# Please don't give me \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ for Christmas **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 29, 2019, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-dont-give-me-________-for-christmas/844159 "2019-11-29T05:54:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2019, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-dont-give-me-________-for-christmas/844159/41 "2019-11-30T08:44:55Z")
Coffee that we can’t get here, good. Everything else, I’d rather they give to a favorite charity. Doesn’t even have to be my favorite, it can be their favorite as well. Postage costs keep going higher, so the postage cost to gift worth ratio is rather high. I’m fine if the charity gets all the money. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2019, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-dont-give-me-________-for-christmas/844159/42 "2019-11-30T13:27:48Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Gift cards to the local bookstore. Yes, I love books; but honestly, I have more books than shelves. The gift cards to the bookstore do nothing more than pile up. > > An Ikea gift card would be much more useful, as it would let me purchase additional bookshelves. A gift card to the shelf store, then? ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2019, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-dont-give-me-________-for-christmas/844159/43 "2019-11-30T15:14:36Z")
> [@Personal](#): > > Sounds like there should be a post-Christmas SDMB gift swap. Actually, we should all meet at a landfill, and just heave our crap into the void, together. Then all go out for a drink together. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2019, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-dont-give-me-________-for-christmas/844159/44 "2019-11-30T15:16:36Z")
Anything. I don’t want or need anything. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2019, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-dont-give-me-________-for-christmas/844159/45 "2019-11-30T16:22:00Z")
Oi Vey! So much kop drey I save by being Jewish. We give little things to children/grandchildren when young (and of course expect nothing in return) and never exchange gifts with another adult. My daughter sends home-made biscotti to her in-laws and gets something like a box of chocolates. ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2019, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-dont-give-me-________-for-christmas/844159/46 "2019-11-30T16:41:41Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > Actually, we should all meet at a landfill, and just heave our crap into the void, together. > > Then all go out for a drink together. > ~VOW That’s getting pretty close to the quarry. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2019, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-dont-give-me-________-for-christmas/844159/47 "2019-11-30T17:14:46Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > DVDs/CDs - seriously, have you not got Spotify/Netflix yet? I don’t know… If it’s something I like, I’d much rather have a “hard” copy, single or box set of a series, of something rather than in virtual streaming. It’ll always be there and won’t be subject to the whims of the provider as far as availability goes. Then there is the ease of using rewind or fast forward without pissing off the streaming and locking it up. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2019, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-dont-give-me-________-for-christmas/844159/48 "2019-11-30T17:52:11Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > DVDs/CDs - seriously, have you not got Spotify/Netflix yet? Yes, I have Netflix. I still live having some things on DVD - both for the extras you sometimes get and also because I will always have it and it will always be available to me. Hold on to your hate - I also still have vinyl LPs and a turntable. And yes, I use them. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2019, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-dont-give-me-________-for-christmas/844159/49 "2019-11-30T17:59:52Z")
Soap. I have severe eczema. I can’t use the damn stuff, but I got given a selection of fancy scented soaps by my mother something like 6 years in a row. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2019, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-dont-give-me-________-for-christmas/844159/50 "2019-11-30T18:06:43Z")
> [@glee](#): > > I agree with this. You don’t want to start an argument and giving to charity at Xmas is very appropriate! > > I was tricky to buy for when I was young. > I was in my own little world of chess, books (mainly sci-fi and detective stories.) > One elderly relative bought me a book on ‘how to learn chess’. I know she meant well, but I was playing in the British Chess Championship at the time. :smack: Bless her heart. Would such an item served well as a “how to teach someone else to play chess”? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2019, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-dont-give-me-________-for-christmas/844159/51 "2019-11-30T18:13:16Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Those boxed sets of scented lotion/body wash/shampoo. Tends to be re-gifted. > > I don’t like most artificial fragrances and really don’t want to go around smelling that shit on my own skin for hours. > > Look, I understand these are the usual gift choice for “woman I don’t know” which is why I’ll re-gift … to some chick I don’t know well, either. Eventually. I won a gift basket of such things at my niece’s baby shower in April. I might gift it to **kaylasfriend** as a thank-you for dog-sitting in early November while **kaylasmom** was in the skilled nursing facility. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2019, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-dont-give-me-________-for-christmas/844159/52 "2019-11-30T18:18:30Z")
