she went to college. Haven’t done it since …(I was going to say because they both were gone to college. But that isn’t true, for 2 years they both have been near to home) .She is still in college but close to home now in PhD program. DD is 26 now. I want one with DS’s “grown-up” face (he is younger than DD and he didn’t get pics all the way to college.
And I’d like the family to go to Idaho to have Christmas with my Dad. I have a bad feeling about him this winter… not that anything is worse, just a bad feeling. DS DID make a long (400 mile each way) trip to see him for my Dad’s birthday this summer (88) but DD wasn’t able to go. She hasn’t seen her grandad in 2 years. makes me sad.
I’d like some fun family time. It’s getting less frequent and I know it’s not really going to get any better. My kids are growing up.
As for more material things…I always like gift cards to restaurants and electronic gadgets. I don’t really have anything specific on my list.
I know I’m difficult to shop for - I nearly bought something the other day and stopped myself and texted hubby to put the word out. Ina Garten has her new cookbook out that I’d like and I like those williams sonoma blank for a day - I have soup, one pot meal and vegetable - they have a new one - the salad for the day. I asked my d to choose me some kind of make up thing - she always knows the newest latest greatest. I golf and wear baseball caps - I have my daughters college - XYZ mom - I’d like my son’s. I even took a picture of myself golfing in her hat and said - hint, hint, I think I should be able to represent you as well. From hubby…I love real jewelry - he’s pretty good at that. I’m getting more into necklaces lately - he gave me a silver seahorse for our anniversary - we moved this spring to a house on the water and we found a seahorse in our crab trap - I really got a kick out of that. My sister gave me a lagos necklace with an elephant - I wore it all fall. I could also use new slippers, I’m really bad about wearing them outside too (not in public, just literally outside the house)
I’m much more of a giver than a receiver.
All I want is to see my son and his SO. 50/50 chance at this point.