How do you decide what to buy - my presents are always crap!

[Thankyouandgoodnight]

I have started to get stressed - people always give me really thoughtful wonderful presents for birthdays/christmasses but depsite months of thinking about it, I always end up getting something a bit crap.

I think of something and buy it, then have a crisis and buy something else to go with it and by the end, the person has a series of naff things when I originally thought that the first thing was THE thing. It's a disaster.

Is there a fail safe process that lands you on the perfect thing??

I am sure you're being hard on yourself. How about asking MN for help? Sometimes it's just hard to think of things and lots of heads together more likely to come up with ideas than one. Give us a list of who to buy for, and something about them...

yes, let us do it for you , i love x-mas shopping.

I think you should always ask the person what they'd like.

i spend ages finding out about their hobbies and interests etc then shop around on the net. i like to make up little hampers or selections of things around their interests. like MIl does beading so i buy her some beads, needles, organiser etc and make up a little set. people love it as you've shown an interest in their hobby.

ok - budget as small as I can reasonablly get away with:

Very wonderful family with 4 kids aged 8,6,3 and 1:
My ideas - kite +/- one of these

My mum (63):
Sits on her computer on chat rooms etc, doesn't read, no hobbies, doesn't drink, not so interested in smellies

One sister (42):
Will be abroad for Christmas but we have agreed to enter 'the most inspired pressie under a fiver' competition...

DDs keyworker at nursery - have got mag subscription for the nursery but feel I should get keyworker something as DD is moving up a room in the new year. Keyworker ok, not that spesh and rather odd - heart in the right place, very butch and no idea what she's in to. She looks about 50.

Oh and how do you decide whether or not you get something for close friends kids the same age as yours - i.e. so there's no awkwardness felt by either side if one side does and the other doesn't???

Your mum - a cushion for her computer chair! Or anew mousemat etc.

Keyworker - mug, hot choc, cookies - all in a nice box. Or a decent pen.

Mum- How about This

Sister- I got a nice calander from Tesco that you stick your own photos on was only £4.97 get photos of DC's and other relatives.

1YO-Play tunnel

Noahs ark My DS had that and loved it

Musical Band

3YO-Playdough and

Animal books for £15

Fisher Price learning thingy looks good.

6YO- Art studio

Electronic connect 4 you can choose something else free too or get this free if you want something more expensive from the list.

www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3900798/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CToys+and+g ames%7C10198115/c2/2%7Ccat10198115%7CGames+and+puzzles%7C10198297/c3/3%7Ccat10198297%7CElectroni c+games%7C10198308.htm

And Barbie, action man or similair.

8YO- Kite + This trampoline

diary or similair.

Keyworker agree re mug, hot chocolate, biscuits and things similair.

HTH but obviously dont know what they are into etc so limited to choice.

Oops big long code is the connect 4 again mustve done it twice.

re the other children... agree it can be difficult. Two choices really. Either you find some way of asking - they are probably thinking the same- or you wrap something up ready which is suitable for the other children if they arrive with a present for yours, if not, you can re-use for your children as an extra stocking filler or use for birthday parties later in the year.

oooh, can I have some help? I need to buy for a family with 2 sons - 18 and 14. Into films, games and music but that means they have most of the things available

Anneof Avonlea - I'm getting play.com vouchers for neices and nephews this year. They can then get what they want.

Gotthis for one nephew.

Hawkin's Bazaar is an absolute treasure trove of funny and original bits and bobs under £10 for all kinds of people. Ring and ask for a catalogue as looking online not the same.

Bright Minds for cool sciency sort of educational but fun stuff for older kids. Get catalogue

Threadless is an American company that does brilliantly cool t shirts for about £12 that you will see nowhere else.

Pedlars good for quirky posh stuff. Pricey but good. Get catalogue.

Cox & Cox for pretty girly fripperies. Get catalogue.

Liz Earle for lovely lovely skincare stuff that is not too pricey but really works.

Lakeland for household stuf and nice jams, pickles and stuff like that which are a world away form hideous dept. store decorative pasta and chillies in cheap sunflower oil combo.

I do all my shopping from above coupled with forays inot local bookshop and wine merchants.

Thanks. I may opt for wine for the adults and play.com vouchers for the kids.