The adults in my family decided several years ago we'd just celebrate each others' birthdays instead, and skip Christmas gifts. Only shopping for the next generation took a lot of pressure off, and no one misses it.

Anonymous wrote:Point her to a charity that you support and tell her you'd be honored if she made a donation.

I also dislike adult gifting.

I hate it too, but recognize that it isn't all about me and that the tradition is important to others. With my family we've taken to drawing one name (8 adults between my parents, siblings and our spouses) and set a $50 limit. It's a good compromise.

With DH's family we pretty much exchange gift cards, but that's what they want to do, so shrug.

Anonymous wrote:NP - is an Audible gift membership an ok gift? This is for someone who likes books has mentioned listening to books on CD (some time back).

I would seriously love that. It was way on sale for black friday though, so hopefully you bought it then. like $5 a month for 6 months.

If she doesn't like it, I bet amazon can just exchange it for a gift card.

I love edible gifts like Lauderee macarons or a nice box of chocolates. I have a serious sweet tooth.

Barefoot dreams robe
House slippers - I like to replace these fairly often
Nordstrom at home towels in white
Jo Malone bath gel

NP - is an Audible gift membership an ok gift? This is for someone who likes books has mentioned listening to books on CD (some time back).

Say you want a sauce pan. I could always do with another one. You can cook so many things in one.

I also hate adult giving too, but we don't have a younger generation yet. luckily we are all kinda relaxed on gift receiving. Only my parents care about how fancy it is.... in laws are better

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Point her to a charity that you support and tell her you'd be honored if she made a donation.

I also dislike adult gifting.

This. I hate adult gift giving too. It's a waste of money. The gift is being kind to others not material things.

This. Our family has a very relaxed approach to adult gifts. Not expected but if you come across something you’d love to give, that’s a lovely thing but it doesn’t mean anyone expects anything to reciprocate.

Anonymous wrote:Point her to a charity that you support and tell her you'd be honored if she made a donation.

I also dislike adult gifting.

This. I hate adult gift giving too. It's a waste of money. The gift is being kind to others not material things.

Just ask for lululemon leggings. $100 and done.

Can't you just tell her something generic just for the sake of getting her off your back about it? A scarf, fuzzy slippers, bath bombs, set of cosmetic brushes, mini air purifier, etc. I can see how this is irritating to deal with, but it also doesn't have to become a big deal.

Point her to a charity that you support and tell her you'd be honored if she made a donation.

I also dislike adult gifting.

I totally get the awkwardness! Last year my ILs wanted Amazon wish lists, too, and I naively put things I wanted on the list. Books, some items related to my hobby, a kitchen knife I wanted.

It was awkward as hell sitting around the Christmas tree opening all of these things, having to explain why I wanted to read THAT book. What THAT weird looking tool was for my hobby. Why I needed THAT knife. Same for all of the others and their things. Cringe!

Either shop yourself for adults or do gift cards. Better yet, don’t do adult gifts!

Ask for fancy soaps, malden sea salt, or an Uber Eats gift card.

MIL is at it again, asking the adults in the family what they want. I can’t think of anything I would want that I haven’t already bought myself or that would be too awkward to ask for, like my retinol cream or some self-help type books. I don’t have the mental bandwidth right now to even come up with an Amazon wishlist of things I’d be fine receiving. It’s a little gauche to ask for gift cards too, isn’t it? What would you say?