What do you want for your birthday? (or other up coming gift giving event)

kvruns

I know this seems silly, but my birthday is at the end of the month and I never know what to tell my parents what I want for my birthday.  I really don't want anything but that never goes over well and I know my mom prefers to get "things" as opposed to gift cards or cash. Most birthdays I would get things that were either baking/cooking or running/workout related but I have way too much of all of those items. We already do experience type things together so can't think of any of those either. She wants me to give her some ideas on Friday and I'm at a loss so I thought I'd see what others would ask for and maybe it will give me a good idea.

If your birthday was coming up and someone asked what you wanted, what would it be?

sparklepants41

I love this idea!

My birthday is in April, so the next Gift Occasion for me will be Christmas.

Right now all I can think of is a subscription to the New Yorker, and a wool throw from Woolrich or LL Bean.

teddygirl9

My  birthday is at the end of the month! I'm pretty sure my mom is just giving me cash, because I head for vacation a few days before my bday. I usually ask for practical boring things - like oil changes, windshield wipers, etc. Whatever I need but am too broke/lazy to buy for myself. Maybe a power drill for the house.

Sorry that probably isnt helpful haha

novella1186

Honestly? I REALLY want a new set of tires for my car. Or a gift card to Lowe's. Something really useful and practical. I'm not a fan of "fun" gifts because it usually just ends up being extra stuff that clutters up my house. 

Are there any seasons of anything you'd like to own on DVD? I've asked H for at least 1 season of the original Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons because they've stopped showing them on TV and I miss them. 

Do you need new pillows? New socks? (I got both last xmas and it was awesome!) 

Or if you're into fun gifts, maybe you can find some cool jewelry or something on Etsy and send the links to your mom. Something that you would love to have but don't want to spend money on. 

STARMOON44

I want new perfume, and a purple pie dish, and picture frames.

teddygirl9

@novella price out your tires on tirerack.com. They are pretty cheap, and depending where you are the shipping might be reasonable. I ended up buying from a different canadian site (pmctire) because the shipping was too much, but their pricing is soo good.

WinstonsGirl

I'm brutal for this.  At the moment, Lulu GC's, an appointment for a will, maybe some serving dishes to match our new dishes.  

cgss11

My mom is a "thing" giver too. I get it.

Necklace with my new monogram on it
Certificates for massage or manicures
Magazine subscription (I loooove getting People weekly)
Fitbit/hr monitor/exercise gadget
Nice perfume
Nice makeup - sephora has great gift lip sets
Glass reusable water bottle

novella1186

teddygirl9 said:

@novella price out your tires on tirerack.com. They are pretty cheap, and depending where you are the shipping might be reasonable. I ended up buying from a different canadian site (pmctire) because the shipping was too much, but their pricing is soo good.

Thank you! I've been avoiding even looking at tires yet because I'm dreading the cost. Bleh. One more thing I have to pay for that I don't even want lol 

teddygirl9

WinstonsGirl said:

I'm brutal for this.  At the moment, Lulu GC's, an appointment for a will, maybe some serving dishes to match our new dishes.  

what.

sparklepants41

novella1186 said:

teddygirl9 said:

@novella price out your tires on tirerack.com. They are pretty cheap, and depending where you are the shipping might be reasonable. I ended up buying from a different canadian site (pmctire) because the shipping was too much, but their pricing is soo good.

Thank you! I've been avoiding even looking at tires yet because I'm dreading the cost. Bleh. One more thing I have to pay for that I don't even want lol 

YES! Tire Rack is great - and I always have them ship directly to the mechanic so I don't have to lift them into my car & drive them over.

WinstonsGirl

teddygirl9 said:

WinstonsGirl said:

I'm brutal for this.  At the moment, Lulu GC's, an appointment for a will, maybe some serving dishes to match our new dishes.  

what.

We really need to get a will written up, with a lawyer.  We never get around to it though. 

novella1186

sparklepants41 said:

novella1186 said:

teddygirl9 said:

@novella price out your tires on tirerack.com. They are pretty cheap, and depending where you are the shipping might be reasonable. I ended up buying from a different canadian site (pmctire) because the shipping was too much, but their pricing is soo good.

Thank you! I've been avoiding even looking at tires yet because I'm dreading the cost. Bleh. One more thing I have to pay for that I don't even want lol 

YES! Tire Rack is great - and I always have them ship directly to the mechanic so I don't have to lift them into my car & drive them over.