I’m getting up a carload to head to the landfill. Since we’re headed to SCal reaaly soon, I also want to just empty the refrigerator and be OH SO DONE with Thanksgiving! ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2019, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-dont-give-me-________-for-christmas/844159/53 "2019-11-30T18:22:59Z")
For a while there, my MIL was always giving me kitchen gadgets. Remember the Salad Shooter? Or the hand-held blender wand thingy? yeah. One that I eventually came to love, tho, is the rotisserie. It sat unused for ages - too big for any of my cabinets, and I had limited counter space. I was ready to toss it, and my spousal unit said “Why not just give it a try?” And I did. And I love it greatly. Fortunately, that was the last appliance she ever gave me. In fact, we pretty much convinced that whole side of the family to quit gift-giving, and we resorted to white elephant or $10 Bad Santa games, and it was a lot less stress and a lot more fun. My one sister, on the other hand, goes to a dollar store every year and gives us ornaments, despite me telling her every year for the last 15 that we don’t do a tree and we don’t decorate. The ornaments end up at the thrift store. And I expect we’ll get more this year. She just doesn’t listen. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2019, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-dont-give-me-________-for-christmas/844159/54 "2019-11-30T18:26:31Z")
Please don’t give me anything that isn’t consumable (like food, cash, or gift cards) that you don’t know for sure that I want. No cute knickknacks, no fancy health or beauty products, no souvenir dishwater or drinkware. Please no goddam clothing items. … I’m sure I’ll think of more. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2019, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-dont-give-me-________-for-christmas/844159/55 "2019-12-01T08:29:07Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > Actually, we should all meet at a landfill, and just heave our crap into the void, together. > > Then all go out for a drink together. > ~VOW Why throw it in the landfill, when there could be FIRE? Yesterday my mom asked me what I wanted for Christmas. And then told me that they are telling people to not buy things for them because they don’t need more stuff. Really? It’s too early to drink here. ---
**Author:** ![LLCoolL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/llcooll/32/3596_2.png) [@LLCoolL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LLCoolL)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2019, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-dont-give-me-________-for-christmas/844159/56 "2019-12-01T12:21:42Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > anything. Yup, this. Almost everything I want, I already have. And whatever’s left that I still want, I’d rather pick it out for myself, thank you very much. I guess I’ll take an Amazon gift card… ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2019, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-dont-give-me-________-for-christmas/844159/57 "2019-12-02T03:05:53Z")
All I want for Christmas is a job. But the SIL insists on stupid, useless gifts such as moisturizer from TJMaxx. Seriously, don’t buy me that crap. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2019, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-dont-give-me-________-for-christmas/844159/58 "2019-12-02T04:44:18Z")
Short answer: add me to the “anything” column. Pretty much if I want something, I buy it for myself. Longer answers: 1. Anything related to one of my interests, unless you know me very well. Chances are if you can find it, I’ve either already got it or don’t want it (for example, Doctor Who stuff–there’s a ton of it out there, and I’m interested in a very small subset of it). 2. “Gifts for Her.” I am the world’s biggest tomboy. I can probably count on one hand the number of things designed for the typical woman that I’d be even vaguely interested in, and have fingers left over. Don’t get me perfume, bath sets, anything frilly, jewelry, etc. I guarantee you I won’t use it. Seriously, just don’t waste your money on me. I promise I won’t resent not getting a gift. Fortunately, my spouse’s family has pretty much given up on everything but token gifts (like candy–yum!) for the adult members, and unfortunately both my parents are gone so it’s not an issue anymore. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2019, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-dont-give-me-________-for-christmas/844159/59 "2019-12-02T13:38:16Z")
Our family trades names for gifting. We write up a wish list, put the list in a hat and draw. I am always very specific - what I would like (color/size/scent whatever), where it’s available, and even a model number if available. I will email my Amazon wish list. If my nephew/niece/daughter/her boyfriend get my name all is good. But if my sister/brother-in-law/mother get my name? When my brother-in-law drew my name a few years ago, I received two wall calendars. I don’t use wall calendars. I realized the freebie one hanging on my fridge was still on July just a few days ago. If my sister draws my name and doesn’t want to go to a specialty store, and she won’t buy anything online, she’ll buy what she thinks is “close enough”. And my mom? Bless her heart. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2019, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-dont-give-me-________-for-christmas/844159/60 "2019-12-02T14:44:17Z")
No cutesy novelty gifts, no picture frames, no decorative bowls, no vases, no decorative anything that has to take ip space on a flat surface. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-dont-give-me-________-for-christmas/844159.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-dont-give-me-________-for-christmas/844159.md?page=4)