Which do you prefer? Surprises or knowing?

[AmIBeingUnseasonal]

Just that really, I don't like knowing what people have gifted to me, I love surprises, but I know some people hate them!

I don't like surprises
I have a secret.. I've just opened DDs gift from MIL to see what tat she's got this year.. It's the creepiest doll ever.. I'm thinking of ways to lose it before Christmas Day..!!

I hate surprises. I think maybe it comes down to having shit surprises in the past. There was one Christmas DH bought me a kitchen aid as a surprise, but he was so sodding pleased with himself that he kept dropping hints so I guessed - that would have been a fab surprise as well. Also it might be the element of having to be really pleased about a gift which screams 'you don't know me at all' which past surprises have tended to be.

God, I sound miserable. I'm not really, I actually bloody love Christmas!

She might replace it

I hate surprises. I like to be fully and completely prepared for what's coming my way. DH and I have an agreement to never buy each other presents. He gets me flowers and I get him whisky instead.

I agree with pp that it's all about how good the surprise is likely to be. Surprises from my brother have about a 90% record for being brilliant; surprises from my mother more like 10%. Sometimes a surprise is worse than no present at all.

DH is terrible at surprises: he can't keep a secret for a start, so drops hints to try to get you to guess.

The kind of surprise I like is where they get you something you've asked for, but you don't know exactly what, and they get it spot on - eg "some silver earrings" and they get some in the shape of .

Knowing!

I love surprises. 4 years ago I got an ipad mini, it was the best surprise ever!
I then felt rather embarrassed at what I got dh. Socks, jumper and shirt from tk maxx

I love to give surprises too, because I like to receive them. That is probably very selfish of me reading it aloud I'd hope if I'd bought something that the receiver did not like, that they would feel able to say "I'm afraid this isn't me" but I think being gracious and then re gifting, discarding or hiding the item is the done thing!

I would love to be surprised but at the same time am deeply suspicious of surprises

My surprise would be to get a gift! DH and I don't buy for each other. I'm a SAHM so it seems daft to spend his money on something that probably isn't right for him. We do get a small gift each from my parents but that's the only present we get.

Surprise presents are never good unless they are something like as somebody else posted, an ipad mini or luxury item. Otherwise I tend to get loads of tat.

Would much rather somebody asked me what I would like, admitedly there is nothing I can ever think of at the top of my head but there is stuff that I always need and never get round to getting myself.

The person who sneaked a peek and already opened the wrapped doll from their MIL made me LOL! It's exactly the kind of thing I would do and yes it would most definitely get lost a day after Christmas, my mil will always ask my children if they liked her presents so I have no choice but to give to them, briefly anyway.

Knowing for me.

Us surprise lovers are in the minority then!

I love the idea of surprises. But in real life they so often miss the mark that I'd rather have a dull thing I definitely want.

I love suprises! At the end of the day that person didn't have to get me a gift at all.
If I don't like it I re gift. But I love that feeling just before you open a gift, even if the contents are shit

I love surprises but last year my MIL bought me chickens , weird plastic ones that cost a fortune (price labels still on the bases) because I once mentioned I'd quite like to keep chickens - I was horrified at how much she'd spent on something I really didn't want. So yes to gorgeous surprises but no to plastic chickens!!

I like surprises, but I don't like knowing that a surprise is coming, if that makes sense. I have anxiety, and just knowing something is coming makes me feel funny. (We are supposed to be visiting MIL after Christmas dinner, but she is refusing to confirm a time and it is making me feel horrible with butterflies.)

I can't stand the hinting or wondering, but if someone gives me something unexpected, I love it.

So, yes, I like proper surprises. DH got me an ice cream maker and a bottle of gin last year and I couldn't have been more pleased.

I like surprises.

I hate surprises unfortunately no matter how much I practice my 'I love it, thank you' face my face always gives it away.

I know I'm hard to buy for, unless I actually need something I say to everyone not to get me anything and honestly I would rather have nothing.

Over the years my parents have managed to get quite a few go to presents that they know I'm always grateful for - dressing gown, socks, slippers etc.

I love the idea of surprises. But in real life they so often miss the mark that I'd rather have a dull thing I definitely want.

This 100%.

DP got it SO right last year with a Radley bag I'd spotted months ago and completely forgotten about.

There have also been some less, erm, impressive surprises too!

I like some surprises but not big expensive ones usually. Some of the best have been when MrNC has ended up in a cheap or second hand bookshop and found a beautiful book on one of my pet subjects.
I give him a list of things I would like and have been known to watch items on eBay to give him ideas.

Pre-kids we and IL family would get quite drunk by the time of opening presents, so would have forgotten what we asked for - perfect solution!

I like the idea of surprises but like others have said they can be wildly off the mark. Then I end up feeling guilty about the item and the waste of money it represents.

But in all reality I am not an easy person to buy anything for.

I prefer knowing, but only because that way, I know I'll like what I choose.