Do you choose your Christmas presents or do you get surprises?

[ChristmasIsComing2023]

Do you choose your Christmas presents or do you get surprises?

I usually only get a present from my DH - sometimes DS1 will get me something but DS2 doesn't. Alas DH isn't good at surprises and I hate asking for stuff when I can just buy them myself (cokes out of the joint account anyway). Maybe I should wrap my present to me this year?

Suprise though I do sometimes leave a list lying around.

I tend to give my Mum ideas from my online "wish lists" or meet her in town to help choose as she struggles for ideas for me and the other adults in the family and wants to make sure she gets it right. My birthday is right after Christmas so I do the same then or point out anything I like in the sales.

I get flowers and audible credits as they are my favourite gifts. I don't want or need anything and don't like to have to find space for things I don't want or need. I got fed up of being asked for ideas when I had none. Now I get a flower subscription and multiple audiobooks and I'm very happy. I don't care that I don't have a pile of gifts to open.

I have an Amazon wishlist that I add to through the year. At Christmas and my birthday, DH gets the DC to pick one thing each, and picks something for himself. Then DM picks something, and one of my friends does too. I do the same thing for DH, DM and my friend from their lists, the DC pick something each and then I do.

I try not to look at my list very often, so I tend to forget what's on it and therefore it's a sort of surprise when I open it!

Each Christmas I buy myself the staples I want:
slipper boots
pjs
dumb blonde shampoo and reconstructor

Then the week of Christmas dh goes out with his friend and my brother to a big shopping centre to buy a surprise for me. The other two get surprises for their wives also. I really don’t need anything and don’t ask but he insists every year as he knows I love surprises. Over the years I have received:

lovely watches
a kindle
fluffy socks
a music box which plays a tune of a favourite show we watch together
a megalodon tooth fossil
a funky shark keyring

Every one of the above has been a fantastic surprise as it fits in with my interests.

We all give each other a list of ten or fifteen things, so it's still a surprise what we get, but definitely something we want. X

I give dp a list of suggestions…. Which he’s only allowed to chose from as he’s colour blind so if he picks clothes I’d be looking like a clown. He picks what he wants from there to suit his budget.

I generally choose my own.

I go without most of the year so I'd rather choose myself so I know I've got something I really want or need.

I usually send a list of links for him to choose from so I don't know exactly what it will be.

I hate surprises so we do lists.

I give DH a list. DS uses his initiative. My parents are in very poor health so probably won't realise it's Christmas. Then I get a few things from friends.

I give DH a list. He's generous but not good without guidance.

Both. The only people that buy for me are my DH, my sister and my DC. The DC pick me a surprise, usually something random as they’re still quite young. My sister usually gets me to choose one or 2 things then gets me a few surprises. I give my DH some ideas or tell him a few things, but I always get surprises as well and my stocking is full of little surprises.

To save dh racking his brains, I’ve been known to print a page off with size, style and colour clearly marked, and leave it on his desk. Last time it was for sheepskin house boots from Celtic - still going strong around 5 years later.

TBH though except for something small and edible (or drinkable) as a family we’ve cut down a lot on adult presents, both giving and receiving. Unless I know there’s something specific that they want, dds always get cash, with something relatively small to open, e.g. nice new PJs.

This year I don’t particularly want or need anything (yes, I know I’m lucky) so same as a couple of years previously I’ll probably do a big shop just for the food bank, and tell dh that’s his present to me.

Dh will still always get me the essential chocs, though. 🐷

The only main present is from dh, which I chose myself. This year its a tickets to see one of my fave bands. He also gets me a few suprise stocking fillers, plus I get a few small suprises from other people.

Surprises. Dh is very good at buying presents!