Well now that's just genius 

sparklepants41

WinstonsGirl said:

teddygirl9 said:

WinstonsGirl said:

I'm brutal for this.  At the moment, Lulu GC's, an appointment for a will, maybe some serving dishes to match our new dishes.  

what.

We really need to get a will written up, with a lawyer.  We never get around to it though. 

@WinstonsGirl - we really need to do this to, but we feel really strange talking about it.

@teddygirl9 - when I read your response I cracked up! I was picturing that image of the cute owl in the cage that says "WAT"

[Deleted User]

I have been asking for a bag lady cart since last Christmas- didn't come.  My birthday in June?  Nope.  I shoulda' put it on my shower list- ha ha!

We'll see if it comes this year.

I have also been eyeing up one of those DNA kits that tells you where in the world you come from for the last 2-3 years.

Folk music CDs (I have mp3s and such, I just can't play them in my house, which is where I most often listen to music).

 

[Deleted User]

novella1186 said:

Honestly? I REALLY want a new set of tires for my car. Or a gift card to Lowe's. Something really useful and practical. I'm not a fan of "fun" gifts because it usually just ends up being extra stuff that clutters up my house. 

Are there any seasons of anything you'd like to own on DVD? I've asked H for at least 1 season of the original Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons because they've stopped showing them on TV and I miss them. 

Do you need new pillows? New socks? (I got both last xmas and it was awesome!) 

Or if you're into fun gifts, maybe you can find some cool jewelry or something on Etsy and send the links to your mom. Something that you would love to have but don't want to spend money on. 

LOVE Rocky and Bullwinkle!  We used to have the videos- my dad took them when my parents moved out of state.  I should pick those up.  Or add them to my list.

madamerwin

I never know what to tell people when they ask what I want. It frustrates H, because he never knows what to get me... There's just never anything I can think of that I really want - the last thing was a Kindle, so I told H and he got it for me for my birthday. I love gift cards, but I am a gift card hoarder - I currently have about $200 worth of GCs in my wallet, because I can never think of anything worth spending them on. There's something about having a gift card, unused, and the infinite possibility that it offers, so when it comes time to use it I can never decide what to spend it on. 

This year, though, I would like a Seahawks jersey. I can always use new slippers too.

southernbelle0915

Were you planning on going out to dinner for your bday? If so, ask for a gift card to the restaurant you want to go to. It's still a "thing" versus cash. 

Or what about a gift certificate to your hair salon? You could either use it on a cut you'd get anyway, or some other service like a pedicure or waxing.

kvruns

@tfmrserwin said:

I never know what to tell people when they ask what I want. It frustrates H, because he never knows what to get me... There's just never anything I can think of that I really want - the last thing was a Kindle, so I told H and he got it for me for my birthday. I love gift cards, but I am a gift card hoarder - I currently have about $200 worth of GCs in my wallet, because I can never think of anything worth spending them on. There's something about having a gift card, unused, and the infinite possibility that it offers, so when it comes time to use it I can never decide what to spend it on. 

This year, though, I would like a Seahawks jersey. I can always use new slippers too.

are we the same person?? I too am a gift card hoarder. We got some large ones from my work bridal shower earlier this year that we are trying to use for date nights but then I also have like $600 in random gift cards just for me (visa, amex, target, tjmaxx, etc) just chilling unused.

Pupatella

Gift certificate to a spa, gift certificates at FI and my favorite comedy club, gift certificate to a movie theatre. Haha so I guess gift certificates would be a good gift for me.

ETA: I also hoard gift cards. So I retract my previous statement and now think that gift cards are the worst gift that you can get me as they will just sit in my night stand unused.

cgss11

I hoard gift card too, I thought I was the only one! I have like $100 to old navy/br/gap in my wallet.

Then I go there and think "oh it's just a cheap tshirt, or leggings, etc, I don't want to waste it on this. I'll use it for something special."

Repeat cycle endlessly.

luckya23

I want this pair of slippers from LL Bean with a dog on them.

I also want a beach rolling cart, but those are hard to find in October!

NowIamMrsKlein

My birthday is in October, My first 29th birthday...

I really want a Kayak. But we don't have a roof rack, or even anywhere to store it so it would be the most impractical gift ever.

FI and I also both really want a 'real' hiking backpack. We bought one for my parents for christmas last year, but really we were wanting it for ourselves. 

