Christmas presents, help

Kermit.de.frog · 31-10-2015 9:06pm #1

Christmas is coming soon. Have to get presents.

Does anyone have any tips on how you know what someone might like as a present? Or even something generic you can always buy that will be appreciated by everyone?

I'm afraid that somewhere i'll pick the wrong thing and the recipient might get the wrong message.

It's something I really hate about Christmas is choosing what to get friends and family.

And even how expensive it should be.

In fact i'm considering just saying to my friends just something really small if you are getting something or even f**k it, a no presents pact. Then someone will buy me a present anyway and i'll feel bad.

Can't win.

Any suggestions to make life easier? *I'm certain i'm not the only one that has to tackle this*

lazeedaisy · 31-10-2015 9:09pm

Who are you buying for and what age are they,

It's hard to know otherwise...

Don't know about anyone else, but this year I put a limit of $30 per person.

But I usually buy gifts at reduced rices... I.e. got my brother a nice Tog 24 hoodie for 25, but it was half price from Debenhams, delivered too...

Sunnyisland · 31-10-2015 9:09pm

Ah mr frog can ya not wait till Halloween is over ....

SEPT 23 1989 · 31-10-2015 9:10pm

Leave it until Christmas eve when you have had a few and the shops are closing

Lisha · 31-10-2015 9:11pm

What did those people give you last year? You could spend about the sameish on them this year.
Or suggest a meal/night out or dove other experience maybe?

FallSilently · 31-10-2015 9:13pm

My family long ago learned the art of sticking notes up on the fridge saying "SOMEONE GET ME THESE."

Aside from that, where possible, you can always just ask them if there's anything they'd like. I know it kills the surprise but you can always stick in a little something extra that wouldn't have constituted a full gift by itself. Box of sweets or something.

Then there's always the DVD/gift voucher route.

Turtyturd · 31-10-2015 9:16pm

I love Dublin key rings for everyone.

Kermit.de.frog · 31-10-2015 9:19pm

Lisha wrote: »

What did those people give you last year? You could spend about the sameish on them this year.

Money is not really an issue. It's just you don't want to buy something too cheap and also too expensive because that could be awkward for that person too.

I'm thinking generally books, DVD's (as suggested) but probably not gift vouchers as I think it comes across a bit lazy. I would be around the 25 - 50 mark which is the absolute limit for each person. I think that is probably reasonable for everyone.

You want to try and get something novel and that the person will appreciate and charms them a little bit or makes them smile. Easier said than done!

Penny Tration · 31-10-2015 9:21pm

Surely you know your friends and family well enough to know what they like, what their interests are and so on? Get something they like of something they have an interest in.

lazeedaisy · 31-10-2015 9:23pm

Do they have Amazon wish lists, we tried that a few years ago? Specifically books and DVD's

Kermit.de.frog · 31-10-2015 9:24pm

Penny Tration wrote: »

Surely you know your friends and family well enough to know what they like, what their interests are and so on? Get something they like of something they have an interest in.

Family, yeah. Friends are more tricky than family.

How would pairs of socks go down?

lazeedaisy · 31-10-2015 9:26pm

I usually buy on black Friday sales with Amazon, but this year with the sterling rates is madness.

check out the bargain alerts or Christmas threads already dcussng gifts...

lazeedaisy · 31-10-2015 9:28pm

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Family, yeah. Friends are more tricky than family.

How would pairs of socks go down?

Depends on where you buy the socks....

Pennys. No thanks..

I got an Arsenal monopoly board game from Argos.....

31-10-2015 9:38pm

Does anyone have any tips on how you know what someone might like as a present?

You could ask ...

31-10-2015 9:40pm

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Does anyone have any tips on how you know what someone might like as a present? Or even something generic you can always buy that will be appreciated by everyone?

The gift of your time is always appreciated. Any gift that shows you invested time and thought or both will work every time.

Thankfully this is something I do not have to go through. All my mates and partners and family (except the kids of course) know I do not do Christmas - or Birthdays - or Valentines and so on. Rather - I give a meaningful gift at a meaningful time to the people in my life. And they do their best to do this too - so most of them do not have to worry about getting me something at Xmas or my Birthday either.

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Can't win.

Any suggestions to make life easier? *I'm certain i'm not the only one that has to tackle this*

If you REALLY are worried about it you could send out a group email to everyone and say "Hi all - rather than throw ourselves into the usual Xmas fray this year worrying what to get each other - why do we all not agree to get nothing at all for anyone - and find a date sometime early next year where we all put that money into a good old knees up together somewhere!"

31-10-2015 9:43pm

Noooo xmas morning is so much fun getting people nice things and seeing if they like them

I want a choo choo train to go around my tree this year

31-10-2015 9:44pm

bluewolf wrote: »

I want a choo choo train to go around my tree this year

This is going to jump into my head whenever I see a message or post from you from here on out

Kermit.de.frog · 31-10-2015 10:00pm

bluewolf wrote: »

You could ask ...

oh, can you though? I suppose you can. Ruins any surprise though. Definitely I might actually do that with some friends just to save time and hassle.

Tombi! · 31-10-2015 10:07pm

AH mod: As a present from the AH Mods, we moved this from AH to Christmas Gift Ideas and questions

endacl · 08-11-2015 11:44pm

Socks'n'jocks. You can't go wrong with socks'n'jocks.

Christmas presents, help

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