In case you are wondering.. NO I STILL DONT FUCKING KNOW WHAT THE KIDS WANT FOR CHRISTMAS.

[AuntLucy]

I am asked by relatives every day. Multiple times every day. By text, Whatsapp. By call. Several calls even. I don't know. They're teenagers. They don't know. And its still November. It is not an emergency. Bung a tenner in a card. Or don't. I don't care. I have 90 gifts to negotiate, source and fucking wrap and onward distribute for all of you lot. And I work. I an busy. LEAVE ME ALONE. So if any of you are wondering what my teenagers want for Xmas, please for the love of sweet jesus DON'T ASK ME. I DONT KNOW.

Oh god I feel your pain. MIL started this at the beginning of October and then everyone else joined in. I don't even know what I'm getting them at this point so I have absolutely zero fucking idea what to tell everyone else to get.

Surely, you say they'd love a voucher or cash.

If they're he'll bent on presents, they have to give you a budget. It's the asking without a budget that does my head in.

Ha! These days we just suggest Amazon vouchers or cash. Mine are 8 & 10 and alreafy prefer to collate all of their vouchers/cash for bigger ticket items

I feel your pain. DS wants nothing. Nothing at all. I need to buy from us, plus five people who want him to have ‘something to open’.

Fuck me you're rude.

I just suggest cash plus a selection box so they've got a present to open.

Cash and chocolate. That's all my teens are interested in.
One is saving for a gaming computer, one is hoping to buy some eye-wateringly expensive trainers in the January sales. They don't want "something to open", they want cold hard cash.

Would you prefer a load of unwanted shit? They are trying to save themselves wasting money and/or making sure what they do spend is something that's actually wanted.

Why can't you just say cash in a card?

@AuntLucy

I am asked by relatives every day. Multiple times every day. By text, Whatsapp. By call. Several calls even. I don't know. They're teenagers. They don't know. And its still November. It is not an emergency. Bung a tenner in a card. Or don't. I don't care. I have 90 gifts to negotiate, source and fucking wrap and onward distribute for all of you lot. And I work. I an busy. LEAVE ME ALONE. So if any of you are wondering what my teenagers want for Xmas, please for the love of sweet jesus DON'T ASK ME. I DONT KNOW.

They're asking now because they'd rather buy it in the black friday sales to save money. It is too expensive for many to buy everything in december.

Christ, can't you just say an x-brand t-shirt, or an airpod holder or something? Or cash towards new sports equipment?

Failing that, vouchers or cash in a card - but make sure the givers are told later what your DC have bought, cold hard cash might be just that, but manners should still be expected.

My dad transferred money to me for my birthday (I'm abroad) and when I'd spent it, I sent photos of me enjoying what I'd bought, he was very happy

I know. I know. And I appreciate the love. I just wish they wouldn't ask every. single. day. In November. I didn't know yesterday, and I don't know today. Cash is fine. Fine. I just don't want to talk about it.

@HelloDulling

I feel your pain. DS wants nothing. Nothing at all. I need to buy from us, plus five people who want him to have ‘something to open’.

If DS wants nothing then tell them money

YABU they ask early so they can get the good price on the gift for children and avoid disappointment. Maybe they wanted to buy the gifts on the deal to save the money.

@AuntLucy

I know. I know. And I appreciate the love. I just wish they wouldn't ask every. single. day. In November. I didn't know yesterday, and I don't know today. Cash is fine. Fine. I just don't want to talk about it.

But they're only asking because you keep saying you don't know. If you just said cash, chocolate, clothes etc then they'd stop asking.

What a bundle of joy you are! Why can’t you say that you don’t know what they want either so if they want to buy a gift to give cash or a gift card?

Doing other people's emotional labour is rather draining.

I say that! But it is clearly not an acceptable answer because they keep asking!

@AuntLucy

I know. I know. And I appreciate the love. I just wish they wouldn't ask every. single. day. In November. I didn't know yesterday, and I don't know today. Cash is fine. Fine. I just don't want to talk about it.

They probably just want to get it over with. Truly, if I'm not sorted re the things I really have to do by November, I just want to hibernate because I really don't enjoy Christmas. I know the questions are a pain but you need to tell them money and they'll leave you alone ( or they'll do what I do and say forget it then, if you don't want anything that's fine) I give my young adults money, my mum gets a small gift and nobody else gets anything usually)

Why aren't they asking them directly if they are teenagers?

And why buy gifts for every man and his dog? That's batshit and unnecessary IMO. Message everyone and say that you're donating to the Red Cross/WWF/Attenborough fund this year instead of doing presents. Box of nice sweets/biscuits per family, job done.

And tell them the kids are saving for something expensive. Pick anything because they'll never ask when the money has actually been spent

We all know they want cash but it's "rude" to say that and people want to give a "proper" present.

My aunt has taken to doing a little box with a mixture of chocolate coins and real (paper) money in it for her teen great nephews, which goes down a treat.

Tell them to ask the kids.

My MiL has trained my sons well: now (21 and 18) they revisit their lists in September . (Not that it actually helps much with S1 - some music, some cooking equipment, shirts and "interesting books", ffs)

What about when they ask and you think carefully and tell them and then they get something completely bloody different. Aaaaargh.

@merryhouse

Tell them to ask the kids.

My MiL has trained my sons well: now (21 and 18) they revisit their lists in September . (Not that it actually helps much with S1 - some music, some cooking equipment, shirts and "interesting books", ffs)

Now I could cope with those requests. Easy peasy 😆