[Deleted User]

kvruns said:

@tfmrserwin said:

I never know what to tell people when they ask what I want. It frustrates H, because he never knows what to get me... There's just never anything I can think of that I really want - the last thing was a Kindle, so I told H and he got it for me for my birthday. I love gift cards, but I am a gift card hoarder - I currently have about $200 worth of GCs in my wallet, because I can never think of anything worth spending them on. There's something about having a gift card, unused, and the infinite possibility that it offers, so when it comes time to use it I can never decide what to spend it on. 

This year, though, I would like a Seahawks jersey. I can always use new slippers too.

are we the same person?? I too am a gift card hoarder. We got some large ones from my work bridal shower earlier this year that we are trying to use for date nights but then I also have like $600 in random gift cards just for me (visa, amex, target, tjmaxx, etc) just chilling unused.

I'm a bit of a GC hoarder too.  I have one from Christmas to LL Bean for over $100 and two from my birthday this year that total about $100 as well.

We also got some gift cards for our wedding shower and I'm suggesting we hold on to them.  Fiance thought I meant until we had the wedding as there is still a lot of potential for people to buy gifts and he doesn't want to deplete the list.  I was thinking we'd just hold on to them so we had it to buy something we needed in an "emergency."  We have an emergency fund but if I can spend a GC when I break too many dishes, I'd rather spend that than cash.

cupcait927

I know you said you have a ton of running stuff, but what about things like more smart wool socks, gloves for cold weather running, hats, any of the little stuff? H has tons of running gear but he always loves getting more smart wool socks from his mom for Christmas and last year I got him a neon yellow shell for running in the winter/nighttime to make him more visible. 

My birthday is in November and it's become tradition for my mom to buy me a new winter coat. They're always so expensive and I hate spending the money so she gets whatever coat I want for me - this has helped me to get a nice collection of practical warm coats and dressier coats for work. 

In the same vein, it's now become a tradition for H to get me boots for either Christmas or my birthday. For the three years we've been together I've gotten Uggs, riding boots and last year a pair of Sorels that I was drooling over. This year I want Hunter boots to round out my fall/winter boot collection.

[Deleted User]

FeeleyToBe said:

I have been asking for a bag lady cart since last Christmas- didn't come.  My birthday in June?  Nope.  I shoulda' put it on my shower list- ha ha!

We'll see if it comes this year.

I have also been eyeing up one of those DNA kits that tells you where in the world you come from for the last 2-3 years.

Folk music CDs (I have mp3s and such, I just can't play them in my house, which is where I most often listen to music).

 

I did this in college for the Genographic project! It was totally cool I have to admit, though...I have NO idea where I put the paperwork when I got it back...

I can never decide what I want for my birthday/holidays. Usually I end up with jewelry or clothes, because my mom likes to pride herself on her ability to still be able to pick out clothes for me.

jenna8984

What is wrong with you people? Send me all your unused gift cards, I burn through mine like the hour I receive them.

littlemushroom

I can never think of anything I really want either, especially after the shower and wedding gifts last year. Anything under $50, my H and I just get when we want it. So the only things I really want are expensive, like a PS4.

Last year we had both sets of parents just get us gift cards to our favorite restaurants for birthdays and Xmas (both our bdays are in December). We got a bunch of $15-$25 cards for about 10 different restaurants, from fast food to more pricy. We have used them all year whenever we go out to eat and it has been awesome. We always tell our parents we used one and thank them all over again. They see how much we appreciate them and how much we enjoy them. We might end up doing the same thing this year.

My mom does get me a subscription to Food Network magazine each year too. In the past I have done new sheets/comforter, a windhsield cover so I wouldn't have to scrape my windows anymore, and board games.

emmaaa

I want this really bad. I'm hoping DH will get it for my birthday in October.

julieanne912

Not counting the stuff on my registry, I would like a gift cert to a hair salon.  I haven't had my hair cut in about 9 months, and it's currently past the middle of my back and driving me crazy.  I purposely was growing it out this long for the wedding, because it's pretty thin and I need all the help I can get to bulk up my updo.  

I would also like some new clothes.  Any and all clothes shopping has been on the back burner the entire year because of the house and the wedding.  

thefanciestbeckler

My birthday is technically first, but it's only 10 days before Christmas (womp womp womp).

What I really want is a gun and to get my carrying permit. I am always too cheap to buy one for myself.