To find buying Xmas gifts annoying

[LadyRenoir]

I love Christmas, and spending time with family, and sharing love, and all that. Presents are not the most important thing at all. But..
Every years we spend part of the Christmas with DPs family. They get each other a ridiculous amount of gifts, and there are also lots from extended family.
It's loads of hassle, as they are also really hard to shop for. PIL has one hobby he has all he needs for an apart from that needs nothing. SIL has drawers full of makeup she never uses and clothes she never wears and not many hobbies, as she is mainly studying for exams. MIL just likes shiny stuff, so one person easy to please, sort of. She was meant to let us know what SIL wanted this year, as apparently she made a little list with items of interest, but as MIL gets easily confused, she texted me today to ask when I am going to tell HER what her daughter wants for Xmas.
DP is clueless. Back to drawing board.
I don't think gifts are the essence of Xmas and more of a 'it's the thought that counts', but also don't like gifting things that are unwanted. I just find DPs family very hard to shop for as they don;t seem to want anything, but equally they look disappointed they didn't get what they wanted.

It's crap which is why I put a stop to it this year
Sooooo easy now.

I think you should ask SIL if you could get a copy of list.

Putting yourself out to buy someone you care about a gift?
Yeah, right pain in the neck. Why bother?
You could always stick a tenner in a card.

Yanbu. All the silly gifts are the biggest pita about Christmas. The rest of it, I really enjoy.

I only buy for the children in the family (4 including my own) and my mum.

I still find it a mental drain lol

@Reaa @hazell42 - we did ask, she said she didn't know what she wanted. They always say they are not fussed, but they clearly are.
That's why I was hoping for the existence of the elusive list, which probably doesn't exist, as MIL thought I would have it for some reason?

On the one hand it feels like they are not bothered, on the other somehow end up gifting each other really expensive stuff, which we can't even afford this year.

I like it , but I do stick with practical gifts or things people have asked for , as I personally find it frustrating when somebody spends their hard earned cash on something I will not use.

I tell family members to just buy gifts for my kids because there's nothing I really need. If I end up with a nice box of chocolates or a voucher then I see it as a bonus. I'm over having random stuff filling up my home.

SIL if she’s studying for exams. What about nice pens, or some expensive stationary- pens, notebooks, pencil case/tin etc?

I know when I was studying I loved stuff like this. Maybe not her thing though. Just a suggestion!

What’s your budget? Nice candle ?(obviously to your budget)

Just stick some money in an envelope and say it's because she hasn't provided you with a list. If she wants a specific item then she needs to tell you way before now.

I find it very stressful shopping for DH. He's very particular and always just buys anything he wants. Aside from DH I enjoy it. I love buying stuff for the kids.

I would buy some nice stationery from the concession in house of Fraser (if there still is one) and provide it with a gift receipt.

How about a nice pen and notebook set?

Amazon gift card?

Kindle?

I would just ask them for a few ideas as you are completely stuck on what to get, is there anything they can suggest.